March 14, 2010 · www.gothamgazette.com |
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- Christian Wolan on Monserrate's New Face
- David King on Budget Puts Spinal Cord Injury Research in Jeopardy
- Courtney Gross on Towering Debt
- Spencer Woodman on Taking a Toll
- Douglas Muzzio on Revising the Rules
Governing Archive:

New Voting Machines Are on the Way -- Probably
March 03, 2010 — New York's clunky lever voter machines should fade into history before September's primary -- unless a federal probe and a lawsuit stymie the switch to a new technology.

New York City Council Races Get More Competitive
December 16, 2009 — Incumbency remained a huge advantage in the 2009 City Council contests, but it was not quite the ticket to victory it once was. Just ask five defeated council members and several others who managed to eke out only narrow victories.

Campaign Finance Laws Fill Coffers for Cars, Coffee and Court
December 07, 2009 — In Albany, money doesn't talk -- it roars. State law lets politicians collect cash from virtually anyone and use it almost as they please. So, critics ask, is it any wonder the state has problems?
November 04, 2009 — Who won and who lost on Nov. 3.

Making the Rules on Running and Ruling
October 19, 2009 — Michael Bloomberg's handling of issues involving elections and governance raises the question: Is he above politics or a politician whose wealth lets him play the game in a different way?

A Heartbeat Away -- But What is the Public Advocate?
September 14, 2009 — What's a public advocate -- and why do we have one?
July 07, 2009 — Candidates have until Thursday to file petitions to get on the primary ballot. Do you have what it takes to get on the ballot and stay there? Play 'Bump,' our latest game, and find out.
Getting on the Ballot in Other Cities
June 30, 2009 —

