What do the fi ve ballot proposals
mean for Brooklynites?
BY JESSICA PARKS
Polls are open for early
voting, and Brooklynites are
heading to cast their ballots
— but some may be surprised
to fi nd fi ve ballot initiatives
that would directly impact
New York City.
Wait, what are ballot
initiatives?
Ballot initiatives are yesor
no questions, which voters
can choose to approve or disapprove
while at the voting
booth. The measures originate
from local elected pols,
who pass the initiatives in
their respective legislative
chambers to get the questions
on the ballot.
Here’s a breakdown of all
fi ve initiatives voters will see
on their ballots:
Proposition 1:
Redistricting
The fi rst proposition would
reform the upcoming redistrict
process (which happens
every 10 years, following the
census). Among its most major
changes would be:
• Capping the number of
state senators at 63
• Reforming the redistricting
committee, including to be
a majority-rules body
• Including non-citizens in
population estimates
Incarcerated people would
be counted at their last place
of residence
• The “block on border”
rule will be repealed, which
required the placing of blocks
on the borders of districts in
certain districts.
Proposition 2:
Environment
The proposed amendment
would establish the right to
clean air, clean water and a
healthful environment to each
person. While it is general,
proponents of the amendment
COURIER L 4 IFE, OCT. 29-NOV. 4, 2021
say it will require the government
to consider this measure
in decision-making and create
a way to combat environmental
justice.
The non-profi t news outlet
the CITY reported that similar
state amendments have been in
place in Pennsylvania and Montana
since the 1970s and a Pennsylvania
based environmental
group used the amendment to
block proposed provisions of a
law that would have expanded
fracking.
Opponents of the amendment
argue its vagueness
will open a stream of unnecessary
lawsuits, the City further
reported.
Proposition 3: Voter
registration
The proposed amendment
would eliminate requirements
to register for voting ten days
prior to election day.
Removing the requirement
would open up pathways for
the state Legislature to pass
same-day voter registration —
something that has been long
hailed as a way to make voting
more accessible to everyone.
Same-day voter registration
is a measure that conservatives
around the country believe
will harbor voter fraud,
though there is little evidince
of such claims.
Prop 4: Absentee voting
This proposition will delete
the requirement that
voters can only use an absentee
ballot if there is a reason
they can’t be at the polls.
This would create no-excuse
absentee ballots — continuing
on its widespread
use during the pandemic as
former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s
emergency order allowed
anyone who was at risk
of contracting coronavirus to
be eligible to vote absentee.
Proposition 5: Civil Court
This proposition will
raise the New York City Civil
Court’s jurisdiction to hear
and decide cases for up-to
$50,000 — rather than the
current limit of $25,000.
This bill was introduced
and approved in the state
Legislature already, for
which its sponsor argued the
legislation would help take a
load off of the State Supreme
Court, which now handles all
claims over $25,000.
If the proposition is approved
it would be the fi rst
time the jurisdiction in New
York Civil Court has been
amended since 1983, though
a nearly identical ballot proposal
to lift the jurisdiction
to $50,000 in 1995 was shot
down by voters.
Sidney Cherubin, a Brooklyn
Law School professor, t
said that while he supports
the proposition, it will make
an already busy court busier
and therefore lawmakers
will need to allocate more
spending to the court and
hire more employees.
ELECTION 2021
Whether you
wake up with
the sun...
...or come alive
at night.
There’s a voting
time for every
New Yorker.
Polls are open on Election Day, November 2 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Find your pollsite and learn more at
Remember to turn your ballot over findmypollsite.vote.nyc
to vote on the 5 proposals.