Proposal Six on the poll decides if the Mayoral Election yr strikes.
Photograph by Dean Moses
As New Yorkers select their subsequent mayor on this election, they’re additionally being requested whether or not to elect one other mayor in three or 4 years from now.
Poll Query 6 asks voters to contemplate transferring the first and normal elections to coincide with presidential elections. Historically, in New York Metropolis, elections for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough presidents and Metropolis Council places of work fall the yr after a presidential election.
The query is worded as follows:
Transfer the Metropolis’s main and normal election dates in order that Metropolis elections are held in the identical yr as Federal Presidential elections, when permitted by state legislation.
“YES” strikes Metropolis elections to the identical yr as Federal Presidential elections, when permitted by state legislation.
“NO” leaves legal guidelines unchanged.
A “YES” vote would transfer metropolis elections to the identical years as federal elections, relying on a change to state legislation. The subsequent presidential election is in 2028.
A “NO” leaves legal guidelines unchanged, and would preserve all metropolis elections on the present four-year cycle; after this yr’s election, the following contests can be held in 2029.
Even when a majority of New Yorkers vote sure on this proposal, the election shift wouldn’t but be official. New York Metropolis’s poll measure requires a change to the state structure earlier than it may presumably take impact — a course of which will take a number of years.
Amending the state structure requires the passage of the proposed modification in two consecutive yearly classes of the state Senate and Meeting, adopted by a closing vote by the folks of New York in a statewide poll referendum.
Earlier this yr, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed laws transferring native elections to even-numbered years for localities throughout the state, apart from New York Metropolis.
Poll Query 6 got here to be on account of the 2025 New York Metropolis Constitution Revision Fee, which held 10 public hearings attended by 800 New Yorkers and launched public updates of its work, together with a preliminary report.
Those that help Query 6 argue that transferring citywide elections to presidential election years can be helpful for democracy, as it might improve voter participation.
The fee’s preliminary report says that in 2021, solely 23% of registered voters participated within the normal election. That contrasts a knowledge evaluation by the Gothamist displaying greater early voter turnout amongst New Yorkers ages 25 to 34, indicating an increase in voting amongst youthful folks since 2021.
Proponents say voter turnout isn’t the one profit. An excellent-year schedule may scale back the frequency of native elections, saving administrative time and public funds.
Residents Union launched a brand new report explaining the advantages and impacts of transferring the elections of New York Metropolis to even-numbered years.
Grace Rauh, the manager director of Residents Union, defined that it’s important for native races to be on the poll concurrently to make sure that New Yorkers have a direct say in selecting their leaders.
“This reform will strengthen our democracy, boost voter turnout, and ensure that we have a much more representative electorate and it has the added benefit of actually saving the city money, which is a nice bonus,” Rauh stated.
An estimate by the Unbiased Price range Workplace means that the financial savings would whole roughly $42 million yearly, leading to taxpayer advantages.
One concern is that consolidated elections may result in longer ballots, the place voters are requested to pick out candidates in nationwide, state, and native races, inflicting confusion amongst voters.
Daniel Kurzyna, chief of workers to Queens Council Member Robert Holden, defined to amNY that Holden opposes the measure as a result of “It would nationalize our local elections and drown out neighborhood issues under the noise of a presidential cycle.”
Proposal six provides New Yorkers the chance to determine how their native democracy suits into the bigger electoral calendar. The choice lies with the voters this November.
Early voting within the 2025 normal election continues via Nov. 2. Election Day is Nov. 4, with polls open that day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Go to vote.nyc to test in case you are registered to vote.
