Testimonies and Bill Memos

Public Comment for Voting Rights Act Preclearance – Moving New York City’s Elections to Even Years

August 18, 2025 - Citizens Union respectfully urges the Office of the Attorney General to grant preclearance for Preclearance Submission No. 701, a proposal to shift elections held for City office in New York City from odd years to even years, contingent upon a change to the New York State Constitution, which was adopted by the Charter Revision Commission to be voted on at a referendum held on November 4, 2025

Memo of support for S1356A (Skoufis)/A3649B (Taylor), requiring New York join multistate voter list maintenance organizations

May 9, 2025 - S1356A/A3649B would amend article five of the Election Law by adding a new title that details the authority, requirements, and process of joining multistate voter list maintenance organizations. Section 2 of the bill allows the State Board of Elections (SBOE) to join such organizations, including the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), and pay for their membership

Group memo of support: Council Resolution on Charter Commission Reform

March 11, 2025 - Citizens Union, the League of Women Voters of the City of New York, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Reinvent Albany submitted a memo in support of Resolution 740-2025 (Restler), calling on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.590/A.3665

Testimony before the 2025 Charter Revision Commission – Government Reform February Hearing

February 24, 2025 - Today, Citizens Union published a report outlining a series of recommended reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, enhancing ethics laws, and improving the system of checks and balances within City government. While this testimony highlights key proposals, we encourage the Commission to review our full report for additional recommendations and welcome any questions on such proposals.

Testimony for the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing

Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.

Memo of Support for S590 (Krueger)/A3665 (Simone), Charter Revision Process Reform

February 3, 2025 - An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to the city charter referendum process; and to repeal paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 5 of section 36 of the municipal home rule law, relating to limitations on the submitting of a question to the qualified electors of a city when there is a question submitted by a charter commission.

Memo of Support, Intro 77-A (Restler) Post-employment ban expansion

January 22, 2025 - Citizens Union submitted a memo in support of proposed legislation that would strengthen the City’s revolving door restrictions, preventing high-ranking government officials from leveraging their power, knowledge, and relationships after leaving public office to unfairly benefit private interests.

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