Enacts the "NYC instant run-off voting act"; repealer

BILL NUMBER:S3800

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "NYC instant run-off voting act"; 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

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 provisions

§ 1. Provides that the title of the act shall be the "instant run-off voting act."

§ 2. Section two provides for legislative findings.

§ 3. 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 eliminated. The candidate with the greater number of votes after the second round shall be certified as the winner.

§ 4. Repeals subdivision 5 of section 6-162 of the election law that relates to the administrative code of the city of New York.

§ 5. repeals subdivision 6 of section 6-162 of the election law that relates to the administrative code of the city of New York.

§ 6. Provides that the act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

In 2013, New York City was required to hold a runoff election for the office of NYC Public Advocate. The runoff was necessary because none of the five candidates in the Democratic primary received 40 percent of the vote. Less than 190,000 Democrats voted in the runoff election. As of April 1, 2013 there were approximately 3.2 million registered Democrats in New York City. The runoff election cost New York City approximately $13 million for a meager election day turn-out.

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. An instant run-off voting system would eliminate the need for a costly second election and avoid the meager election day turn-outs of runoff elections. Variations of instant-runoff voting are utilized by several cities in the United States including San Francisco, CA, San Leandro, CA, Oakland CA, Portland, ME, Minneapolis, MN, Saint Paul, MN, Takoma Park, MD and Telluride, CO.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

No cost to the State. Will save New York City the cost of running runoff elections which cost $13 million in 2013.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.