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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2414
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, the municipal home rule law and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the determination of a winner of a primary election; and to repeal certain provisions of the election law and the administrative code of the city of New York relating thereto
Purpose
The bill eliminates the requirement for run-off voting in certain primary elections.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends election law section 6-160 by adding a new subdivision 3, which provides that the individual who receives the most votes shall be deemed the winner of the primary election.
Section 2: Repeals election law section 6-162, which provides for a run-off election if no candidate for mayor, comptroller or public advocate wins forty percent of the vote in the primary.
Sections 3-18: Amend provisions of the election law and the administrative code of the City of New York to eliminate provisions for run-off voting in primary elections.
Section 19: Provides for the Act to take effect immediately.
Existing law
Pursuant to election law section 6-162, a run-off election between the top two vote getters is required in New York City whenever no candidate for mayor, comptroller or public advocate receives over forty percent of the primary vote. There are some similar provisions for run-off elections in local elections.
Justification
Run-off voting has come to be regarded as a waste of time and money, especially since the turnouts for such run-off elections tend to be extremely low, as a result of which a small minority of voters may end up selecting the candidate (and ultimate winner) at a very high cost. In some areas, like New York City, which is heavily Democratic, the winner of that party's primary will also be the winner in the general election.
In the 2009 primary run-off elections for New York City comptroller and public advocate, less than eight percent of the City's approximately three million registered Democrats voted at a cost to the City of $15 million, and millions more were Spent by the four candidates. Whether in a fiscal crisis of not, such an expenditure for a process that attracts little Participatory public support and
does not even bolster the legitimacy of the winner, seems to be money poorly spent that cannot continue to be justified.
Legislative history
2009-10: Referred to Elections; Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
Cost savings.
Effective date
This bill is effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.