NYC Campaigning Under Covid-19 Pandemic

As a New York City Candidate, would you rather expose Yourself, your Staff, Volunteers, Political Club Members, and the Community, to some New or Old Variant of Covid-19 through Thousands of Required, Non-Socially distanced Interactions, or get Left Off the Ballot?

With the Virus far from contained in New York City, but 2021 Campaigns out in full force, it’s a choice Not many Candidates are keen on making.

Last year, by Executive Order, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) shortened the 2020 Petitioning Period and Reduced the Number of Required Signatures for Legislative and Congressional Races.

But so far this year, Hundreds of Candidates vying for New York City Council, Mayor, Comptroller, and Five Borough Presidents, must still obtain Hundreds to Thousands of Signatures to Run in Primaries that will use Rank-Choice-Voting (RCV) for the First time.

So the State Legislature Passed a Bill Tuesday to Cut those Numbers down Significantly:

— New York City-Wide Positions would require 2,250 rather than 7,500 Signatures.

- City Council Candidate would need 270 instead of 900 Signatures to qualify.

But a Big Group of Downstate Politicos say they’re Not Confident that Legislation, even if it becomes law, would Protect everyone involved.

They worry that even a Reduction in Signatures would still Require the kind of Face-to-Face, Particle-Sharing, Air-Exchanging Interactions, that Officials are specifically telling New Yorkers to Avoid.

Today, more than 100 Candidates, Local Party Leaders, and Activists, are pleading anew with Cuomo, Term-Limited Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), Legislative Leaders, and State Democratic Party Chair, Jay Jacobs, to Waive All Petitioning Requirements for this year.

Signers include Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer (D-26th District), who is trying for Queens Borough President, and Council Member, Brad Lander (D-39th District), who is Running for City Comptroller.

It’s not something the Groups and Candidates would normally push. They wrote in a Letter to the State’s Top Democrats. “However, given the specific circumstances of the 2021 elections, we feel canceling petitioning is warranted. Many of the party offices on the ballot this year will be uncontested, and the implementation of ranked-choice voting in the City of New York’s June primary reduces the potential danger of ‘spoiler’ candidates affecting the outcome.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker