There’s more to the election on November 5 than who will be the next president. In addition to state senate and state assembly races in several jurisdictions, on the flip side of the ballot, voters can weigh in on six questions, called ballot measures.
Voters select yes or no to each question. But the wording in ballot proposals could be confusing. For example, Proposal #1, intended to enshrine reproductive choice in the New York State Constitution, doesn’t contain the word abortion.
The question, Proposal One, is state-wide and would amend the New York State Constitution. The other five proposals only appear on New York City ballots. They would amend not the state constitution but the New York City Charter – the city’s governing document.
Knowing what the ballot measures say in advance is helpful. Below is the exact wording of each proposal as it appears on the ballot.
Proposal Number One, an Amendment: Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment
This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
A “YES” vote puts these protections against discrimination in the New York State Constitution.
A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.
New York’s Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race and religion. Prop 1, if passed, would add to those protections and prohibit discrimination due to sex, gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy, or disability.
New York City-Only Proposals- Proposal 2 – 6
Proposal Number Two, a Question: Cleaning Public Property
This proposal would amend the City Charter to expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers.
Voting “Yes” will expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers.
Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Proposal Number Three, a Question: Additional Estimates of the Cost of Proposed Laws and Updates to Budget Deadlines
This proposal would amend the City Charter to require fiscal analysis from the Council before hearings and votes on laws, authorize fiscal analysis from the Mayor, and update budget deadlines.
Voting “Yes” would amend the City Charter to require additional fiscal analysis prior to hearings and votes on local laws, and update budget deadlines.
Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Proposal Number Four, a Question: More Notice and Time Before Votes on Public Safety Legislation
This proposal would require additional public notice and time before the City Council votes on laws respecting the public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments.
Voting “Yes” will require additional notice and time before the Council votes on laws respecting public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments.
Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Proposal Number Five, a Question: Capital Planning
This proposal would amend the City Charter to require more detail in the annual assessment of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines.
Voting “Yes” would require more detail when assessing maintenance needs of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines.
Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Proposal Number Six, a Question: Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), Film Permits, and Archive Review Boards
This proposal would amend the City Charter to establish the Chief Business Diversity Officer (CBDO), authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine archive boards.
Voting “Yes” would establish the CBDO to support MWBEs, authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine two boards.
Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
NYC Votes, an initiative of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, solicited public comments on the NYC ballot measures. More information can be found here.
Additional information can be found at the good government group Common Cause and voter education organization League of Women Voters.
To find your early voting location, check https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/
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