New York, New York, Question 6, Move City Elections to Even-Numbered Years Charter Amendment (November 2025)

New York Question 6
Election date November 4, 2025
Topic Local charter amendments and Local elections and campaigns
Status On the ballot
Type Referral

New York Question 6 is on the ballot as a referral in New York on November 4, 2025.

A "yes" vote supports moving the city’s primary and general elections to coincide with federal presidential election years, when permitted by state law.

A "no" vote opposes changing the city election schedule, keeping city elections in odd-numbered years.

A simple majority is required to approve the measure. In order for the measure to go into effect, a statewide constitutional amendment would also be required.

Election results

New York Question 6
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		0	0.00%
No		0	0.00%

Overview

What would this amendment do with New York City elections?

This amendment would change city elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. This would impact the elections for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, members of the council, and borough presidents. The first even-numbered election would occur in 2028, with subsequent elections every four years. These even-year elections would coincide with the presidential general elections starting in 2028. Term lengths would be temporarily adjusted to coincide with the new schedule—some four-year terms would be adjusted to three-year terms until 2028, or one year for certain council seats. Shortened terms will not count as full terms when it comes to term limits. This amendment would also update deadlines for the City Redistricting Commission so that the process will line up with even-year election cycles starting in 2032.

In order for the amendment to take effect, a state constitutional amendment would also need to be approved by the voters. Article XIII, Section 8 of the New York Constitution requires that all city officials be elected in odd-numbered years. To change this, the state legislature must approve a constitutional amendment—by a simple majority vote in two consecutive legislative sessions—and place it on the statewide ballot for voter approval, in addition to the local charter amendment being approved by New York City voters. The earliest a constitutional amendment could appear on the ballot, due to the two-session requirement, is 2027.

Do other cities have odd-numbered year elections or even-numbered year elections?

On the statewide level, the majority of U.S. states (45 of them) hold even-numbered year elections for governor and other executive offices. Five states—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia—hold off-cycle statewide elections for governor and other executive offices, while four of these states (all except Kentucky) also hold off-year state legislative elections.

At the city level, six cities out of the top 25 U.S. cities—Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Austin, San Francisco, Washington, DC—hold elections at even-numbered years. Meanwhile, of the top 25 cities, the remaining 17 cities hold elections in odd years.

What are the arguments for and against this measure?

The New York City Charter Revision Commission, the entity which placed the measure on the ballot, said because even-year elections have higher turnout, it means that even-year turnouts have a better representation of voters. The commission said, "Even-year elections in New York see significantly higher turnout than odd-year elections — more than double, on average — and peer cities see significantly higher turnout in local elections held in even years. Indeed, other cities that have synchronized their local elections with the presidential election calendar have seen skyrocketing voter turnout … even-year elections would also likely save taxpayer dollars. Consolidated elections save administrative time and public funds that can be reallocated to voter communication and outreach efforts. In New York City, an estimate by the Independent Budget Office suggests that the savings would total approximately $42 million every two years."

Diane Savino, a member of the commission, opposed the measure, saying that placing local elections on the even-year ballot would take focus away from local candidates and issues. She said, "in a presidential year, local candidates, who are the closest people to their community, will not get the type of attention in their election year, which will be drowned out by the top of the ticket. They buy up all the air time, they buy up all the campaign time. And if you are a local elected official, a council person running in the same year as the president, it’s very possible the drop-off from the top of the ticket to the bottom would do a serious disservice to local government."

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Question 6 is as follows:

“

Proposed Charter Amendment: Move Local Elections to Presidential Election Years to Increase Voter Participation Move the City’s primary and general election dates so that City elections are held in the same year as Federal Presidential elections, when permitted by state law. “Yes” moves City elections to the same year as Federal Presidential Elections, when permitted by state law. “No” leaves laws unchanged.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• State Sen. James Skoufis (D)

Organizations

• Brennan Center for Justice
• Citizens Union of the City of New York
• YVote

Arguments

• New York City Charter Revision Commission: "Even-year elections in New York see significantly higher turnout than odd-year elections — more than double, on average — and peer cities see significantly higher turnout in local elections held in even years. Indeed, other cities that have synchronized their local elections with the presidential election calendar have seen skyrocketing voter turnout … even-year elections would also likely save taxpayer dollars. Consolidated elections save administrative time and public funds that can be reallocated to voter communication and outreach efforts. In New York City, an estimate by the Independent Budget Office suggests that the savings would total approximately $42 million every two years."
• Ben Weinberg, public policy director of Citizens Union: "Holding local elections during even-numbered years will elevate local issues. This is the time where folks are more tuned into electoral politics, the time where most people follow political news."
• Brennan Center for Justice: "The average voter turnout in New York City mayoral elections over the past twenty years is just 29.5 percent – a far lower rate than the turnout for gubernatorial and federal elections in that same period. Even fewer New York City voters turn out for non-mayoral elections in odd years despite competitive races across the boroughs and statewide ballot measures on the ballot. Such dismal turnout frustrates the full potential of an inclusive democracy in New York City. Aligning low-turnout city elections to even-numbered years can help address this problem. Given the experience of other jurisdictions that have aligned their elections, we know this policy can increase voter turnout, promote a more representative electorate, and reduce election administration costs."
• State Sen. James Skoufis (D-42): "We want as many New Yorkers participating in local elections as possible. When we have more people voting in these local races, the outcomes will be more reflective of the people that local leaders then serve, it’s as simple as that."

