The Campaign Finance Board (CFB) and its Voter Assistance Advisory Committee (VAAC) announce the release of the 2014-2015 Voter Assistance Annual Report. The Report, mandated by the City Charter, outlines the agency’s voter engagement activities and includes key legislative recommendations to improve the voter experience and increase participation in city elections.
“This year we mark the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights law protecting every citizen’s fundamental voting rights. Yet today, fewer Americans are exercising their right to vote, and here in New York City turnout is at an all-time low. In 2014, fewer than one in five eligible voters cast a ballot to elect the governor. The Voter Assistance Annual Report details our efforts to reverse this trend through our NYC Votes outreach and advocacy programs,” said Onida Coward Meyers, the CFB’s Director of Voter Assistance.
“In light of New York’s record low voter participation rates, CFB’s voter engagement efforts are more important than ever,” said Art Chang, who serves as chair of VAAC and is also a member of the Campaign Finance Board. “The NYC Votes programs, from helping register youth voters to boosting turnout on Election Day to advocating for needed election reforms, help ensure that all New Yorkers can fully participate in our democratic process.”
The Report outlines the work done by the CFB and VAAC between April 2014 and March 2015 to educate and energize New York City voters through the NYC Votes campaign:
- Get-Out-The-Vote Campaign: Before the 2014 general election in November, NYC Votes and its partners contacted newly registered voters via direct mail, email, telephone, and door-to-door canvassing. Of the voters who were contacted by NYC Votes, nearly 28% voted compared to a turnout rate of 19% for all newly registered voters.
- NYC Student Voter Registration Day (SVRD): The CFB, in partnership with Council Member Helen Rosenthal and the Department of Education, registered over 2,000 students to vote during this first annual event.
- NYC Voter Guide: NYC Votes’ nonpartisan, comprehensive guides provided essential information about the candidates and proposals on the 2014 ballot.
- #VoteBetterNY Advocacy Day for Election Reform: For the first time in May 2014, NYC Votes led a group of citizen advocates to lobby their state legislators for election reforms.
The Report also details voter turnout statistics from the 2014 elections, with interactive maps showing turnout by borough, congressional district, and state legislative districts.
The VAAC will hold a public hearing to discuss the Report on May 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the Office of the New York City Comptroller One Centre Street, Room 530 South Board Room. We welcome any comments on the Report.
NYC Votes is the non-partisan voter engagement campaign of the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) and its Voter Assistance Advisory Committee (VAAC). In addition to promoting voter registration, participation, and civic engagement in New York City through its many programs and partnerships, NYC Votes sponsors the city’s official Debate Program and produces the citywide Voter Guide.