Understanding the Labyrinth: New York's Ballot Access Laws
June 29, 2009 — Has a politician asked for your signature lately? No wonder. Getting on the ballot, staying there and knocking opponents off has become a political blood sport.
Where Is New York's Lieutenant Governor?
May 15, 2009 — The post of lieutenant governor has remained vacant since David Paterson became governor more than a year ago. And it will remain that way until January2011. DeNora Getachew reviews the situation and how the state might fix it.
The Legislature Takes on Election Reform
April 14, 2009 — The state legislature has won few points for legislative activism these past few months, but one area where it might take action is election reform.
Special Elections: Better than the Alternative?
March 06, 2009 — With three special elections just completed and another on the way, Andrea Senteno looks at how New York City replaces elected officials who leave office mid-term.
January 29, 2009 — A number of changes could make it easier to vote in New York State and increase the number of people who cast ballots.
In New York, Those in Power, Stay in Power
August 01, 2008 — With New York's primary less than six weeks away, few incumbent legislators face anything resembling a credible challenge.
Voter Identification Laws: Safeguard or Barrier?
June 27, 2008 — The State Senate recently passed a bill requiring all people to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote. The move represents a growing trend toward stricter laws on voter identification.
Reinforcing Voting's Front Line
May 29, 2008 — With new voting technology on the way, the Board of Elections is seeking to add poll workers and ensure that they are more competent and better trained<
Putting Public Money into Politics
April 23, 2008 —
Follow the Count, Super Tuesday Votes Revisited
March 21, 2008 — When primary election night results found Illinois Sen. Barack Obama without a single vote in some of the city's African-American neighborhoods, reporters, the public and some politicians got suspicious. Andrea Senteno looks at what happened and how those "unofficial results" are tallied.
Signs of a Sea Change In Voting
February 21, 2008 — This fall will mark the first time ever that disabled New Yorkers will be able to vote privately and independently, without the help of a friend or poll worker. But it's taken the state a long time to reach this point, and much more remains to be done.
January 28, 2008 — If you're a Green for Giuliani, a Democrat for Romney, or a Republican for Clinton, you won't be able to vote for your candidate in the February 5 primary.
New Voting Machines May Not Meet State Standards
December 19, 2007 — The U.S. Department of Justice wants New York State to have new voting machines by November’s election. But some advocates worry that replacing the old lever machines right before the presidential election could cause major problems.
November 28, 2007 — Following a heated controversy in 2000, New York’s Republican Party has made it far easier for contenders get on the presidential primary ballot, creating the party’s most democratic contest in memory.
October 31, 2007 — The Census includes prisoners as residents of the county where they are serving time, skewing congressional and legislative districts and giving residents of some counties more political power than others.
Poll Site Access for the Disabled
August 23, 2007 — Millions of disabled New Yorkers still face obstacles to voting independently and privately.
The Campaign Fundraising Begins
July 24, 2007 — New restrictions on campaign fundraising, not yet in effect, will give a boost to candidates who have already begun collecting money for the 2009 city campaigns.
Candidates for Citywide And Boroughwide Office II
July 23, 2007 —
Candidates for Citywide And Boroughwide Office I
July 23, 2007 —
Encouraging Young New Yorkers to Vote
June 28, 2007 — A number of measures and programs seek to encourage young people to register to vote. But will they be enough to get New Yorkers aged 18 to 24 to the polls in 2008?
Election Reform: Big Changes, Little Notice
May 29, 2007 — Governor Eliot Spitzer has proposed reforms that could fundamentally change how New Yorkers run for office and vote, but the sweeping plan has attracted little attention.
Will Voting Reforms Discourage Minority Voting?
April 27, 2007 — Efforts to stop voter fraud – an often exaggerated problem – may prevent legitimate voters from casting ballots, write Doug Island and Andrea Senteno.
Voting Machine -- The Four Finalists
January 26, 2007 — A look at the four voting machines that are in the running to replace the lever machine with which New Yorkers have been voting since 1962.
November 13, 2006 —
September 29, 2006 — There are more independent voters in New York City than there are registered members of the Republican, Conservative, Working Families and Independence parties combined. Yet, efforts to involve unaffiliated voters in the political process are happening…elsewhere.
State Races And Incumbency – How New York Is Not Connecticut
August 21, 2006 — While they have not gotten the attention of the Democratic primary for Senator in Connecticut, there are a few competitive races for the state legislature. A look at the primary election action.
Enabling Voters With Disabilities?
June 07, 2006 — Unable to comply fully with the federal requirements, New York’s board of elections has agreed to improve the ability of the disabled to cast an independent and private vote on Election Day. But will “Plan B” be effective?
April 21, 2006 — The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is as relevant in New York City as in Alabama or Mississippi -- and provisions of it expiring next year are about to be hotly debated.
March 01, 2006 — What’s most alarming about the recent “Special Election” to fill vacancies in the New York State Legislature, argues Amy Ngai of Citizens Union Foundation, is not the dismal turnout or the undemocratic nominating process, but that the new legislators, though elected for only about six months, have become instant incumbents. And being an incumbent in the New York legislature means never having to say goodbye.
Five First Steps At The City Council
February 02, 2006 — Will the City Council under Christine Quinn convert the skeptics? Doug Israel looks at the passage of "five small but signficant reforms meant to make the legislative body more democratic."
November 09, 2005 — Mayor Bloomberg will have to do more in Albany and Washington if he wants to fulfill his second term promises.
After Clarence Norman: Is Reform Possible?
October 31, 2005 — Continuing shenanigans in Brooklyn indicate how difficult it will be to reform politics – despite the transformation of Clarence Norman from borough Democratic boss to convicted felon.
September 15, 2005 — This year’s Democratic primary ended with recounts and a runoff nobody wants – in other words, its share of weirdness. Is there a better way to do things? Are some things best the way they are?
Campaign 2005: Elections Themselves Are Issues
