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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union, on moving municipal elections to even-numbered years
0:34:14
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3 min
Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union, joined by Policy Director Ben Weinberg, testifies in strong support of moving New York City's municipal elections to even-numbered years.
Rauh argues that this reform would dramatically increase voter participation and aligns with a statewide trend of consolidating elections to combat low turnout. She emphasizes acting proactively through the city charter rather than waiting for potential state mandates or constitutional amendments.
- Moving municipal elections to even years is proposed to significantly boost voter turnout.
- New York State has already moved other local elections to even years to address low participation.
- Acting now via charter revision is presented as a proactive measure, preferable to waiting for state action which could delay implementation.
- Public opinion polls suggest strong support for this reform among New York City voters across various demographics.
- Candidates who would be affected by the change also show strong support for moving the election calendar.
Sharon Greenberger
0:34:14
Good evening.
Grace Rauh
0:34:15
Good evening.
0:34:17
Thank you for having us.
0:34:18
My name is Grace Rao.
0:34:20
I'm the executive director of Citizens Union, and I'm joined by Ben Weinberg, our policy director.
0:34:26
Thank you for the opportunity to testify this evening.
0:34:29
I'm here to express our strong support for the proposal to move New York City's municipal elections to even numbered years.
0:34:36
The commission's thoughtful and thorough report outlines the clear benefits from this reform, especially its potential to dramatically increase voter participation.
0:34:45
It also raises important considerations that I'd like to briefly address.
0:34:51
First, why should we do this now in the city charter?
0:34:55
We need to be prepared.
0:34:56
For years, New York State has moved to consolidate elections to combat low turnout in off cycle contests.
0:35:03
In just the past few years, we've seen school board elections in Buffalo, village elections in Onondaga County, and even primary runoffs in New York City get shifted or consolidated to address low voter turnout.
0:35:15
A 2023 state law moved most county and town elections to even number years to boost voter engagement.
0:35:22
And in 2024, the New York State Senate passed a constitutional amendment that would have allowed New York City to do the same, and we know that more reforms are on the horizon.
0:35:33
New York City should not wait to be told when to act.
0:35:36
If a constitutional amendment enabling New York City to control its election calendar passes in 2027, we would still need a charter revision commission and another referendum in 2028 to enact that change in New York City, just as many candidates are campaigning for 2029.
0:35:55
That is frankly too late.
0:35:57
Reform tied up in election year politics would invariably be more challenging.
0:36:02
Acting now, this year in 2025, gives us a rare chance to do this cleanly, credibly, and proactively.
0:36:12
A statewide constitutional amendment mandating even your elections for all cities could also resolve this, but let's be honest.
0:36:19
It is not going to happen without strong public momentum.
0:36:23
A popular New York City referendum would show Albany's voters do want change.
0:36:29
Additionally, public opinion polling suggests that a ballot question on even years would be widely supported by voters.
0:36:37
Surveys have found that nearly three to one support for this reform in New York City exists across age, rate race, education, party lines, consistent with statewide and national polling.
0:36:49
And across the country, these ballot measures have had a remarkable success rate.
0:36:53
In 35 of 36 cities where voters weighed in directly, they approved referenda to consolidate election calendars on average with 72% support.
0:37:06
Here in New York City, we know that support for this reform not only comes from voters.
0:37:10
Our own research at Citizens Union found that the very candidates it would affect are strongly in favor of changing our election calendar, And we put out some new report some new data on that earlier today.
0:37:22
Finally, this isn't a radical idea supported by one political faction.
0:37:26
It's a common sense, smart, widely supported reform that would strengthen our democracy and bring New Yorkers more New Yorkers into the process.
0:37:35
Thank you for considering it.
Sharon Greenberger
0:37:36
Thank you so much.