Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. Local 3 is recommending that those eligible to vote support Melinda Katz for Queens District Attorney and Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate. There are also five ballot measures that will amend the New York City Charter. You will need to flip your ballot over to see these. The problem is that each one has three or more provisions, and while you may support one you have to accept all of the provisions and changes. For that reason it’s tough to make a recommendation on any of them and many groups and organizations are avoiding recommendations altogether. Read them carefully and vote your conscience.
Ranked voting is one of the initiatives. It will change the "winner take all" format if the top vote getter doesn’t receive more than 50% of the votes cast, with the lowest total being eliminated and so on. Complicated. Let the people choose their candidate in an election and the most votes win. Done. Reinventing the wheel? I don’t think so.
Despite the fact that this year is an off-year election, I am still encouraging you to exercise your right to vote and to fulfill your responsibility as a citizen of this great country. Every vote counts, so make yours. And remember, practice makes perfect.
