Changing the City Charter: Flipping the Ballot
Today is election day.
The Mid Term elections are finally here, and November 6, promises to be big Election Day in American history — It is also for a big one for New York City history too.
New Yorkers will be voting for governor Andrew Cuomo or his challenger Mark Molinaro, among many other candidates such as, senator Kirsten Gillibrand vs. Chele Farley. To find out more about the candidates, visit MNN's Race to Represent!
But that's not all that's on the Ballot!
New Yorkers will get a very unique chance to vote on the fundamentals of city governance by amending the most important document to city’s growth and well-being — the New York City Charter.
What is a city charter?
It’s the birth certificate of a city, “the basic document that defines the organization, powers, functions and essential procedures of the city government.” The city charter is integral to everyday life of New Yorkers. Most people aren’t even aware of its existence. The charter links a city directly to a state, meaning it has access to the state’s resources, including money!
FLIP YOUR BALLOT!
Voters you need to flip your ballots on Tuesday to find these three, important questions on the back.
Ballot Proposals
So earlier this year, the mayor convened a Charter Revision Commission (CRC) to consider changes to the City Charter. The CRC has submitted ballot questions for New York City voters like you to decide.
Now it’s your turn to decide how our city’s government should run.
This proposal would lower the amount that a candidate for city office may accept from a contributor to their campaign, increase the amount of public funds available to participating candidates, and make public funds available earlier. Candidates in the 2021 election would have the choice of whether or not to have the new limits apply to them.
Proposal 2: Civic Engagement Commission
This proposal would create a Civic Engagement Commission that would centralize civic engagement initiatives, create a citywide participatory budgeting program, assist community boards, and provide language interpreters throughout the city on Election Day.
This proposal would change how community boards throughout the city are run, by imposing term limits on appointees, changing the application and appointment process for community board members, and require the Civic Engagement Commission (if Question 2 is approved) to provide resources to community boards.
Watch Manhattan Borough President Race to Represent: Three Ballot Questions
A plain language summary Read the full abstracts for the ballot proposals.
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