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Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A9217
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to requir- ing an instant run-off in any municipal election in New York city; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section 3-705 and subdivision 6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of the city of New York relating to certain run-off elections in the city of New York
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill improves the current run-off system of elections for New York City offices by eliminating the current costly and low-turnout run-off election system in favor of an "instant runoff," whereby voters rank candidates by order of preference and the top two vote getters (if none receives an outright majority of votes), instantly move to a second and final round of counting based on the votes cast for them on the ballots of eliminated candidates.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 provides that the title of the act shall be the "instant run-off voting act." Section two provides for legislative findings. Section three amends section 6-162 of the election law to specify that all elections for municipal office in New York city use an "instant run-off voting" system. On every ballot using instant run-off voting, voters shall be given the chance to rank candidates in order of their preference. Ballots will be counted initially according to first choice, and if one candidate receives a majority of votes cast then the board of elections will certify that candidate as the winner. If no candidate receives a majority of the first choice voices, the Board of Elections will recount the ballots that rank the eliminated candidates as the first choice and that indicate one of the uneliminated candidates as an alternative choice.Each ballot is counted as one vote for the highest ranked candidate on that ballot who has not been elimi- nated. The candidate with the greater number of votes after the second round shall be certified as the winner. Section four repeals subdivision 5 of section 6-162 of the election law that relates to the administra- tive code of the city of New York. Section five repeals subdivision 6 of section 6-162 of the election law that relates to the administrative code of the city of New York. Section six provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
The current run-off system of voting in primary elections for offices of mayor, comptroller and public advocate in New York City is unduly expensive and generates an unacceptably low turnout of voters. The absence of a run-off system in the offices of borough president and city council member has resulted in candidates being elected with much less than a majority of the votes cast, and significantly dilutes minor- ity voting power when multiple minority candidates compete for the same office. An instant run-off voting system would eliminate the need for a costly second election, reward candidates who broaden their appeal as widely as possible and promote minority representation by limited the dilution of minority voting power when multiple minority candidates are on the ballot for the same office.
Prior legislative history
New Legislation.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Will save the cost of current run-off election system.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.