What's happening
This bill declares that the primary election winner is the candidate with the highest vote percentage and eliminates run-off primaries in New York City.
Why it matters
Increases the likelihood that primary winners will be chosen without a majority. candidates can now win with a plurality of votes, potentially with far less than 50% support, which may affect the perceived legitimacy or mandate of the nominee.
May encourage more candidates to run. since there’s no risk of a run-off splitting the vote; this could lead to more diverse choices but also more fragmented vote totals.
Accelerates the election timeline and reduces costs. by eliminating the need for a separate run-off election, saving administrative resources and reducing voter fatigue from multiple rounds of voting.
Alters campaign strategies. candidates might focus less on coalition-building for a potential run-off and more on mobilizing a dedicated base to secure the largest single share of votes in a crowded field.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Primary Runoff Elections
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7155
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 10, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the determination of a winner of a primary election; and to repeal section 6-162 of the election law, 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 run-off primary elections in the city of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6-160 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The individual who receives the highest percentage of the total votes cast at the primary shall be deemed the winner of the primary.
§ 2. Section 6-162 of the election law is REPEALED.
§ 3. Subdivision 5 of section 3-705 of the administrative code of the city of New York is REPEALED.
§ 4. Subdivision 6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of the city of New York is REPEALED.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11097-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.