NYS NAACP + Rank the Vote NYC Kick-off Ranked Choice Voting Education Weekend

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NEW YORK, NY (05/21/2021) (readMedia)-- This weekend, NYS NAACP and Rank the Vote NYC will kick-off a weekend of action in the five boroughs about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Dozens of volunteers will drive caravans through neighborhoods handing out literature and educating New Yorkers on the new voting method before voters head to the polls in June. This is the first of many planned caravans.

RCV gives voters the opportunity to either rank as many as five candidates in order of preference or vote for just one like they always have. If no one wins with a majority (more than 50 percent), the candidate that came in last is eliminated and voters' second choice votes get counted and so on until there's a majority winner.

RCV will apply to primaries and special elections for all local offices including City Council, Borough President, Comptroller, Public Advocate and Mayor. Voters overwhelmingly passed RCV in the fall of 2019, with 74 percent of the vote.

"These events are very much needed to awaken our communities. This new voting system can be confusing so it is important that we get the correct information on Ranked Choice Voting to the people. The NYS NAACP is proud to partner with Rank the Vote NYC to educate our community and to encourage participation in this important election," said Hazel Dukes, President of the NYS NAACP.

"The Staten Island Branch of the NAACP is trying its best as always to encourage people to vote. It is your right and responsibility to vote for who you feel is the best candidate or the bill. None voters could be dangerous to the community because they illustrate a lack of interest. This year it is most important that we get out and explain to people in detail about Ranked Choice Voting. Like it or not,that is the way we will vote and we can not allow people not to get discouraged and not vote at all. We have an important job, our future might be at risk," said Ed Josey, President of Staten Island NAACP.

"The Brooklyn NAACP is proud to join our state and local branches to get the word out on Ranked Choice Voting. The NAACP has always worked to educate and advocate for Black voters- now is no different. This year, with a major change to our democratic system, we're working hard to make sure Black and brown voters feel empowered to rank their ballots," said L Joy Williams, President of the Brooklyn NAACP.

For Queens, IBEW Local 3 is donating utility a vehicle for the day in addition to promoting the event to its membership; the Divine 9 Black Fraternities and Sororities will be supporting with their membership driving cars; and DJ LR3 has donated his talents to support the cause.

"Since its 1909 founding in New York City, the NAACP has played a central role in both voter education and voter equality in the history of this country. This weekend, the NAACP is acting on its mission by reaching out to educate voters all across the city on Ranked Choice Voting. When a change to our democratic process comes around, the NAACP is at the forefront of making sure our community is educated and that everyone has a fair chance to get out and exercise their civic duty, especially historically disenfranchised voters," said Kenneth Cohen, President of the North East Queens NAACP.

"For over 100 years, the NAACP has played a central role in voter education and voter equality in the country. Now, we have a new way of voting in New York City called Ranked Choice Voting, which will help voters have more influence on who gets elected. We're excited to be here today encouraging Bronx voters to rank their ballots this June," said Bronx Branch NAACP President Burke.

Background:

Earlier this month, Common Cause/NY and Rank the Vote NYC released an exit polling memo from the four special elections in February and March 2021, in the Bronx and Queens in Council Districts 11, 15, 24 and 31. The polls were conducted by Edison Research, with a sample size of 1,396 in-person and absentee voters from a broad spectrum of ages, races, and education levels that reflect the demographics of the four districts. The poll reveals voters found the ballot simple to use, knew about Ranked Choice Voting, and ranked their ballot.

Highlights include:

• 95% of voters stated they found the Ranked Choice Voting ballot simple to fill out
• 80.2% found the ballot very simple to complete
• 1.3% found the ballot very difficult to complete

Education efforts about Ranked Choice Voting done by Rank the Vote, candidates, the NYC Government and others are working

• 75% of voters stated they were familiar with RCV prior to voting.
• 13.3% of voters stated they were very unfamiliar with Ranked Choice Voting prior to voting.

A majority of voters took advantage of the new voting system, ranking more than one candidate

• 70% of voters utilized the rankings on their ballot
• 32% of voters only voted for one candidate
• 33% ranked 5 candidates
• 15% ranked 2 candidates
• 12% ranked 3 candidates & 8% ranked 4 candidates

The majority of voters who did not rank did so because they only had one preferred candidate.

• 76.6% of voters did not rank because they only had one preferred candidate.
• 20.8% reported they did not rank because they didn't know enough about other candidates.
• 5.1% did not rank because they didn't know they could rank.

There was no statistically meaningful difference between different ethnic groups' understanding of RCV.

• 94% of Black voters found their ballot simple to complete.
• 97% of Asian voters found their ballot simple to complete.
• 97% of Hispanic voters found their ballot simple to complete.
• 97% of white voters found their ballot simple to complete.