Opposition

Opponents

Candidates

• Curtis Sliwa (Protect Animals Party, Republican Party) - New York City mayoral candidate

Arguments

• Diane Savino, commissioner on the Charter Revision Commission: "I have serious concerns, as having been a down-ballot candidate, that in a presidential year, local candidates, who are the closest people to their community, will not get the type of attention in their election year, which will be drowned out by the top of the ticket. They buy up all the air time, they buy up all the campaign time. And if you are a local elected official, a council person running in the same year as the president, it’s very possible the drop-off from the top of the ticket to the bottom would do a serious disservice to local governments."
• Errol Louis, columnist for New York Magazine: "The main problem with “one big election” is that national political dynamics would inevitably cause vital city issues unique to New York to get swallowed, distorted, or ignored … And imagine trying to help voters focus on strictly local matters — like when to close Rikers Island, how to fund public housing, or whether to boost money for our parks — while national candidates are spending hundreds of millions of dollars flooding the airwaves with ads for and against sweeping issues like the 900-page Project 2025 agenda. The last thing we need is local candidates bloviating about funding Social Security or supporting NATO instead of telling us how they plan to improve trash pickups, improve the schools, or hire more social workers to help the homeless."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for New York ballot measures

Ballotpedia did not identify ballot measure committees registered to support or oppose the ballot measure.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Learn more about on and off-cycle elections with On the Ballot. Subscribe here.

Background

On-cycle elections and off-cycle elections

Ballotpedia defines on-cycle elections as elections that are held at the same time as Federal elections in November of even-numbered years. On-cycle elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years, including both presidential election years — which are divisible by four — and midterm election years — which are not divisible by four. Elections that are not held on Tuesday following the First Monday in November of an even-numbered year are off-cycle elections. Off-cycle elections can be off-year — held in odd-numbered years — or off-date — for example on the third Tuesday in May. Some off-cycle elections are both off-year and off-date, such as elections held in the Spring of odd-numbered years.

At the statewide level, five states—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia—hold off-cycle statewide elections for governor and other executive offices, while four of these states (all except Kentucky) also hold off-year state legislative elections. The remaining 45 states hold on-cycle elections for state offices.

Election cycles of top 25 U.S. cities

Below are the election cycles for the top 25 U.S. cities based on population at the time of the 2025 general election. "ON" refers to on-cycle elections, while "OFF" refers to off-cycle elections.

Of the top 25 U.S. cities, six cities—Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Austin, San Francisco, Washington, DC—hold on-cycle elections, while 17 cities hold off-cycle elections. San José And Oklahoma City are mixed, with mayoral races occurring in even years, while some council races are held in odd years.

Local election cycles of top 25 U.S. cities

City	Cycle	Notes
New York, NY	OFF	City elections (mayor, council) held in odd years.
Los Angeles, CA	ON	Shifted to even years after voters approved a 2015 charter amendment.
Chicago, IL	OFF	Municipal elections in odd years.
Houston, TX	OFF	Mayor and council elected in odd years.
Phoenix, AZ	ON	Mayor/council elections in even years; runoffs in March of odd years if needed.
Philadelphia, PA	OFF	Citywide elections (mayor, council) in odd years.
San Antonio, TX	OFF	Mayoral and council elections in May of odd years.
San Diego, CA	ON	Consolidated with even-year elections; mayor elected in 2024.
Dallas, TX	OFF	City elections held in May of odd years.
Jacksonville, FL	OFF	Consolidated city elections held in odd years.
Fort Worth, TX	OFF	Mayor and council elected in May of odd years.
San José, CA	MIX	Measure B (2022) moved mayoral to presidential years starting 2024; council elections vary by district.
Austin, TX	ON	Consolidated to even-year November elections by charter change in 2012.
Columbus, OH	OFF	Municipal elections held in odd years.
Charlotte, NC	OFF	Normally odd-year cycle; 2022 was shifted due to redistricting, returning to odd-year after.
San Francisco, CA	ON	Proposition H (2022) moved mayor and key offices to even-numbered years.
Indianapolis, IN	OFF	City elections in odd years.
Seattle, WA	OFF	Mayor and council in odd years.
Denver, CO	OFF	Consolidated city elections in odd years.
Washington, DC	ON	Mayor and council elected in even years.
Boston, MA	OFF	Mayoral and council elections in odd years.
El Paso, TX	OFF	City elections generally in odd years.
Nashville, TN	OFF	Consolidated city-county elections held in odd years.
Detroit, MI	OFF	City elections in odd years.
Oklahoma City, OK	MIX	Mayor and council elected in odd years.

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the New York City Charter Revision Commission.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in New York

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in New York.

How to vote in New York

Poll times

Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for primary and general elections. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in New York, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, city, or village for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the date of the election. People who are in prison for a felony conviction and those who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote. One cannot register to vote in New York while claiming the right to vote elsewhere. Pre-registration is available beginning at the age of 16.

Registration applications are available at the county board of elections or any agency-based voter registration center. Forms are also available online, or prospective voters can request the form by mail. Completed forms returned by mail must be postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election.

The form must then be received by election officials at least 10 days before the election. A registration done in person must be completed at least 10 days prior to the election. Residents may also register to vote online through the DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. These applications are forwarded to the board of elections; applicants should allow up to six weeks for processing.

Automatic registration

New York automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through a number of state agencies including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor, and others.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

New York has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

New York does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

In order to register to vote in New York, applicants must reside in the county, city, or village in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

New York does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, voter who submits false information "can be convicted and fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to four years."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The New York State Board of Elections allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

New York does not require voters to present identification while voting.

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote. Voters can present the following forms of identification:

• A current, valid photo ID
• A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and address

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2025
• Local charter amendments on the ballot

New York

• New York 2025 local measures
• Local ballot measures, New York
• New York, New York

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas