The New York City Council Election, Queens Nonpartisan Special Election in the 31st Council District covering: Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, and Springfield Gardens, became necessary when Donovan Richards Resigned after Winning a Special Election in November 2020, to become Queens Borough President.
This triggers the City's First Multiple Round, Ranked-Choice-Voting (RCV) Count, after None of the Nine Candidates and Write-Ins, vying for the Seat secured more than 50% of the Vote, Tuesday Feb. 23rd:
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Powers 4 Queens Party, 2,613 Votes, 38.07%
Pesach Osina, Community Unity Party, 2,406 Votes, 35.06%
Manny Silva, People Powered Party, 694 Votes, 10.11%
Latoya R. Benjamin, The Time Is Now Party, 340 Votes, 4.95%
Sherwyn James, Time for Change Party, 301 Votes, 4.39%
Shawn M. Rux, Rux For Us Party, 188 Votes, 2.74%
Nancy J. Martinez, Rockaway United Party, 144 Votes, 2.10%
Latanya Collins, Collins 4 Queens Party, 95 Votes, 1.38%
Nicole S. Lee, Lee For Jobs 31 Party, 63 Votes, 0.92%
WRITE-IN, 19 Votes, 0.28 %
Total Votes = 6,863
The Candidate with the Fewest Votes, which at this time appears to be Lee, will be Eliminated and the Second Round of counting next. The 63 Voters who selected Lee as their First Choice will see their Ballots go to the Candidate they Marked as their Second Choice.
The New Totals will be Counted and the Process will Repeat until a Candidate Surpasses the 50% Threshold. This could take at leat Five Rounds.
The Board of Election Officials said the Counting of more Rrounds will Not begin until March 10th, The Delay will allow Absentee and Military Ballots to be Returned in time for what is expected to be a Hand Count of the Ballot Rounds.
The 31st Council District covers parts of: Laurelton, Rosedale, and Springfield Gardens in Southeast Queens, plus the Eastern end of the Rockaway Peninsula including: Arverne, Edgemere, and Far Rockaway.
Once Tuesday’s Results are resolved, the Winner will Represent District 31st until Dec. 31st. As is the case for the City’s other 50 Council Districts, the Regular 2021 Elections for this Seat are still to come, in the Form of a Likely June Primary and November General Election. The November Winner will Serve the District from Jan. 1st, 2022 through 2023.
Normally, Council Terms are Four years, but every 20 years there are Two, Two-year Terms to Permit Redistricting after the Decennial Census. With the Late Census Numbers not available till Sept. 2021, not sure how it will Effect this Process.
If the Winner of Tuesday’s Special Election is Reelected in November 2021, they will be Permitted to serve through 2029, facing Elections in 2023 and 2025. If that Occurs, they will be among the most Senior Members of the Body by the time they leave the Council.
UPDATE
After starting the RCV Count, on Tuesday Mar. 16th, Staff from the Queens Board of Elections compiled the results by 11 a.m. Thursday morning, Mar. 18th. By their Tally, the Final Two Candidates were Brooks-Powers who won 59% with 3,841 Votes and Pesach Osina, who won 41% with 2,674 Votes. There were 936 “exhausted” Ballots, which could mean either the Ballot was Eliminated because the Voter did Not choose One of the Final Candidates or there was an Overvote. Exhausted Ballots are Not included in the Final Tally for the Purposes of Determining who Won a Majority of Support.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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