File #: Res 0232-2014    Version: Name: Consolidate NY’s federal, state, and local primaries into one primary which would take place on the fourth Tuesday of June. (A.9108 and S.6452-A)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations
On agenda: 5/14/2014
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign into law, A.9108 and S.6452-A, which would amend the election law to consolidate New York's federal, state, and local primaries into one primary which would take place on the fourth Tuesday of June.
Sponsors: Ben Kallos, Costa G. Constantinides, Inez E. Dickens, Corey D. Johnson, Mark Levine, Rosie Mendez, Helen K. Rosenthal, Paul A. Vallone, Carlos Menchaca, Brad S. Lander, Andrew Cohen, James G. Van Bramer, Stephen T. Levin, Eric A. Ulrich
Council Member Sponsors: 14
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 2/29/16, 2. Hearing Testimony 2/29/16, 3. Hearing Transcript 2/29/16, 4. Committee Report 10/26/16, 5. Hearing Testimony 10/26/16, 6. Hearing Transcript 10/26/16, 7. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - October 27, 2016

Res. No. 232-A

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign into law, A.9108 and S.6452-A, which would amend the election law to consolidate New York’s federal, state, and local primaries into one primary which would take place on the fourth Tuesday of June.

 

By Council Members Kallos, Constantinides, Dickens, Johnson, Levine, Mendez, Rosenthal, Vallone, Menchaca, Lander, Cohen, Van Bramer, Levin and Ulrich

 

Whereas, This year, the State of New York put voters through another unnecessary and expensive election year by having two non-presidential primaries: one for federal offices in June and another for state and local offices in September; and

Whereas, According to the New York Times, the cost of putting on each statewide election is approximately $50 million; and

Whereas, In 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe designated the fourth Tuesday in June as the date to hold congressional primaries in New York; and

Whereas, The reason for this designation was to ensure that the State was compliant with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, a 2009 federal law which requires election authorities to ensure that Americans abroad get absentee ballots with enough time to vote and mail them back for an election; and

Whereas, Although Judge Sharpe’s decision only applies to federal elections, military personnel should receive the same consideration for state and local elections, and taxpayer money should not be wasted on staging two separate primaries when a single primary could be held instead; and

Whereas, Voter turnout in the State of New York, and especially in the City of New York, is already very low; and

Whereas, Asking voters to go to the polls for two primaries months apart is both confusing and further depresses turnout; and

Whereas, A.9108, introduced by Assembly Member Michael Cusick, would create a consolidated primary on the fourth Tuesday of June and was passed overwhelmingly by the New York State Assembly; and

Whereas, S.6452-A, introduced by State Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, which is the accompanying bill in the New York State Senate, has yet to be voted upon; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign into law, A.9108 and S.6452-A, which would amend the election law to consolidate New York’s federal, state, and local primaries into one primary which would take place on the fourth Tuesday of June.

AM/LW/bjr
LS1122

10/20/2016