New York City’s mayoral election taking place today is a pivotal
inflection point for Boro Park, and all of New York City. In this election, the
concept of Ranked Choice Voting, (sometimes referred to as RCV), has been
introduced.
What do I need to do differently?
Rather than everyone casting one vote for one candidate as in
the past, voters “rank” their choices for mayor in the order of preference (see
the accompanying image of this election’s ballot).
One fills in the circle in column 1, next to his most preferred
candidate; fill in the circle in column 2 next to your second most preferred
candidate; fill in the circle in column 3 next to the name of your third most
preferred candidate; the circle in column # 4 next to the name of your fourth
most preferred candidate, and the circle in column # 5 of your least preferred
candidate.
What does this change?
If the candidate with the most votes does not receive 50% of the
votes, there is a second round of counting. All the votes from the candidate
with the least votes are not lost—rather, they’re allocated to the candidate
whom the voter ranked as their second choice. This process is repeated until a
candidate gets 50%, and is then declared the winner.
Through this system, voters have the ability to make their mark
even if their #1 choice didn’t win—because their second choice is counted as
well, and that candidate may end up getting 50%, and your second choice vote
will have helped put him there.
Editorial comment: This change is all the more reasons for Boro
Park residents to get out and vote at a time when our votes have never been
more crucial, and when they will count most, bringing much-needed change to our
city, our neighborhood, and our community.