Paul Seamus Ryan
0:22:02
Before I address each bill under consideration today, I would like to highlight some of our planned initiatives, many of which are already underway for the 2025 election.
0:22:10
Our agency is committed to providing comprehensive voter facing education on the matching funds program to highlight its benefits.
0:22:17
New Yorkers should know that their support for local candidates can make a real difference in races, thanks to the matching funds program's 8 to 1 match.
0:22:25
That means that $10 from your neighbors becomes $90 for you to spend on a campaign about the issues that matter.
0:22:33
The more everyday New Yorkers decide to run for office, the more choices voters will have in selecting leaders whose priorities align with theirs.
0:22:41
Our outreach and education efforts in 2025 will also focus on ranked choice voting or RCV.
0:22:47
As in 2021 and 2023, we look forward to collaborating closely with the board of elections and our community partners in all 5 boroughs to make sure all New Yorkers understand how to vote a ranked choice ballot.
0:22:58
Some highlights of our plans include the voter guide, printed and digital education materials, and a targeted multimedia advertising campaign.
0:23:06
The voter guide, which is mailed to all registered voters and published online, will include information explaining RCV to voters as well as a mock up of a sample ballot.
0:23:16
This information will be, communicated in all 13 mandated languages, which are Arabic, Bengali, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Korean, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.
0:23:32
We will also have a video voter guide with ASL interpretation and closed captioning on our website.
0:23:38
Our other 2025 printed materials, which include a standard and large print fact sheet with a sample RCV ballot, will also be created and distributed in all 13 languages.
0:23:48
Our digital materials will be distributed in all mandated languages too, including videos explaining RCV on web channels and explanatory graphics that direct viewers to information on the NYC votes website.
0:24:01
A targeted advertising campaign will kick off in April 2025 as most New Yorkers are starting to tune in to the campaign and run through the primary election on June 24th.
0:24:11
The campaign will target all New Yorkers but have a particular focus on our priority communities and languages, which I'll describe in a moment.
0:24:19
This campaign will span all digital channels and include out of home placements throughout the city, including but not limited to bus shelters, radio, and subway ads.
0:24:27
Advertisements will also be published in community and ethnic media outlets.
0:24:32
Every New Yorker should be able to engage meaningfully in our local democracy.
