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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Frank Morano, Council Member from New York City Council, on election structure reform
0:05:54
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3 min
Council Member Frank Morano testifies on the structure of New York City elections, advocating against top-two and top-four election models.
He argues these models are flawed and instead proposes single-round nonpartisan elections with ranked-choice voting (RCV), similar to what is already used for special elections in the city.
- Morano urges the commission to reject top-two and top-four election models, calling top-two a "disaster" and top-four "deeply flawed."
- He advocates for single-round nonpartisan elections using RCV, as currently practiced in NYC special elections.
- He believes this model is simpler, fairer, familiar to New Yorkers, and strengthens democracy by encouraging broader candidate appeal.
Frank Morano
0:05:54
Thank you, madam vice chair.
0:05:55
I appreciate it.
0:05:56
I appreciate once again the opportunity to testify.
0:05:59
I wanna follow-up on a critical issue that could fundamentally reshape democracy in New York City, which is the structure of our elections.
0:06:07
And I know you and the other members of, the commission are taking the mandate to improve voter turnout and to otherwise improve New York City, civic life and electoral life very seriously, and I'm grateful for that.
0:06:21
Specifically, though, I urge this commission to reject, the flawed models of top two and top four elections and instead adopt a simple, effective, and proven alternative.
0:06:37
Single round nonpartisan elections with ranked choice voting as we already use for special elections in New York City, like the one that I was elected in in April.
0:06:48
So let me be clear.
0:06:49
Top two from my perspective and from the voters' perspective is a disaster.
0:06:54
There's a reason no other state has followed California's lead on this.
0:06:59
It has narrowed the political playing field, disadvantaged independent and third party candidates, and actually entrenched the dominance of the two major parties in practice.
0:07:10
Top two often results in two candidates, well, from the same party making the general election ballot, leaving entire ideological communities with no real choice.
0:07:20
That's not reform.
0:07:21
In my view, it's regression.
0:07:23
Top four, while a lot better, is still deeply flawed.
0:07:27
It creates a confusing two step process, introduces unnecessary complexity for voters, and erects even more procedural barriers for candidates who aren't backed by political machines or flush with cash.
0:07:40
There's no compelling evidence that Alaska's model, which is the most similar to top four, has improved voter turnout or trust in government.
0:07:50
In fact, it's created what I would argue, is an is a Rube Goldberg machine of political mechanics, one that New Yorkers neither asked for nor deserve.
0:08:00
We already have the model we need.
0:08:02
Special elections in New York City are nonpartisan and use ranked choice voting.
0:08:07
Any voter can participate.
0:08:09
Any candidate can participate.
0:08:11
Why complicate what's working?
0:08:13
Here's why the single round nonpartisan RCV model makes sense.
0:08:16
It's simple.
0:08:17
One election, one ballot.
0:08:19
Voters rank candidates in order of preference, no primary, no runoff, no double the expense, double the confusion, or double the turnout drop off.
0:08:28
It's fair.
0:08:29
Candidates of every political stripe, democrat, republican, third party, or independent, compete on a level playing field.
0:08:35
Voters don't have to worry about the wasted vote syndrome of, not of the person splitting the vote and allowing someone they really don't like to get in.
0:08:44
It's familiar.
0:08:46
New Yorkers already use RCV in special elections.
0:08:49
They understand how it works.
0:08:50
They're growing to understand it more as it's been used more and more, and it's been implemented without chaos or without too much controversy.
0:08:58
It strengthens democracy.
0:09:00
It incentivizes candidates to appeal to a broad swath of voters, not just their partisan base, base leading to more civil, inclusive, and representative campaigns.
0:09:10
Lastly, some of the proposals under consideration seem to be solutions in search of a problem.
0:09:15
Let's not reinvent the wheel with experimental systems that have failed elsewhere.
0:09:20
Let's double down on what's already working.
0:09:23
Nonpartisan, single round, ranked choice elections.
0:09:26
Anything else, in my view, is a step backward, and I think the people of the City Of New York deserve better than that.
0:09:33
Thank you.
Sharon Greenberger
0:09:34
Thank you so much.
0:09:35
I will ask my fellow commissioners if there are any questions of the council member.
Diane Savino
0:09:40
Just one question.
Sharon Greenberger
0:09:41
Yes.