Resolution calling upon the New York State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9923, in relation to improving the format of ballot proposals to minimize confusion.

Res. No. 338

Resolution calling upon the New York State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9923, in relation to improving the format of ballot proposals to minimize confusion.

By Council Members Powers and Kallos

Whereas, Due to the current format and typical length of New York election ballots, the ballot questions are regularly, if not always, required to be on the opposite side of the ballot on which candidate names appear; and

Whereas, As evidenced in the ballot data, there has been drop off in votes on ballot questions when compared to the number of votes cast for candidates; and

Whereas, In the 2017 General Election, there was a 9% drop in votes cast for the first ballot question  as compared to the number of votes cast for the Mayor line; and

Whereas, This drop in votes could be attributed to a lack of clarity in guiding voters to complete the second page of the ballot; and

Whereas, New York State Assembly Member Buchwald introduced A.9923, which would require the State Board of Elections to add clear and graphic instructions that a ballot is two-sided, when it is; and

Whereas, Providing clear instructions that a ballot is two-sided would positively impact the number of votes on ballot questions; and

Whereas, For 2018 and 2019, the City of New York will have at least two ballot questions related to the Mayoral and Council Charter Revision Commissions, which could entail significant changes to the New York City government; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9923, in relation to improving the format of ballot proposals to minimize confusion.

LS6574

4/24/2018

EK