Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Waiting for a sign


The Topic: "Elections" refers to the processes through which candidates appeal to the citizenry, and the citizenry chooses who among those candidates will represent them. Also known as: the basis of democracy; a passZ phenomenon. Near synonyms: voting, campaigns.

The Context: By and large, New Yorkers don't vote. Though the number of registered voters who turn out on election day has fluctuated, the overall trend has been downward. Fewer people voted in 1997 than in 1953, though the number of registered voters rose by more than a million (never mind how many more were eligible). In the last School Board election, a mere 3.3% of those eligible actually voted. This declining turnout has been a gradual process that has become a reality of NYC politics.

Susan Reefer is a Republican pollster and media strategist. She is based in New York City.



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