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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jeremy Joseph from the New York Civic Engagement Table against jungle primaries
2:40:02
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3 min
Jeremy Joseph, Data Director at the New York Civic Engagement Table, testifies that while low voter turnout is a real issue, "jungle primaries" are not the solution.
He presents data suggesting that the unaffiliated voter population is actually less diverse than the overall registered voter population, meaning open primaries could dilute the voices of Black and brown voters.
He argues that the best way to increase turnout is the commission's other proposal: moving municipal elections to even years, preferably aligned with the gubernatorial cycle.
- Joseph argues that the proposed jungle primary would dilute the voting power of communities of color.
- He points out that the percentage of minority voters among the unaffiliated is lower than their percentage among all registered voters.
- He credits ranked-choice voting with the renewed interest and increased turnout among young people in the recent primary.
- He supports moving municipal elections to even years but recommends aligning them with the gubernatorial election to keep focus on local issues.
Jeremy Joseph
2:40:02
My name is Jeremy Joseph.
2:40:04
I'm the data director at the New York Civic Engagement Table.
2:40:07
We're an organization made up of about 70 partners across the state focused on building power with communities of color, immigrants, poor, and working people to tackle racial and economic inequality in New York.
2:40:18
A core aspect of our work is nonpartisan voter engagement.
2:40:23
In New York City alone, our partners collectively attempt to contact over 1,000,000 voters each year because we believe that our elections should reflect all and many communities of our city.
2:40:34
The charter revision commission report identifies a very real issue.
2:40:38
Voter turnout in New York City, historically, has been disappointingly low.
2:40:42
The report correctly identifies that youth and black and brown communities are especially underrepresented in our voting population.
2:40:49
However, it is our belief that the proposed reform to establish jungle primaries is not the solution to this problem.
2:40:56
In the accompanying Lynch report, the preclearance analysis asserts that jungle primaries would give more voice to protected classes.
2:41:04
It cites that a majority of unaffiliated voters, 54.5%, are minority voters, with more than a third, 35.3%, consisting of black and Hispanic voters.
2:41:15
If unaffiliated voters had a higher percentage of people of color than those registered with a party, then this might be a good argument for instituting jungle primaries, but this is not the case.
2:41:28
In fact, those numbers I just cited from the report are lower percentages than that of all registered voters.
2:41:35
This demonstrates that jungle primaries would actually significantly dilute the voices of black and brown voters in New York City.
2:41:42
As for youth turnout, this is a real challenge, not just in New York City, but nationwide.
2:41:46
But as this most recent primary election has shown us, those those numbers are no longer in decline.
2:41:53
This is our only second mayoral race with ranked choice voting.
2:41:57
We're seeing informed participation and increased turnout amongst voters, and yet we're already discussing more changes.
2:42:04
At a time where we are seeing renewed interest in city elections, especially from young people, a change of this magnitude at this time would likely undermine that.
2:42:13
The best way to increase voter turnout is a solution the Tarter Vision Commission has already identified, even year elections.
2:42:20
In the most recent report, the CRC recommended moving municipal elections to align with presidential election years.
2:42:25
While we support moving municipal elections to even years, we urge the commission to consider moving the election to align with the gubernatorial cycle instead.
2:42:34
In a presidential election, national issues will overshadow local ones.
2:42:38
Gubernatorial elections are much more aligned to ensure voters are engaging at all levels of government.
2:42:44
Finally, while the commission acknowledges the political climate in which this change is being proposed and hopes that this proposal, open primaries, jungle jungle primaries specifically, can be viewed on its own merits, these changes cannot be viewed in a vacuum.
2:42:57
This is a mayor trying to change the format of an election he declined to participate in.
2:43:03
No matter the good faith intentions no matter the good faith intentions of the commission and the thoughtful research that went into this proposal, this is inherently political, and that cannot be avoided.
2:43:14
To continue in good faith, I hope the commission will recommit to its original mission and the near universally accepted proposal for even year elections.
2:43:21
Thank you.