The Independent View: NYC Council Reforming City Elections

My New York City Council Member, Keith Powers (D-4th District), has put forward the following Reforming the City’s Elections Bills.

The Election Process should be Easier and more Accessible for All New Yorkers.

Three Bills in the City Council that would Improve our Democratic Process:

- Intro. 1734, would Streamline Special Elections in the City.

Currently, the Process results in a Confusing Myriad of Expensive, Low-Turnout Elections. One example of this is the Public Advocate Race in 2019, where Voters had to Vote Three times before Selecting the Public Advocate. Under the Proposed Legislation, the City would Streamline the Special Election Process to save the City Money, Improve Voter Turnout, and Increase Representation.

It also would allow the Public Advocate, Comptroller, Five Borough President, and City Council Members, Elected by Special Election to Serve the Remainder of their Predecessor’s Term. Under Current law, those Elected by Special Election are Required to go through that Calendar year’s Primary and General Elections.

- Intro. 773, Increases Campaign Finance Limitations for entities “Doing Business” with the City.

In practice, this Legislation would Require that Companies or Individuals that seek a Rezoning or Land Use Action to Enter into the Doing Business Database from the Moment that they First File Paperwork.

- Intro. 774, is a Bill that Allows Candidates to have Contributions as Low as $5 Qualify for Matching Funds, a Program in which the City matches Smaller Contributions New York City Residents make to Candidates. The Bill would Reduce the Per-Donor Amount required for the Public Funding Threshold for Eligibility from $10 to $5.

Keith is Proud to have the Support of Good Government Groups on these Pieces of Legislation.

Keith is working with the Board of Elections to Identify Additional Poll Sites in our Neighborhoods to make it Easier for New Yorkers to Vote. He has heard from Voters about the Inconvenient Location of Poll Sites, as well as the Challenge of Elementary Schools serving as Early Voting Sites. He is actively working to find more Suitable Poll Sites for both Early Voting and the Regular Elections.

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