Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/s1447
Timestamp: 2020-02-29 10:39:49
Document Index: 645338319

Matched Legal Cases: ['§6', '§3', '§3', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 6', '§ 3', '§ 6', '§  4', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§  2', '§ 3']

NY State Senate Bill S1447A
senate Bill S1447A
Relates to primary elections in the city of New York; repealer
Get Status Alerts for S1447A
Jan 16, 2020 print number 1447a
Jan 16, 2020 amend (t) and recommit to elections
Jan 14, 2019 referred to elections
S1447 - Details
Amd §6-162, El L; rpld §3-705 sub 5, §3-709 sub 6, NYC Ad Cd
2013-2014: S7033
2015-2016: S3800
2017-2018: S4110
S1447 - Summary
Requires that elections for municipal office in the city of New York shall use an "instant run-off" or "ranked choice" voting system.
S1447 - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S1447
An act to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "NYC
instant run-off voting act"; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section
This bill improves the current run-off system of elections for New York
City offices by eliminating the current costly and low-turnout run-off
election system in favor of an "instant runoff," whereby voters rank
candidates by order of preference and the top two vote getters (if none
receives an outright majority of votes), instantly move to a second and
final round of counting based on the votes cast for them on the ballots
of eliminated candidates.
§ 1. Provides that the title of the act shall be the "instant run-off
voting act."
§ 2. Section two provides for legislative findings.
§ 3. Amends section 6-162 of the election law to specify that all
elections for municipal office in New York City use an "instant run-off
voting" system. On every ballot using instant run-off voting, voters
shall be given the chance to rank candidates in order of their prefer-
ence. Ballots will be counted initially according to first choice, and
if one candidate receives a majority of votes cast then the board of
elections will certify that candidate as the winner. If no candidate
receives a majority of the first choice voices, the Board of Elections
will recount the ballots that rank the eliminated candidates as the
first choice and that indicate one of the non-eliminated candidates as
an alternative choice. Each ballot is counted as one vote for the high-
est ranked candidate on that ballot who has not been eliminated. The
candidate with the greater number of votes after the second round shall
§ 4. Repeals subdivision 5 of section 6-162 of the election law that
relates to the administrative code of the city of New York.1/10/2019
§ 5. repeals subdivision 6 of section 6-162 of the election law that
relates to the administrative code of the city of New York.
§ 6. Provides that the act shall take effect' immediately.
Corporations can spend their resources to influence election outcomes.
In 2013, New York City was required to hold a runoff election for the
office of NYC Public Advocate. The runoff was necessary because none of
the five candidates in the Democratic primary received 40 percent of the
vote. Less than 190,000 Democrats voted in the runoff election. As of
April 1, 2013 there were approximately 3.2 million registered Democrats
in New York City. The runoff election cost New York City approximately
$13 million for a meager election day turn-out.
The current run-off system of voting in primary elections for offices of
mayor, comptroller and public advocate in New York City is unduly expen-
sive and generates an unacceptably low turnout of voters. An instant
run-off voting system would eliminate the need for a costly second
election and avoid the meager election day turn-outs of runoff
elections. Variations of instant runoff voting are utilized by several
cities in the United States including San Francisco, CA, San Leandro,
CA, Oakland CA, Portland, ME, Minneapolis, MN, Saint Paul, MN, Takoma
Park, MD and Telluride, CO.
01/06/16 Referred to Elections
02/17/15 Referred to Elections
No cost to the State. Will save New York City the cost of running runoff
elections which cost $13 million in 2013.
