New York Senators Call For End of Costly Runoff Elections
December 4, 2009
(Long Island, N.Y.) Today, Senator’s Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Liz Krueger and Bill Perkins joined with advocates and supporters to call for the end of expensive and outdated runoff elections in New York. This year, less than three percent of New York City residents voted in runoffs which cost taxpayers an astounding $15 million. Eliminating runoffs would free up millions of dollars that could be better spent on vital city services.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Elections Committee Chair Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. and Senator Bill Perkins (S6248) would eliminate runoff elections across the state. Another proposal sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger (S3584) would authorize the use of instantaneous runoff voting. Citywide, fewer than eight percent of registered Democrats cast a ballot, while no votes were recorded in scores of the 6,100 election districts across New York City. As a result, the election cost taxpayers approximately $72 dollars a vote.