Today, the New York City Mayor's 2018 Charter Revision Commission passed a Resolution with Recommendations for the New York City November 2018 Ballot.
The Charter did Not Include:
Ranked Choice Voting
Ranked Choice Voting Whereas, the Commission received public comments from experts, elected officials, advocacy groups and members of the public proposing that the City adopt ranked choice voting in municipal elections; and Whereas, many commenters suggested that the adoption of ranked choice voting would have potential benefits for the administration of municipal elections, including broader voter engagement and participation, reduction of negative campaigning, consensus building, providing voters with more opportunities to select preferences among candidates and the administrative efficiency of eliminating the need for separate run-off elections; and Whereas, based on available research, ranked choice voting is not implemented uniformly among the jurisdictions that have adopted it, with variations ranging from the number of candidates voters may rank to the composition of the ballot, and some jurisdictions have abandoned the use of ranked choice voting after its adoption; and Whereas, based on available research, there are significant open questions regarding the impact that such a change would have on voters and candidates, including questions regarding the impacts on minority voters and vulnerable populations; and Whereas, based on available research, there are significant open questions regarding the operational feasibility of implementing ranked choice voting in a city on the scale of New York, including questions regarding vote tabulation timeframes and auditing procedures; Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the New York City Charter Revision Commission directs the staff to carefully address this promising approach to improving the administration of municipal elections in the Commission’s Final Report with a recommendation that such a proposal be considered by a future Charter Revision Commission or other legislative body.
Independent Redistricting
The Districting Process Whereas, the Commission received many public comments proposing that the Commission propose changes to the districting process; and Whereas, the Commission heard compelling testimony that a fair and independent districting process is critical to a well-functioning local democracy; and Whereas, several commenters expressed concern that the districting process be amended to ensure that due consideration be given to the voting power of racial and ethnic minority groups; and Whereas, other commenters suggested changes to the appointment process and other changes to districting requirements designed to make the districting commission more independent; and Whereas, the overall variety of the comments submitted to the Commission has demonstrated that there are many ways to approach redistricting reform; and Whereas, New York City is unique in its size and diversity, and any proposed reform that looks to the models of other jurisdictions must be evaluated for impacts specific to New York City and its local communities; and Whereas, input from local communities, including communities of color, elected officials, political parties, former members of districting commissioners, experts and other important stakeholders is necessary to evaluate any proposed reform to the City’s districting process; Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the New York City Charter Revision Commission directs the staff to carefully address the variety of redistricting reforms presented to the Commission in the Commission’s Final Report, with a recommendation that redistricting reform be considered by a future Charter Revision Commission.
The next Commission is the New York City Council 2019 Charter Revision Commission.
And be it further RESOLVED that the New York City Charter Revision Commission directs the staff to prepare a Final Report and ballot questions and abstracts consistent with the foregoing directives and with such further amendments as may be deemed necessary and appropriate by the Chair with notice to the Commissioners, and provided further that such Final Report and ballot questions and abstracts, cumulatively reflecting the Commission’s proposals, shall be submitted to the Commission for consideration of whether to place such proposals before the voters at the general election to be held on November 6, 2018.
CLICK HERE to reads the seven page (pdf) Resolution.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
