Election Day 2024 is around the corner, with early voting starting on October 26. In addition to selecting candidates, New Yorkers will decide on six key ballot proposals—one state constitutional amendment and five New York City Charter revisions. Each proposal covers critical areas like anti-discrimination protections, public sanitation, fiscal planning, public safety, and business diversity. Since these votes are cast individually, understanding each measure is essential. Whether you’re voting early, absentee, or in person on November 5, flipping your ballot to review these proposals will ensure your vote reflects your priorities for New York’s future.
.
Ballot Proposal 1: Adds Certain Protections to the State Bill of Rights
Adds anti-discrimination provisions to the State Constitution. Covers ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. Also covers reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
A “YES” adds these protections against discrimination to the New York State Constitution.
A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.
Ballot Proposal 2: Cleaning Public Property
This proposal would amend the City Charter to expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers.
Voting “Yes” will expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers. Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Ballot Proposal 3: Additional Estimates of the Cost of Proposed Laws and Updates to Budget Deadlines
This proposal would amend the City Charter to require fiscal analysis from the Council before hearings and votes on laws, authorize fiscal analysis from the Mayor, and update budget deadlines.
Voting “Yes” would amend the City Charter to require additional fiscal analysis prior to hearings and votes on local laws, and update budget deadlines. Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Ballot Proposal 4: More Notice and Time Before Votes on Public Safety Legislation
This proposal would require additional public notice and time before the City Council votes on laws respecting the public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments.
Voting “Yes” will require additional notice and time before the Council votes on laws respecting public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments. Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Ballot Proposal 5: Capital Planning
This proposal would amend the City Charter to require more detail in the annual assessment of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines.
Voting “Yes” would require more detail when assessing maintenance needs of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines. Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Ballot Proposal 6: Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBES), Film Permits, and Archive Review Boards
This proposal would amend the City Charter to establish the Chief Business Diversity Officer (CBDO), authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine archive boards.
Voting “Yes” would establish the CBDO to support MWBEs, authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine two boards. Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.
Visit NYC Votes to learn more about each proposal.
Sources: Advocate.nyc.gov/blog/ , Midtown Tribune ,