26 THE QUEENS COURIER • SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Change NYC voting in an instant
It’s tough to lose a contest, be it a game of chance or a game of skill. In politics,
we like to think that the concept of winning and losing elections is merely
confi ned to those directly involved in the campaign.
However, the residents of Queens and other parts of the city lost more than
any candidate in Tuesday’s primary for various citywide offi ces.
Th e biggest reason has to do with the primary system in New York itself.
Except for the Reform Party contest, primary participation was restricted
by voter registration. Only Democrats could vote for Democrats; only
Republicans could vote for Republicans.
No one will dispute that this is a heavily Democratic city; registered
Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by about 5 to 1. Going simply
by math, with exception of a few Republican strongholds left in this city
(including some areas of southern and northeastern Queens), chances are
good that the Democratic primary winner is going to be a shoe-in for the
November general election. In some districts, the primary winner may not
have any opposition at all.
Th ere are many independent, third-party or unaffi liated voters who ought
to have a say in the primary race, but they’re left completely out of the picture.
It’s also not fair to registered Democrats or Republicans who wish to cross
party lines for given contests. Restrictions on primary voting — along with
the absence of same-day registration or early voting — also tamps down the
turnout, which is always anemic unless the presidency is on the line.
We’ve said before in this space that New York City, which aspires to be a
leader in just about everything, ought to forge a new way for voters to elect
their representatives in, at the very least, the city government. Voting should
be made easier through new technology while also encouraging greater participation
and, yes, even a dash of excitement and hope that everyone’s voice
will be heard at City Hall.
We can start by abandoning the traditional party primaries in favor of
instant runoff voting, in which candidates run for offi ce in one election and
all voters select them in order of preference. Holding one big citywide election
in November for all the marbles, so to speak, will have the dual eff ect of
motivating people to vote while also saving the city money on staffi ng one
election instead of two.
Our city’s current voting system is a disservice to our democracy. Let’s try
something new that will make everyone feel like their vote matters.
STORY: Whitestone bakery owners appear on TV show ahead of
business expansion
SUMMARY: Jen Wasiak, owner of Honey Bee Cakes and Honey Pig
Donuts, and Christine Pignatello, co-owner of Honey Pig Donuts,
recently appeared on the Cooking Channel’s “Cake Hunters.”
REACH: 13,331 people (as of 9/11/17)