Request to Minimize Ballot Propositions to Improve Voter Participation

[Mike Siegel]

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for the discussion today on the proposed charter amendments. My hope is that we can reduce the number of City-proposed amendments on the ballot, to help streamline the ballot and reduce wait times at the polls.

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nationally respected research institute focused on strengthening democracy. Their 2020 Research Report, “Waiting to Vote,” examined how long waits at polling places are disruptive, disenfranchising, and most likely to negatively impact Black and Latino voters. The report notes that in 2016 alone, more than a half million eligible voters across the country failed to vote because of problems at polling places, including long waits. The recommendations of the report call on local officials to minimize voter wait times.

Report: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ ... iting-vote

My request to you would be to identify which of the proposed City charter amendments, if any, are of sufficient importance to justify increasing lines at the polls. The fewer items that Council places on the ballot, the better, in terms of protecting voter rights.

Thank you for your consideration,
Mike