Next month’s general election will cost the city $17 million, even though the so-called “off-year election” has almost no contests. NY1’s Courtney Gross filed the following report. There might be something missing from the ballot next month — an actual race. The thousands of voters that could head to the polls next month might be even more disappointed than typical off-year elections.
Citywide, only three of the 12 judicial contests are contested. Of the three district attorney races, only one incumbent, Dan Donovan on Staten Island, is seeing a challenge.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown have secured every party line.
Nonetheless, every polling place will be open for business.
“We’re required to have elections take place in New York City, whether or not they are competitive or whether or not there is any excitement behind those campaigns is really not up to us,” said Juan Carlos Polanco of the city Board of Elections. “All we know is we have a constitutional obligation, an election law obligation to the voters of New York to make sure those poll sites are open and that they are open on time.”
Advocates say the lack of competition cannot be good for voters.
“It’s difficult to convince people that they should be turning out for votes where they feel that the results are a forgone conclusion because there isn’t really any contest. And that’s really a problem,” said Susan Lerner of Common Cause.
A typical general election costs the city $20 million. Next month’s pricetag is $17 million, in part because so few names are on the ballot.
Full Article: Off-Year Election Still Costs NYC $17 Million – NY1.com.