Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Further debate on the utility of a current ballot measure for even-year elections and the "veil of ignorance"
1:08:51
·
3 min
The discussion continues on the merits of placing an even-year election proposal on the upcoming ballot, with Commissioner Kathryn Wylde questioning its immediate impact if state action is years away.
Commissioner Diane Savino and Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck reiterate that a current local approval would allow New York City to implement the change immediately if and when the state authorizes it, avoiding the delay of forming another charter commission.
Schierenbeck also introduces the concept of the "veil of ignorance," arguing that deciding on the system now, before it's known which specific elected officials might be affected by term changes, is advantageous for impartial decision-making. Commissioner Sharon Greenberger reminds the group that addressing low voter turnout is the underlying goal.
- Wylde remains skeptical about the practical effect of a local vote on even-year elections at this juncture.
- Savino and Schierenbeck emphasize that pre-approval by NYC voters streamlines future implementation following state action.
- Schierenbeck suggests that making this structural decision now, without knowing its precise impact on current officeholders, promotes fairer system design.
- The core motivation for considering even-year elections is to combat chronically low voter turnout in municipal elections.
Kathryn Wylde
1:08:51
And so just to clarify, I was thinking that legislature did put up constitutional amendment under the law, it would still have to go to a referendum.
1:09:05
Mhmm.
1:09:06
And we and that what we did now would not necessarily the voters could pass the even year, and it wouldn't necessarily count in the That's true.
1:09:19
That to me seemed like
1:09:25
Weave.
1:09:25
A wave Right.
1:09:26
To me.
1:09:27
Mhmm.
1:09:28
Just because it doesn't what is it accomplished?
1:09:31
We can do a morning consult poll and find out what voters think.
1:10:02
But if
1:10:10
But, Diane, finish your thought.
1:10:11
What Anyway What's the point?
1:10:13
Are you saying you're forward?
1:10:34
No.
1:10:35
Wait.
1:10:35
Wait.
1:10:35
Wait.
1:10:35
'20
Lisette Nieves
1:09:17
Right.
1:09:18
That's That's true.
1:10:14
Or
Diane Savino
1:09:24
sort of a
1:09:35
The flip side is is the they the the legislature between this year and or maybe before June or next January, whatever, they pass the senate and the assembly pass a constitutional amendment.
1:09:45
They then end their term.
1:09:47
They come back in in '27.
1:09:49
Right?
1:09:49
'27.
1:09:49
I'm losing track myself.
1:09:51
They pass it again.
1:09:52
The earliest it could go on the ballot would be November of twenty twenty seven.
1:09:57
'20 '8.
1:09:57
'20 '8?
1:09:58
'20 '8.
1:10:08
No.
1:10:09
Mhmm.
1:10:09
Nobody could come on the ballot.
1:10:14
No.
1:10:14
The point I'm trying to make is the earliest we'd be looking at is 2028.
1:10:19
Right?
1:10:19
2028.
1:10:20
The only thing this question would say is if the state legislature does this, then we would be empowered to sync up immediately as opposed to convening another charter revision commission to then put a ballot question in 2029 then.
1:10:36
No.
1:10:36
Can we do it at the same time?
1:10:37
Hold on.
1:12:06
The the only other thing I will say on this issue, because I think we wasted too much time on it already, is if we were to move forward with a question this year that says, if at some point the legislature does this and the voters approve it, we're ready to move forward.
1:12:19
It's very it's entirely possible that the voters of New York City may say no.
1:12:23
And that will send a signal to the state legislature to not pursue this constitutional amendment.
1:12:26
So we need to take that into consideration.
Alec Schierenbeck
1:09:59
'20 '8.
1:09:59
No.
1:09:59
It could if it's statewide could be a statewide election, though.
1:10:02
they pass it in the first year of But what statewide election is occurring in 2027 in which they would append the amendment?
1:10:37
No.
1:10:38
This this so if this commission acts to put the question of voters and it's approved Right.
1:10:45
Then that system would be ready and in place upon a statewide approval of an even year system.
1:10:51
If the commission neglects to do that for very good reasons, like uncertainty that Carl is pointing out, and all of this, I think, is identified in the report as as valid reasons to not take action here.
1:11:01
But if the commission decides not to take action on this issue for those reasons, then there would have to be after 2028, another charter revision commission that would convene and consider and put that question to voters.
1:11:14
Now that '29.
1:11:15
Commission in '29 at the earliest, and that commission would have the benefit of understanding fully the the system that the state had laid out, but it would have the cost of further delay.
1:11:27
And I'll note one thing, which I think is something that you should model as commissioners.
1:11:32
Right now, if we make this decision in the face of some uncertainty about what state action is, we do not know who it affects, and that has real value in trying to design a system before you know who which particular elected officials will be affected by it.
1:11:49
Mhmm.
1:11:50
If we take action to local level only after we know, when it would take effect, then you no longer have the veil of ignorance, so to speak.
1:11:57
You are deciding whose term would be shortened by one year or lengthened by one year, and that can maybe color how people will look at those issues at that time.
Grace C. Bonilla
1:12:28
I don't