Rank the Vote NYC Applauds Cross Endorsements in CD1 and CD 9

NEW YORK, NY (06/15/2023) (readMedia)-- This week, two sets of candidates – one in lower Manhattan (Susan Lee and Ursila Jung) and one in Harlem (Assembly Member Al Taylor and Yusef Salaam) – crossed endorsed each other in their respective races. This is typical – and voter friendly – in a ranked choice voting (RCV) election since the voting method incentivizes positive, issue-based campaigning, and evidence suggests that candidates are more likely to run in a positive campaign environment without attack ads and with more focus on substance.

"Successful candidates understand that Ranked Choice Voting gives voters more choice and more voice, and that the focus of campaigns should be 'on the issues and not any individual,' as Assemblymember Al Taylor said so well while cross endorsing Yusef Salaam. And in lower Manhattan, Susan Lee acknowledged that both she and Ursila agree on many issues and voters deserve someone committed to transparency. Cross endorsements don't hurt or help one gender, or party, or any one political persuasion: they benefit the voters who get to hear about issues over negative personal attacks. Voters appreciate and support ranked choice voting because it puts the power back in their hands. We encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of their rights to either rank their vote or just vote for one candidate like they always have" said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.

Research shows that ranked choice voting results in more wins for candidates of color, especially women. For the first time, women make up a majority of the NYC Council. Ranked choice voting incentivizes positive, issue-based campaigning, and evidence suggests that women are more likely to run in a positive campaign environment without attack ads and with more focus on substance.

Ranked Choice Voting (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 applies 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.

Background

In 2021, Common Cause/NY and Rank the Vote NYC released the preliminary results of exit polling from the city's first ranked choice voting election. The poll was conducted by Edison Research throughout early voting and on Election Day, with a sample size of 1,662, both in-person and on the phone, with voters from a broad spectrum of ages, races, and education levels that reflect the demographics of the city. The poll shows that voters embraced the benefits of ranked choice voting, found it simple to understand, and want to use it in future elections.

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.

When to Expect Results

Reminder: we likely wouldn't know the official results until at least July even if this were a winner-take-all election like we've had in the past – thanks to pro-voter election laws. On Election night, we will know the first choice results of early votes, election day votes, and received valid absentee ballots. Thanks to a new, excellent law, a voter can correct or "cure" their absentee ballot over a small mistake, like forgetting his or her signature. The BOE contacts voters about the opportunity to fix their mistake, and corrected ballots are due back by mid July.

Due to a change in election law, New Yorkers can no longer cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have been sent an absentee ballot and then decide to vote in-person. Voters will be directed to vote via affidavit ballot instead. Your affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed, and if your absentee ballot has been received by the Board of Elections, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. This will speed up the process for counting absentee votes.