Independent Budget Office: Holding all elections on even years would save NYC millions

New York City could save an estimated $42 million every other year by holding all local elections at the same time as state and federal elections, on even-numbered years, a new report from the city’s Independent Budget Office found.

The report, requested by Citizens Union, comes after legislation passed last year to move some local elections around the state to even-numbered years on schedule with state and federal elections. But some elections that are set aside in the state constitution, including New York City’s municipal elections, were not affected. There is still, however, a push to move the city’s municipal elections to the even-year cycle.

Citizens Union Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum said that the findings in IBO’s report confirm their own research, and noted an even bigger upside than the cost-savings. “The potential savings of $42 million every other year are significant, but the true value lies in the increased voter turnout and more representative electorate that such a move would foster,” Gotbaum said in a statement. “We know that holding elections in even-numbered years will engage more New Yorkers in the democratic process, especially young voters and communities of color who have historically been underrepresented in odd-year elections.”

Though shifting the city’s elections could only happen through an amendment to the state Constitution, local lawmakers are backing a push, including through resolution sponsored by City Council Member Sandra Ung. At an unrelated press conference on Thursday, both Ung and Speaker Adrienne Adams did not commit to any timeline for advancing that legislation (which would be non-binding).

The lion’s share of savings from consolidating local, state and federal elections would come from the costs of paying poll workers, followed by the cost of technical support and transportation voting machine equipment. IBO’s report noted that holding all elections on the same cycle may have some incidental costs, including additional printing and promotional needs.