Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Grace Rauh from Citizens Union in support of election reforms
1:45:00
·
3 min
Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union, testifies in strong support of both proposed election reforms.
She advocates for moving local elections to even-numbered years and for advancing a ballot question to open New York's closed primary system.
She addresses concerns about the open primary proposal, citing a study that found it would not diminish the power of minority voters and pointing out that progressive mayors have been elected in other cities with similar systems.
- Rauh states that Citizens Union strongly supports moving local elections to even years to increase civic engagement.
- She urges the commission to advance a ballot question on open primaries to enfranchise the city's one million independent voters.
- She references a study by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch that found open primaries would not harm the electoral power of Black or Hispanic voters.
- She argues that predictions about partisan outcomes are speculative, as progressive mayors have won in cities with nonpartisan primaries.
Grace Rauh
1:45:00
Thank you, commissioners.
1:45:02
My name is Grace Rao, and I'm the executive director of Citizens Union.
1:45:07
We are a nonpartisan good government group that works to ensure honest and accountable government, fair and open elections, and a civically engaged public.
1:45:17
I'm here to comment on the two proposed election reforms in your report.
1:45:22
First, we strongly support your proposal to move local elections to even numbered years.
1:45:27
This change would be transformative, bringing more New Yorkers into the political process, increasing civic engagement, and helping create a city government that better reflects the people it serves.
1:45:38
Second, we urge you to advance a ballot question to open New York's closed primary system.
1:45:46
It is time to move away from closed partisan primaries, which exclude more than 1,000,000 independent voters.
1:45:53
The open primary model under discussion would allow all registered voters to participate in a nonpartisan primary with the top two advancing to the general election.
1:46:05
We want to address concerns that have been raised about this proposed reform.
1:46:10
Some have argued that it could reduce the power of minority voters, particularly Black voters.
1:46:16
But a study by voting rights expert Doctor.
1:46:19
Lisa Handley and former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch found that the open primary system would not diminish turnout among any protected class or make it harder for a Black or Hispanic preferred candidate to win.
1:46:35
In some cases, it may even help.
1:46:38
Others have said that open primaries would harm progressive candidates.
1:46:43
Predictions about partisan outcomes are simply speculative.
1:46:47
Open or nonpartisan primaries have helped elect mayors like Karen Bass in Los Angeles and Michelle Wu in Boston, just as New York's closed primaries have produced winners across the political spectrum.
1:47:02
In fact, Zoran Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary was fueled by support from areas with high concentrations of unaffiliated voters, neighborhoods like Elmhurst in Queens, Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, Westchester Square in the Bronx.
1:47:19
His base included many young and Asian voters, the very groups most likely to be shut out or under the current system.
1:47:27
Another concern is that this reform would confuse voters so soon after ranked choice voting, but the voting experience would remain largely the same, and passing this in 2025 would provide nearly four years for robust education before the next citywide election.
1:47:43
The question before you is whether we will continue to exclude one fifth of our city's voters from the most decisive election of every municipal cycle.
1:47:54
We believe all New Yorkers deserve a meaningful say in choosing their leaders.
1:47:59
Thank you all for your time and this commitment to this process.