August 25, 2005 — The one issue that candidates for public office consider more important than any other is the one they are least eager to talk about – the process of getting elected to office. It is an issue that will last far beyond the current campaign.
Ballot-Bumping, NYC's Bloodsport
July 27, 2005 — It is easy to express outrage against the system of signature-gathering and signature-challenging in New York, in which candidates knock each other off the ballot on legal technicalities. But there is a reason why ballot bumping persists as the city’s bloodsport – witness the latest action by Michael Bloomberg.
Poll Workers And Better Elections
June 28, 2005 — Replacing the old voting machines will solve only part of the Election Day problems, according to Doug Israel, who co-authored one of two new reports pointing to another challenge – the inadequate number, and poor performance, of poll workers.
May 26, 2005 — Thanks to the state legislature's decision not to decide, city election officials will now have to pick new voting machines -- and quickly. Doug Israel explains.
April 25, 2005 — Doug Israel looks at the latest voting rights movement -- the right of non-citizens to vote.
Another Charter Revision Commission, And Three New Ballot Proposals
March 29, 2005 — There is yet another charter revision commission, with three new ballot proposals being considered for the fall.
The First Campaign Finance Reports; Also, Preview Of 2006
January 24, 2005 — The candidates for city office have released their first campaign finance reports, a traditional method of sorting out who is really in a race -- and who is in denial.
November 01, 2004 —
Barriers To Voter Registration
October 04, 2004 — The last day to register to vote is October 8th. But why? The premature deadline, Doug Israel writes, is just one of four concrete barriers to registering that shouldn
September 13, 2004 — New Yorkers will now be required to present some form of identification when they go to vote for the first time, starting with the primary. This is the biggest change that New York has made so far of all those required by a federal law passed after the embarrassing breakdown of Election Day 2000 in Florida. But, as Jillian Matundan points out, this change is not necessarily an improvement.
August 05, 2004 — "The only thing more dysfunctional than New York¹s voting system is the State Legislature in Albany," writes Jillian Matundan, which is why New York is losing out on millions of federal dollars to fix what's broken.
Using Republican As An Epithet
July 16, 2004 — Susan Reefer argues that Republican seems to have become a dirty word in New York this summer. And, in the debut of a convention weblog, Carmen Cusido, who describes herself as "an unusual Republican - I am a Latina college student from a working class neighborhood," explains why she hopes to be accepted as one of the 8,000 volunteers at the Republican National Convention.
April 23, 2004 — Susan Reefer looks at the proposed legislation to allow non-citizen New Yorkers to vote in local elections -- which could add a million voters to the rolls.
March 24, 2004 — Despite all the promises, New York City has the same old broken down voting machines. But that, as it turns out, might be a good thing. Susan Reefer explains.
February 26, 2004 — Susan Reefer looks at Super Tuesday, which allows New York, in effect, to have the last word.
January 21, 2004 — Though the Help America Vote Act does represent the biggest single set of voting reforms seen since the Voting Rights Act, Susan Reefer says, it may not address the most serious cases of voter disenfranchisement.
New Campaign Financing Proposals - And Who They Benefit
December 15, 2003 — New proposals, if passed into law, "will help to define New York City as having some of the most far-reaching campaign financing in the country," writes Susan Reefer, who explores what money can and cannot do for a campaign.
Clarence Norman And Non-Partisan Elections
October 28, 2003 — Susan Reefer looks at the charges against Brooklyn Democratic Party leader Clarence Norman, and analyzes what could, what should, and what will not change if supporters of non-partisan elections use the example of Norman to help win in November.
September 25, 2003 — Susan Reefer reflects on low voter turnout, and how the proposed new system of non-partisan elections might make it even lower.
Primary Elections, And The Ballot Proposals For November
August 28, 2003 — Susan Reefer previews the September 9th primary election, and the recently-approved proposals for the November ballot.
Bloomberg’s Plunge In The Polls; Also: Committee On Vacancies
July 31, 2003 — Susan Reefer looks at the polls that record Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plunging popularity. Also: how James Davis’s substitute was selected
June 10, 2003 — Doug Muzzio dissects the 1965 Voting Rights Act, created “as a culmination of the black civil rights movement,” and how and why it continues to apply not just to the Deep South but to three boroughs of New York City.
April 23, 2003 — Susan Reefer looks at the possible effects of the latest twist in the term limits law.
The Hispanic Vote; Also, New Charter Commission For Non-Partisan Elections
March 28, 2003 — Doug Muzzio gives an overview of Hispanic voting in New York. Also: The mayor has created yet another charter revision commission to recommend non-partisan election in a way that makes him the "Four Billion Dollar Gorilla." Muzzio explains.
February 20, 2003 — Susan Reefer looks at the nature of special elections, four of which are being held in the city Tuesday, February 25, for two city council seats and two state assembly seats in the Bronx and Brooklyn.
Nonpartisan Elections And Charter Revision
January 22, 2003 — The mayor is reportedly thinking of appointing yet another charter revision commission to study non-partisan elections once again. This would be the fifth in five years. Doug Muzzio looks at the recent history of charter review commissions and of the issue of non-partisan elections.
November 01, 2002 —
The Help America Vote Act -- The Good News and Bad News For NYC
October 01, 2002 —
9/11/01-02: Altering The Political Landscape
September 01, 2002 —
September 01, 2002 —
How You Can Tell How They're Doing
August 01, 2002 —
State Campaign Finance Reports
July 01, 2002 —
June 01, 2002 —
May 01, 2002 —
The New Voter Identification Requirement
April 01, 2002 —
January 01, 2002 —
December 01, 2001 —
Will Something Be Done About the Board of Elections?
November 01, 2001 —
October 01, 2001 —
A Plea For Same-Day Voter Registration
September 01, 2001 —
What Is Wrong With The Board Of Elections?
August 01, 2001 —
What Is Wrong With The Board Of Elections?
July 01, 2001 —
June 01, 2001 —
Michael Bloomberg and the Legacy of Self-Financed Candidates
April 01, 2001 —
Right for All the Wrong Reasons
March 01, 2001 —
February 01, 2001 —
January 01, 2001 —
What Can We Do To Fix This -- and Should We?
December 01, 2000 —
Election Special--Campaign Finance: In Need of Reforms?
October 01, 2000 —
September 01, 2000 —
In The News: The Republican National Convention
August 01, 2000 —
Advice for Taming the Dog Days of Summer
July 01, 2000 —
July 01, 2000 —
June 01, 2000 —
May 01, 2000 —
March 01, 2000 —
December 01, 1999 —
November 01, 1999 —
