Common Cause/NY Statement on BOE Issues

NEW YORK, NY (06/29/2021) (readMedia)-- Responding to the series of events today regarding the Board of Elections, Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner, issued the following statement:

"The BOE has now clarified that the discrepancy in the count was due to human error, not any problem with the technology or ranked choice voting. We are not at all happy that it happened, but it was a mistake that the BOE is moving to correct. We appreciate all the campaigns' consistent pro-democracy message that fair and accurate results are worth waiting for. The long time opponents of RCV seizing this moment to attack a more democratic system of elections -- that exit polling shows voters overwhelmingly support -- are misguided, and misleading the public. We remain focused on moving forward to ensure the responsible and reliable results New Yorkers demand"

On Monday Common Cause/NY and Rank the Vote NYC released the results of exit polling conducted by Edison Research.

Highlights include:

New Yorkers embraced Ranked Choice Voting at the ballot box.

83% of voters ranked at least two candidates on their ballots in the mayoral primary. The majority of those who opted not to rank did so because they only had one preferred candidate.

42% of voters maximized their newfound power and ranked five candidates.

New Yorkers understand the promise and the power of Ranked Choice Voting.

51% ranked because it allowed it them to vote their values

49% ranked because it allowed them to support multiple candidates

41% ranked because it gave them more of a say in who gets elected

New Yorkers found Ranked Choice Voting easy to use.

95% of voters found their ballot simple to complete.

78% of New Yorkers said they understood Ranked Choice Voting extremely or very well.

New Yorkers want Ranked Choice Voting in future elections.

77% of New Yorkers want Ranked Choice Voting in future local elections.

There was little variability between ethnic groups' understanding of ranked choice voting:

77% of Black voters said they understood ranked choice voting

80% of Hispanic voters said they understood ranked choice voting

77% of Asian voters said they understood ranked choice voting

81% of white voters said they understood ranked choice voting

New Yorkers across ethnic groups found their ballots simple to complete:

93% of Black voters found their ballot simple to complete.

95% of Hispanic voters found their ballot simple to complete.

97% of Asian voters found their ballot simple to complete.

95% of white voters found their ballot simple to complete.

Contrary to fears that Ranked Choice Voting would harm voters by creating a knowledge tax, most voters ranked three or more candidates in the mayoral primary.

Overall, 72% of voters ranked three or more candidates.

66% of Black voters ranked three or more candidates, 64% of Hispanic voters ranked three or more candidates, 80% of white voters ranked three or more candidates and 72% of Asian voters ranked three or more candidates.