As the June 24 primary election draws near, voters in the city are gearing up to engage in a crucial democratic process that includes both Democratic and Republican primaries. This year’s election will utilize the ranked-choice voting (RCV) system, a method that is still relatively new and has been tested only in a few previous citywide elections.
Ranked-choice voting was introduced after voters approved the model in a 2019 citywide ballot referendum. The model was put forth by the City Charter Review Commission and aims to make elections more democratic by reducing the phenomenon known as vote-splitting. In traditional elections, candidates with similar platforms can split the vote, making it harder for any candidate to secure a majority.
The adoption of ranked-choice voting means that voters can express their preferences more fully. Instead of selecting just one candidate, voters can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, with their top choice marked as number one.
One of the key advantages of ranked-choice voting is that it could potentially cut costs by eliminating the need for runoff elections, which occur when no candidate receives more than 40% of the vote. Under the ranked-choice system, if a candidate receives over 50% of the votes on Election Night—which includes votes from Election Day, early voting, and some mail-in ballots—they win outright.
However, if no candidate achieves a majority, the election moves into a series of additional rounds of vote counting. In this process, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their ballots are transferred to the second choice indicated by voters. This elimination process continues until one candidate surpasses the required 50% threshold.
Notably, the counting of ranked-choice votes will not commence immediately on Election Night. According to the city’s Board of Elections (BOE), RCV tabulations will begin one week after Election Day, particularly if no candidate achieves an outright victory. This means that the final results may take some time to be officially announced, as further mail-in and affidavit ballots are counted and verified.
With this electoral setup in mind, many organizations and elected officials are strategically using ranked-choice voting to maximize their impact this cycle. Some groups have adopted a strategy of endorsing ranked slates of candidates, rather than just indicating support for one candidate.
For example, the New York Working Families Party has launched the “Don’t Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor” (or DREAM) campaign aimed at encouraging voters to avoid ranking candidate Andrew Cuomo, while not providing specific endorsements for alternative candidates. This approach highlights the strategic nature of ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to coordinate and make collective choices.
Additionally, ranked-choice voting fosters a collaborative spirit among candidates who share similar views. In 2021, then-candidate Andrew Yang encouraged his supporters to rank former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia as their second choice, building a temporary alliance aimed at consolidating support.
In conclusion, as voters prepare for the primary elections, understanding ranked-choice voting is crucial for navigating the ballot effectively. This system not only changes how votes are cast but also influences candidate strategies and voter alliances, making for a dynamic electoral landscape.
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