Share your opinion today. Vote November 4th.

Share your opinion today. Vote November 4th.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

NYC Votes

In the election on November 4th, New Yorkers will head to the polls to shape the future of our city and our state. In addition to the candidates on the ballot, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on three state proposals. 

NYC Votes invites you to share your statement on any of these proposals for inclusion in our non-partisan, online Voter Guide.

Do it today! The deadline to submit your 200-word statement is September 24th. Please read the instructions below before submitting your statement(s). 

The proposals on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot in New York are:

1. Revising State’s Redistricting Procedure:
   • The proposed amendment to sections 4 and 5 and addition of new section 5-b to Article 3 of the State Constitution revises the redistricting procedure for state legislative and congressional districts. The proposed amendment establishes an independent redistricting commission every 10 years beginning in 2020, with two members appointed by each of the four legislative leaders and two members selected by the eight legislative appointees; prohibits legislators and other elected officials from serving as commissioners; establishes principles to be used in creating districts; requires the commission to hold public hearings on proposed redistricting plans; subjects the commission’s redistricting plan to legislative enactment; provides that the legislature may only amend the redistricting plan according to the established principles if the commission’s plan is rejected twice by the legislature; provides for expedited court review of a challenged redistricting plan; and provides for funding and bipartisan staff to work for the commission. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
2. Permitting Electronic Distribution of State Legislative Bills:
   • The proposed amendment to section 14 of Article 3 of the State Constitution would allow electronic distribution of a state legislative bill to satisfy the constitutional requirement that a bill be printed and on the desks of state legislators at least three days before the Legislature votes on it. It would establish the following requirements for electronic distribution: first, legislators must be able to review the electronically-sent bill at their desks; second, legislators must be able to print the bill if they choose; and third, the bill cannot be changed electronically without leaving a record of the changes. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
3. The Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014:
   • The Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014, as set forth in section one of part B of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, authorizes the sale of state bonds of up to two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) to provide access to classroom technology and high-speed internet connectivity to equalize opportunities for children to learn, to add classroom space to expand high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, to replace classroom trailers with permanent instructional space, and to install high-tech smart security features in schools. Shall the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014 be approved?

For more information on the proposals, visit the CFB’s website or read the full abstracts published by the NYS Board of Elections.

Email your "pro" or "con" statement(s) to ballotproposal@nyccfb.info by Wednesday, September 24, 2014. Make sure to follow these simple instructions:

• Address only one ballot proposal in your statement (you may submit separately on each proposal).
• Clearly advocate a yes or no vote on that proposal.
• Include your full name (and your organization name, if you are submitting on behalf of an organization).
• Limit your statement to 200 words or less.

You may also fax your pro/con statement to (212) 409-1705, Attn: Ballot Proposals, or mail it to the CFB at 100 Church Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Attn: Ballot Proposals.

Late submissions will not be accepted. The CFB reserves the right to edit or exclude statements that do not meet our criteria and follow the instructions above.

- See more at: http://fulldisclosure.nyccfb.info/blog/share-your-opinion-today-vote-november-4th#sthash.XNeuBjvR.dpuf