NYC Budget Includes $40 million for 2020 Census

Mayor deBlasio and Speaker Corey Johnson agreed to add $14 million to the city’s  budget from the Mayor’s original proposal of $22 million. The city had already approved $4 million last year, bringing the new total to $40 million for census outreach, staffing, publicity and other purposes. Council Members Carlos Menchaca and Carlina Rivera, chairs of the council’s Census Task Force, helped develop the proposal to increase spending with the assistance of New York Counts 2020 and other advocates.

While New York State has appropriated $20 million for the census, no spending allocations have been announced.

NYC Charter Commission Recommends RCV & Modifying Redistricting Schedule

Gotham Gazette summarizes  the 17 ballot questions to be presented to voters, including a move to ranked choice voting and modifying the city councilmanic redistricting timetable in order to meet new deadlines for a June primary. Read Caitlyn Rosen’s account here.

Legislation Provides Candidates Path Off The Ballot

From David Lombardo at the Times Union: “It was an odd twist of New York law that resulted in Cynthia Nixon’s third-party bid in November against Assemblywoman Deborah Glick.

After losing the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Nixon was looking for a means of getting off the Working Families Party line for governor. Her  options, under state law, were essentially limited to running for another office, moving, or dying.”

Bill Introduced To Move Presidential Primary

From State of Politics, “a bill introduced this week by Sen. Mike Gianaris would schedule New York’s presidential primary for April 28.

https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2019/06/bill-would-set-new-yorks-presidential-primary-for-april-28/

The primary would be the first presidential nominating contest in New York that takes place under the state’s new early voting law.”

State Assembly Election Law Committee Meets Wednesday, June 12

The State Assembly Election Law Committee has scheduled a meeting June 12^th off the floor to consider three bills.

1. A 8176 / S 6374 establishes the presidential primary in New York as April 28, 2020.
2. A 8227 / S 6421 would move the organization meeting time period for county committees and local committees from 20 days of the June 25^th primary election to between September 17^th and October 6^th.
3. A 8228 / S 6422 would change the deadline to file change of enrollment in the time period prior to a presidential primary election

Counties Falling Short In Early Voting Push, Common Cause Says

In State of Politics, from Nick Reisman “Several county governments have so far failed to meet early voting requirements such as submitting poll site locations in November to the state Board of Elections, Common Cause on Wednesday said.

The good-government group found Ulster, Westchester, Cattaraugus and Columbia counties so far have not released any polling locations. They have until next Wednesday to do so.”

State Dems Move Up Party Switch Deadline

From Nick Reisman in State of Politics “New York Democrats on Wednesday moved up the deadline for voters to switch parties or register as Democrats ahead of next year’s presidential primary.

The state committee voted to move the party switch deadline to 60 days before a primary, rather than more than 190 days. At the same time, the party will also now allow voters unaffiliated with a party — registered blanks or small “i” independents — to register as Democrats 25 days before a primary.

New York’s presidential primary is scheduled for April 28.”