New York City, New York, Ballot Question 2, Racial Equity Office, Plan, and Commission Amendment (November 2022)

New York Question 2
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Local race and ethnicity
Status a Approved
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers

New York Ballot Question 2 was on the ballot as a referral in New York on November 8, 2022. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this amendment to create an Office of Racial Equity, with a Chief Equity Officer; establish a Commission on Racial Equity; and require the city government and city agencies to produce Racial Equity Plans every two years.

A "no" vote opposed this amendment, thus not creating an Office of Racial Equity; not establishing a Commission on Racial Equity; and not requiring Racial Equity Plans.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Ballot Question 2 was as follows:

“

Ballot Question #2: Establish a Racial Equity Office, Plan, and Commission This proposal would amend the City Charter to: Require citywide and agency-specific Racial Equity Plans every two years. The plans would include intended strategies and goals to improve racial equity and to reduce or eliminate racial disparities; Establish an Office of Racial Equity and appoint a Chief Equity Officer to advance racial equity and coordinate the City’s racial equity planning process. The Office would support City agencies in improving access to City services and programs for those people and communities who have been negatively affected by previous policies or actions, and collect and report data related to equity; and Establish a Commission on Racial Equity, appointed by City elected officials. In making appointments to this Commission, elected officials would be required to consider appointees who are representative of or have experience advocating for a diverse range of communities. The Commission would identify and propose priorities to inform the racial equity planning process and review agency and citywide Racial Equity Plans. Shall this proposal be adopted?

”

Support

Arguments

• Racial Justice Commission: "This proposal strikes at the foundations of how City government operates. The establishment of the Office of Racial Equity would create the framework and foundation to allow the City’s equity work to evolve, adapt, and grow out over time. The work of reimagining a racially just city is not a one-time event. Rather, it is a constant process that requires a continual recommitment to our values."

Opposition

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in New York

The New York City Racial Justice Commission (RJC) referred three charter amendments to the ballot on December 27, 2021.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Minnesota

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in New York.

How to cast a 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 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 2022
• Local race and ethnicity on the ballot
• Local charter amendments on the ballot

New York

• New York 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, New York
• New York, New York

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• New York City Racial Justice Commission
• New York City Board of Elections