Good Government

Elections and Civic Engagement Targeted for Upgrades by N.Y. City Council  

New York, NY – A legislative package of 11 bills and resolutions aiming to improve elections and civic engagement through increasing voter information, additional language access, expanding the franchise and improving election administration were heard yesterday in the Committee on Governmental Operations, chaired by Council Member Ben Kallos. Many of the bills in the package were highlighted in Speaker Melissa Mark-Vivierto’s State of the City.

U.S. voter turnout in recent elections has been staggeringly low. 53.6% of eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2012 presidential election and 36.4% in the 2014 midterm elections, the lowest rate since 1942. In New York State, the number is even lower, with turnout of only 29% in the 2014 midterms, making it 49th in the nation for voter participation. In New York City, the turnout rate for that election was an historic low of 20%.

Voter information legislation would offer email and text reminders, mail voter histories, notify voters when poll sites moved during preceding four years, and provide a voter guide for all elections. Language access legislation would offer that voter guide in additional languages and mandate Russian language interpreters. Resolutions to expand the franchise seek to restore voting rights to parolees and designate a day for student voter registration. Legislation to improve the election administration would consolidate primaries, allow in person early voting, and requests that the Board of Elections allow poll workers to work 8 hour shifts instead of 16 hours or longer. Taken together, these changes hope to improve the democratic process ahead of this year’s Presidential election.

“We need a voting process that encourages greater participation,” said Council Member Ben Kallos, Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations. “This package of legislation ensures that New York City’s voting process is transparent, inclusive, and adaptable to new technologies. By opening up the process to more voters, we are one step closer to a City that has a more inclusive voting process which aims at strengthening civic engagement.”

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New York City Council Members would become full time with stipends referred to as “lulus” banned for all members other than the Speaker and Minority leader by legislation introduced today by Council Member Ben Kallos, Chair of the Governmental Operations Committee.

“City Council Members will be working full time for their residents without the influence of stipends and outside income,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “New York City continues to lead with reforms the people want to see at all levels of government.”

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

    We write to encourage you to ask your administrative agencies to identify 5% in potential savings for Fiscal Year 2017 before you issue the Preliminary Budget.

    This is an important exercise to ensure that agencies are operating at their most efficient, and that there is minimal waste. Beginning in 1982, prior administrations made a point to incorporate gap closing measures into yearly, city wide funding plans -- whether or not a budget deficit was anticipated for the current year. Identifying savings has the benefit of contributing to the City’s financial stability by helping to cover gaps in current or future budgets by paring down agency spending, and avoiding the need for revenue-raising measures.