Wednesday, April 4, 2018

NYC Council Fight to Improve Democracy


In the last couple of months, there have been proposals for New York City Charter Revisions to improve Campaign Finance Rules and other Election Reform ideas.

Ben Kallos (D-5th District), a City Council Member and a member of the Committee on Government Operation, has always been supportive of measures to improve Democracy and add Transparency, however, some of the Reforms being called for in Proposed Charter Revisions can be achieved through Legislative means. That is why he has Reintroduced Three pieces of Legislation aimed at improving Democracy by getting more New Yorkers Registered to Vote and by improving the way Candidates for Office in New York City get on the Ballot.

Introduction 730: would Automatically Grant Ballot Access to Candidates for New York City Public Office who Qualify for Public Dollars under the Campaign Finance System. This Legislation would give New York City Voters more Choice on Election Day with better Candidates and would Modernize the City’s Archaic Ballot Access Laws that date back to the 1800s. New York is one of only 13 States where the only means to get on the Ballot is by gathering between 450 and 3,750 depending on the Office being sought.

Introduction 731: would require Landlords to Distribute Voter Registration Forms with Leases and other Paperwork Renters are handed. As New York City continues to see a Rise in the number of People Renting apartments every year this will be a good way to get more People Registered and get People Voting.

Introduction 733: The Young Adult Voter Registration Act, expands upon a program that asked New York City Schools to give Students a Voter Registration Form when they Graduated. The Legislation creates a New Mandate to Distribute Voter Registration Forms to Students in Class instead of simply making them available and mailing them with Diplomas. I would have made it part of a required New York City Civic Class.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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