S1447 - Bill Text download pdf
AN ACT to amend the election law,  in  relation  to  enacting  the  "NYC
instant  run-off  voting  act"; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section
the "NYC instant run-off voting act".
that  the  run-off system of voting in primary elections for the offices
of mayor, comptroller and public advocate in New  York  city  is  unduly
expensive  and  generates  an unacceptably low turnout of voters.  Addi-
tionally, the absence of any run-off system at all for  the  offices  of
borough  president  and  council member has resulted in candidates being
elected with much less than a majority of the votes  cast,  and  signif-
icantly  dilutes minority voting power when multiple minority candidates
compete for the same office. In an "instant run-off" system, voters rank
candidates by order of preference, and if no candidate receives a major-
ity of first-place votes, the top two candidates have the votes of elim-
inated candidates redistributed to them in order of each voter's prefer-
ence. The candidate with the most votes after this "second round" is the
winner. An instant run-off voting system eliminates the need for a cost-
ly and sparsely attended second election, rewards candidates who broaden
their appeal as widely as possible, and promotes minority representation
by limiting the dilution of minority voting power when multiple minority
candidates are on the ballot for the same office.
§ 3. Section 6-162 of the election law, as amended by chapter  424  of
LBD06217-01-9
S. 1447                             2
§ 6-162. [Primary; New York City, run-off. 1. In the city of New York,
when  no  candidate  for  the  office of mayor, public advocate or comp-
troller receives forty percent or more of the votes cast by the  members
of  a  political  party for such office in a city-wide primary election,
the  board  of  elections  of  such city shall conduct a run-off primary
election between the two candidates receiving  the  greatest  number  of
votes for the same office.
2.  In  any  jurisdiction  that  authorizes a run-off election after a
primary election, if one of the two candidates  receiving  the  greatest
number  of  votes  for  the  same  office  files with the local board of
elections a certificate of withdrawal within three days  following  such
primary  election, the board shall accept and certify the withdrawal and
declare the remaining candidate the winner and no such  run-off  primary
election shall be held. Such certificate of withdrawal shall be in affi-
davit   or  affirmation  form  as  determined  by  the  state  board  of
elections.] INSTANT RUN-OFF VOTING IN NEW YORK CITY.  1.  ELECTIONS  FOR
MUNICIPAL  OFFICE  IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL USE AN "INSTANT RUN-OFF
VOTING" SYSTEM.
2. ON EVERY BALLOT USING INSTANT RUN-OFF VOTING, THE VOTERS  SHALL  BE
GIVEN  THE  OPPORTUNITY TO RANK CANDIDATES IN THE ORDER OF THEIR PREFER-
3. THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES SHALL BE  USED  TO  DETERMINE  WINNERS  IN
INSTANT RUN-OFF VOTING:
(A)  THE  BALLOTS  SHALL  BE  COUNTED INITIALLY ACCORDING TO THE FIRST
CHOICE MARKED ON EACH BALLOT. IF ONE CANDIDATE RECEIVES FORTY PERCENT OF
THE VOTES CAST, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CERTIFY THAT  CANDIDATE  AS
(B)  IF  AT  THE  END  OF  THE INITIAL ROUND OF COUNTING, NO CANDIDATE
RECEIVED FORTY PERCENT OF FIRST CHOICES, ALL CANDIDATES SHALL BE  ELIMI-
NATED EXCEPT THE TWO CANDIDATES WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF FIRST CHOIC-
ES.  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL THEN CONDUCT A SECOND, FINAL ROUND OF
COUNTING IN WHICH BALLOTS THAT RANK ELIMINATED  CANDIDATES  AS  A  FIRST
CHOICE AND THAT INDICATE ONE OF THE UNELIMINATED CANDIDATES AS AN ALTER-
NATIVE  CHOICE  SHALL  BE COUNTED AS VOTES FOR WHICHEVER OF THE UNELIMI-
NATED CANDIDATES IS RANKED HIGHER ON EACH BALLOT. IN THE  SECOND  ROUND,
EACH  BALLOT  IS COUNTED AS ONE VOTE FOR THE HIGHEST RANKED CANDIDATE ON
THAT BALLOT WHO HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED. THE CANDIDATE WITH THE  GREATER
NUMBER OF VOTES IN THE SECOND ROUND SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS THE WINNER.
