What's happening
This bill replaces traditional run-off primary elections in New York City with instant run-off (ranked choice) voting for municipal offices starting in 2021.
Why it matters
Eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming separate runoff elections. by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, ensuring a winner is chosen in a single election round.
Aims to increase voter participation and representation. by giving people more meaningful choices and reducing "wasted" votes, as lower-ranked choices can still impact the outcome if a voter's top choice is eliminated.
Potentially changes the dynamics of campaigning. , encouraging candidates to appeal to a broader base to earn second- and third-choice votes, possibly reducing negative campaigning and promoting coalition-building.
Could lead to more diverse and reflective election outcomes. , since ranked choice voting has been shown in some places to help women and minority candidates be more competitive.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Adopt Ranked Choice Voting
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 44
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 8370a
- Amend (t) and recommit to election law
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting NYC
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor James Sanders Jr.
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8370--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law -- recommitted to the Committee on Election Law in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to primary elections in the city of New York; 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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6-162 of the election law, as amended by chapter 424 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 6-162. [Primary; New York City, run-off. 1. In the city of New York, when no candidate for the office of mayor, public advocate or comptroller receives forty percent or more of the votes cast by the members of a political party for such office in a city-wide primary election, the board of elections of such city shall conduct a run-off primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for the same office.
2. In any jurisdiction that authorizes a run-off election after a primary election, if one of the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for the same office files with the local board of elections a certificate of withdrawal within three days following such primary election, the board shall accept and certify the withdrawal and declare the remaining candidate the winner and no such run-off primary election shall be held. Such certificate of withdrawal shall be in affidavit or affirmation form as determined by the state board of elections.] Instant run-off voting in New York city. Elections for municipal office in the city of New York shall use an "instant run-off"
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06217-03-0
A. 8370--A 2
or "ranked choice" voting system, consistent with the provisions of the New York city charter and the administrative code of the city of New York.
§ 2. Subdivision 5 of section 3-705 of the administrative code of the city of New York is REPEALED.
§ 3. Subdivision 6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of the city of New York is REPEALED.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all municipal elections held in the city of New York on or after January 1, 2021.
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.