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In Tuesday’s general election, there are 35 City Council races with more than one candidate on the ballot, as well as contests for District Attorney, Civil Court, Surrogate and Supreme Court judges, and two proposals that would amend the state constitution in relation to debt limits.
Adi Talwar
A poll site in the Bronx on Election Day in November 2022.It’s Election Day in New York City.
Following a quiet primary in June, voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their final ballots this year in races for NYC Council and district attorney as well as for Civil Court, Surrogate and Supreme Court judge positions. There are also two proposals that would amend the state constitution in relation to debt limits.
According to the NYC Board of Elections, nearly 86,000 residents already voted during the early voting period, which ended Sunday. That’s just a small fraction, or roughly 1.9 percent, of the 4,592,628 active voters registered in the city as of February.
Find your poll site and see a sample ballot here.
Can’t remember if you’re registered to vote? Check here.
Run into issues at the polls?
Check the State Attorney General’s list of common problems here,
or call the Election Protection Hotline at (866) 390-2992.
Not sure what the make of the choices on the ballot? Find City Limits’ overview of the various contests below. The polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
NYC Council
While members of the New York City Council typically serve four-year terms, the slate of 51 current lawmakers elected to their posts in 2021 are running again just two years later. This is due to redistricting, in which Council districts are redrawn every 10 years based on the latest census population counts. Maps of the reconfigured districts can be found here.
On Tuesday, 15 incumbent councilmembers are running unopposed, as is Councilmember-elect Yusef Salaam, who won the primary for his Harlem seat in June.
The remaining 35 Council contests include three candidates vying for the newly established District 43, Brooklyn’s first Asian-Majority district which encompasses portions of Sunset Park, Borough Park and Bensonhurst.
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Nearby, in what has become one of the most hotly contested races this year, Brooklyn Councilmembers Justin Brannan and Ari Kagan are facing off to represent the redrawn 47th District, to include Bay Ridge and parts of Bath Beach and Coney Island.
Other competitive races on Tuesday’s ballot include District 13 in the East Bronx, where incumbent Democrat Marjorie Velazquez is up against Republican challenger Kristy Marmorato, and Queens’ District 19, which spans College Point and Whitestone, where Republican incumbent Vickie Paladino faces Democrat Tony Avella, a former councilmember and state senator.
District Attorneys
Bronx DA Darcel D. Clark is running unopposed, as is Staten Island DA Michael E. McMahon. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz is up against two contenders: Republican Michael Mossa and George A. Grasso, who is running on the “Public Safety” party line.
Judicial Positions
Candidates for several judicial roles are the ballot Tuesday. They include:
- State Supreme Court justices, who oversee large felony and civil cases within their districts, including divorce, separation, annulment proceedings, civil matters exceeding $50,000 as well as criminal prosecutions of felonies. They serve 14-year terms.
- County and District Civil Court Judges, who are elected to 10-year terms and hear cases involving civil matters up to $50,000, landlord and tenant matters and cases involving maintenance of housing standards, and the criminal prosecution of misdemeanors.
- Surrogate Court Judges, who decide cases involving wills and estates, as well as adoptions and guardianship matters. Their terms are 14 years.
For information on specific candidates, check out the New York Daily News’ guide here.
Ballot Proposals
There are two proposed amendments to the New York State Constitution on Tuesday’s ballot, to which residents are asked to vote “yes” or “no.”
One asks voters whether the state should lift debt limits on “small city” school districts across New York, defined as cities with fewer than 125,000 people. Doing so, supporters told City & State, would make it easier for school districts in those cities to borrow for capital projects.
The second proposal on Tuesday’s ballot would extend current exemptions for sewage construction projects from municipalities’ debt limits for another 10 years. Without an extension, some cities and towns may be left unable to take on needed sewer and water projects, one supporter told WXXI News.
Voting Tuesday? Let our reporters know about any issues you face by emailing editor Jeanmarie Evelly: [email protected].