(C)  IN  CASE OF A TIE BETWEEN CANDIDATES SUCH THAT TWO OR MORE CANDI-
DATES HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF FIRST CHOICES AND MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES
QUALIFY FOR THE SECOND ROUND, INSTANT RUN-OFF VOTING SHALL  BE  USED  TO
DETERMINE WHICH TWO CANDIDATES SHALL ADVANCE TO THE SECOND ROUND.
§  4. Subdivision 5 of section 3-705 of the administrative code of the
§ 5. Subdivision 6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of  the
S1447A (ACTIVE) - Details
S1447A (ACTIVE) - Summary
S1447A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S1447A
An act to amend the election law, in relation to primary elections in
the city of New York; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section 3-705 and
subdivision 6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of the city of
New York relating to certain run-off elections in the city of New York
This bill harmonizes the Election Law with the provision of the New York
City Charter that was adopted, pursuant to an overwhelming majority of
voters in the City of New York. The legislation would allow voters the
choice of ranking up to five candidates in primary and special elections
for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City
Council starting in January 2021.
This improves the current run-off system of elections for New York City
offices by eliminating the current costly and low-turnout run-off
receives an outright majority of votes), instantly move to rounds of
counting based on the votes cast for them on the ballots of eliminated
candidates. This bill clarifies state law accordingly.
§ 1.Amends the Election Law to clarify that municipal elections within
the City of New York shall be operated pursuant to the New York City
Charter and Administrative Code provisions that establish an instant
run-off or ranked choice voting system.
§ 2 and 3. Amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York to
remove unnecessary references to a run-off primary.
§ 4. Provides that the act shall take effect immediately and apply to
all New York City municipal elections conducted on or after January 1,
2021, consistent with the New York City Charter.
The New York City Charter now directs that the City of New York shall
use a system of instant run-off or ranked choice voting elections.  This
conforms State Election Law with the recent revision to the City Char-
April 1, 2013, there were approximately 3.2 million registered Democrats
$13 million for a meager Election Day turnout.
election and avoid the meager election day turnouts of runoff elections.
Recognizing the great value in implementing this system, New York City
residents overwhelmingly approved a revision to the City Charter at the
2019 November election. As a result, beginning in 2021, New York City
will use ranked choice voting processes. This legislation codifies the
approved revision to the City Charter in November 2019 referendum.
2019 Referred to Senate Elections
2019 Referred to Assembly Elections
2018 Referred to Senate Elections
2017 Referred to Senate Elections
2016 Referred to Senate Elections
2015 Referred to Senate Elections
elections, which cost $13 million in 2013.
S1447A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
1447--A
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to  primary  elections  in
subdivision  6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of the city
of New York relating to certain run-off elections in the city  of  New
Section 1. Section 6-162 of the election law, as  amended  by  chapter
424 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
the board of elections of such city  shall  conduct  a  run-off  primary
election  between  the  two  candidates receiving the greatest number of
2. In any jurisdiction that authorizes  a  run-off  election  after  a
primary  election,  if  one of the two candidates receiving the greatest
number of votes for the same  office  files  with  the  local  board  of
elections  a  certificate of withdrawal within three days following such
primary election, the board shall accept and certify the withdrawal  and
declare  the  remaining candidate the winner and no such run-off primary
davit  or  affirmation  form  as  determined  by  the  state  board   of
elections.]  INSTANT  RUN-OFF  VOTING  IN  NEW  YORK CITY. ELECTIONS FOR
MUNICIPAL OFFICE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL USE AN "INSTANT  RUN-OFF"
LBD06217-02-0
S. 1447--A                          2
OR  "RANKED CHOICE" VOTING SYSTEM, CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE
NEW YORK CITY CHARTER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW
§  2. Subdivision 5 of section 3-705 of the administrative code of the
§ 3. Subdivision 6 of section 3-709 of the administrative code of  the
municipal elections held in the city of New York on or after January  1,