Candidates running for POublic Office in New York City, including One who was stricken with the Coronavirus last year, are urging for Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to Waive Rules requiring the Collection of Voter Signatures to get on the Ballot during the Pandemic.
Last year, Cuomo approved an Emergency Order shortening the Petitioning Period and Reducing Signature Requirements.
The Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) Primary will occur on June 22nd, 2021.
The following RCV Special Elections have been Scheduled due to Vacancies, by Proclamation of the Mayor. Queens City Council District 24th Election Day is Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021. Queens City Council District 31st Election Day is Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021.
Due to potential Redistricting from the 2020 Census, Candidates will also run for 2-year Terms instead of 4-year Terms for the First time, stemming from the New York City Charter overhaul in 1989. 4-year Terms will resume in the 2025 Election. 29 Council Members, 27 Democrats and 2 Republicans, are Prevented from seeking a Third, Fourth for Pre-2010 Council Members, Consecutive Term due to Term Limits that were Renewed by Voters in a Ballot Referendum in 2010.
More than 300 Candidates have filed to Run for 51 Council Seats, some 20 for Mayor, and scores of others for Comptroller and Five Borough Presidents and Five Candidates vying to become the Next Manhattan District Attorney.
Under State Law, the Number of Valid Party Signatures needed:
- 7,000 Signatures for Mayor and other Citywide Offices.
- 4,000 Signatures for the Five Borough Presidents.
- 900 Signatures for City Council, which has been Reduced to 450 during Special Elections.
The Petition Requirements would require Tens of Thousands of Non-Socially Distanced Interactions, Candidates argue.
Mark Levine, the City Council’s Health Committee Chairman, said Distributing Coronavirus Vaccine to City Residents to Reduce Infection Rates should take Priority over Campaign Petitioning. “The pandemic demands that we put safety first, and at a minimum significantly lower the signature requirements, while maintaining focus on vital health measures like accelerating vaccination,” Levine said.
Last year’s March 23rd Special Election to fill a Vacancy for Queens Borough President was Postponed for Months because of the severe COVID-19 Pandemic. Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards, who has to Run to Defend his Seat this year, said, “During a pandemic the rules for petitioning should be relaxed.”
Election Lawyer, Lawrence Mandelker, said whether to go Forward with Petitioning during the Pandemic is a Legitimate Issue. “You’re not socially distancing when you gather signatures,” Mandelker said. “There’s going to be a lot of political pressure to lower the number of signatures to collect or do away with signatures entirely. But what do you replace it with? How do you measure a candidate’s support?” Conversely, he noted that Voters went to the Polls during the Presidential Election last November.
Many Ccandidates will farm out Petition Gathering work to Political Consulting Firms.
Cuomo Spokesman, Peter Ajemian said, “As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to closely monitor the transmission rate and other data and will make adjustments accordingly to ensure our democratic process proceeds as safely as possible.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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