Dear John,

For the first time, New Yorkers have the opportunity to head to the polls early this year, due to historic voting reforms passed by the State Legislature in Albany.

Out of town on November 5? Know that it will be hard to make it to the polls during a work day? This year polling stations will be open a full 10 days ahead of Election Day, so you will have at least 2 weekend days and an entire week to get to the polls.

Check your early voting polling site here [[link removed]] (it may be different than your regular polling site).

The ballot will be slim this November 5, but there are two critical votes that are worth going to the polls for:

First, we have the chance to vote again for Jumaane Williams to continue his role as the People’s Advocate. Jumaane’s victory in the 17-person special election contest in February was historic, and he is truly the right man for the job. Passionate about injustice and dedicated to making change, he deserves your vote again.

Second, there are 5 ballot questions to consider, including a critical opportunity to transform the way we do elections in NYC. I urge you to vote yes on Ballot Proposal #1 to bring Ranked Choice Voting to New York City. Ranked Choice Voting, sometimes known as “Instant Run-Off” voting, is a proven way to ensure that the people elected to office in our city really have the support of the majority of voters.

Here’s how it works:

Rather than picking just one candidate in a crowded field of options, you will have the chance to rank your top five. If one candidate doesn’t get a majority outright, the candidate with the least support will be eliminated, and the votes for that person will be reallocated based on those voters’ second choice. The process then continues until one candidate emerges as the winner.

Ranked Choice Voting will make our elections more democratic, more participatory and more cost effective.

You can read all 5 ballot questions here [[link removed]] (which actually include 19 specific proposals, grouped in the categories of elections, police oversight, governance/ethics, budgeting, and land use).

I encourage you to vote yes on all 5 questions, which make modest but useful changes to the Charter. For example, ballot question #4 would allow the city to create a “rainy day fund” to save funds in good times to use in future bad times, a forward-looking improvement to our city’s financial management that will help stave off harsh cuts in benefits and services during years of economic downturn.

Make sure you have a plan to get to the polls, either early starting this weekend, any day next week, or on Election Day so that you can weigh in on these important reforms.

Early voting poll sites will be open starting Saturday October 26th every day until Election Day. Take a look at the schedule below and make a plan to vote.

Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 27: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And of course you can always vote as usual at your regular poll site on Election Day, November 5 from 6am - 9pm.

Brad



Lander for NYC
32 Union Square East
Suite 1211
New York, NY 10003
United States

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