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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Cassandra Stewart, Lead Budget and Policy Analyst at New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO), on the fiscal impact of even-year elections
0:24:48
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3 min
Cassandra Stewart, Lead Budget and Policy Analyst at the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO), presents findings on the fiscal impact of moving local elections from odd to even-numbered years.
The IBO's analysis, conducted at the request of Citizens Union, indicates that shifting all local odd-year primary and general elections to even years could result in savings of approximately $42 million every other year for New York City.
This calculation is based on the five-year average of election-related costs from fiscal years 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Cassandra Stewart
0:24:48
Good evening, members of the Charter Revision Commission.
0:24:51
My name is Cassandra Stewart, and I'm a lead budget and policy analyst at the New York City Independent Budget Office or IVO.
0:24:58
IVO is a nonpartisan independent government agency mandated by the New York City Charter.
0:25:04
IVO's mission is to enhance public understanding of New York City's budget, public policy, and economy through independent analysis.
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Our vision is to empower New Yorkers to engage with their government and shape the future for their family and their communities armed with budget and policy information that's accessible, transparent, and timely.
0:25:23
This evening, I'd like to take the opportunity to present findings from an IBO report published in August 2024 on the topic of moving local elections from odd to even numbered years.
0:25:33
While IBO itself does not take a position on this proposal, this is an example of the kind of work that IBO undertakes on behalf of stakeholders and members of the public.
0:25:42
IBO conducted this analysis at the request of Citizens Union.
0:25:46
IBO evaluated what the fiscal impact would be on New York City's budget if all local odd year elections were shifted to even numbered years alongside state and federal elections.
0:25:57
For this analysis, IBO included the costs associated with primary and general elections, but omitted special elections as the timing and frequency of these are variable.
0:26:07
There would be fiscal year savings of approximately $42,000,000 every other year if the city held even year on cycle local elections.
0:26:15
IVO's analysis assumed that the cost to run elections in even years would not significantly change as the infrastructure for conducting elections would already be in place and paid for in these years.
0:26:26
IVO noted that there may be additional incidental costs such as increased printing or other promotional materials, and there may also be costs related to operational challenges in handling larger volumes such as ranked choice voting analysis.
0:26:40
IBO calculated the five year average of election related costs in fiscal years twenty fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, twenty, and '22.
0:26:49
Though these are even numbered fiscal years, they each contain the cost for the November general election of the prior odd numbered calendar year.
0:26:57
For example, 2022 includes costs for the November twenty twenty one general election.
0:27:03
It should be noted that a given even numbered fiscal year also contains the cost of primary election and even numbered calendar year.
0:27:10
Total election related costs for the past five odd year elections range from 15,000,000 in 2016 up to 63,000,000 in 2022.
0:27:21
The five year average of election costs for these years is $42,000,000.
0:27:25
Even if IBO excludes 2016 for which there was only one primary election compared with two in most other years, the average for the other four years is $48,000,000.
0:27:35
Put these costs into context, the board of elections has spent over $200,000,000 per year in recent years, inclusive of standard operating costs and the cost to conduct election.
0:27:46
Standard operating costs account for the bulk of BOE expenditures and include, but aren't limited to, personal costs and other than personal costs.
0:27:54
In terms of cost for elections, the cost of poll workers consistently comprises the largest share of election costs, while line items such as full site furniture rental and election day staff transportation of costs relatively less.
0:28:08
Finally, IVO acknowledges that the timing of local elections is prescribed by the state constitution, and a change at the state level would be necessary to facilitate a shift to on cycle election.
0:28:18
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I'm happy to answer any question.