NY WFP Candidates Kicked Off Ballot Line

Last year, Progressives fought for and Saved the New York's Working Families Party’s (WFP) endangered Automatic Ballot Line.

The Party wants the Board of Elections (BOE) to Reconsider, in light of an, Upstate Supreme Court Decision keeping Candidates on its Line.

New York is a Fusion State, and Candidates, can run on Mutiple Party Lines. if they are Accepted.

Running without the WFP Line can hurt Candidates in Swing District.

Justin Brannan (D-43rd City Council District, Brooklyn), is set to be Only Democrat, on the WFP Ballot Line, because he handled his Petitions Separately.

“Look, being the progressive torchbearer for the entire city of New York is not going to be easy,” joked Incumbent Council Candidate, Justin Brannan. He added: “No, but seriously, in my district, Democrats don’t win by landslides, we have to fight for every vote.”

But this year, in the City, almost No Democrats can Run on the WFP Line, because of a Problem with the Party’s Petitions.

“As it stands right now, most New York City voters are not going to be able to see a Working Families Party candidate on their ballot line, which is such a shame,” Sharon Cromwell, Deputy Director, of the New York Working Families Party.

In April, the City’s Board of Elections (NYCBOE) Removed nearly Two Dozen Candidates from the Ballot Line, saying the Third Party needed Original, Manual Signatures to Accompany its Electronic Ones.

Those affected include: Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams (D) and Comptroller Candidate, Brad Lande (D).

“Even if it was notarized by remote notarization, the signatures that were submitted were not wet signatures,” Frederic Umane, President of the NYCBOE, said at the Hearing.

Being Limited to just the Democratic Line, could Hinder Progressives in Swing Districts, like City Council Candidate, Felicia Singh (D-32nd District, Queens). “We’re already going to be working incredibly hard in the next two-and-a-half months to get out the vote, but we will be working harder because we just have that one ballot line," Singh said. "To me, this is symbolic of a version of voter suppression.”

The Party blames NYCBOE Dysfunction, arguing the Board accepted its Electronic Signatures, last year, and Rules were applied Differently to another Objector that day.

But the Party Bungled its attempt at Legal Action, Failing to properly serve the Board. It’s now hoping Elections Commissioners will Reconsider, guided by, a State Supreme Court Ruling, that Favored WFP Candidates in 15 Upstate Counties who use the same Virtual Notarization.

“Seeing the BOE leadership take the extraordinary step of kicking candidates off the ballot line, without really examining their own rules, without really examining the laws that apply to elections in the face of the pandemic, without really engaging and thinking deeply about what that means, is very concerning for us,” Cromwell said.

The NYCBOE said Legal Proceedings elsewhere don't Supersede NYC Courts

In November, New Yorkers will be able to Vote for a Mayoral Candidate on the. WFP Party Line. There’s currently a Placeholder Candidate, and her Replacement will be Chosen at a WFP Party Meeting, in August.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker