Unite NY/Zogby Strategies Poll Finds Broad Bipartisan Support for Ranked Choice Voting
Vast Majority Embrace Ranked Choice voting to Put People Back in Charge
Albany, NY – A new poll commissioned by Unite NY found Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), an important election reform, to have wide and deep bipartisan support among New York City Voters, with 75 percent saying they agree with having up to five candidates they can choose in rank order.
The poll, conducted by John Zogby Strategies, sampled 1003 likely voters in all five NYC boroughs and revealed that the vast majority of New York City voters found the concept easy to understand, believe it shifts power from party officials to voters, and that it can reduce corruption. This support cut across party lines with 80% of Democrats, 69% of Republicans, and 77% of independents supporting RCV.
Unite NY Founder Martin Babinec said, “This poll clearly demonstrates that voters in New York are not just hungry for, but enthusiastic about bringing real reforms to our electoral process. They are not confused by the process, but rather, understand it and want the choice it brings to the voting booth. We’re building Unite NY to put People Over Party, by supporting changes that put power back in the hands of the voter. Ranked Choice Voting does that – we enthusiastically support it and are heartened to see that New Yorkers do as well. We look forward to seeing the results as we continue to fight hard for additional reforms that allow people, not parties, to pick leaders who will represent us.”
John Zogby, Founder and Senior Partner of Zogby Strategies said, “The polling numbers reveal a local electorate that reflects the national mood of distrust in the electoral process and a willingness to transfer power to the voters and away from party bosses and special interests. Further, it finds that contrary to counterarguments, RCV does not cause confusion and unnecessary complication, and that an overwhelming majority of respondents say they prefer genuine choice, multiple candidates and more opportunities to consider independent candidates.”
Key findings in the poll include that:
- 75% agree that current politics encourages extremes and is “tearing this country apart”
- 72% agree that RCV provides greater voice to candidates not endorsed by parties
- 69% agree that RCV shifts power away from party bosses
- 68% appreciated that RCV avoids a costly post-primary runoff
- 63% believe RCV can reduce corruption
Zogby’s analysis and report can be found here, while the detailed poll data can be found here and the crosstabs here.
RCV will be used for the first time in New York City in this year’s primary and special elections for Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough President and City Council. The poll builds on the results of previous polls, including a NY 1 poll released last week that found 80% of voters are comfortable using ranked-choice voting.
Unite NY, the new political home for independent and moderate voters strongly, supports RCV and has launched a digital advertising campaign to help provide New York City voters with more information on the process. To date, that campaign has generated more than one million impressions and will continue to run right up until primary day. For more information on the initiative, visit Unite NY’s webpage dedicated to Ranked Choice Voting here.
About Unite NY
Unite NY is a new political home in New York State for Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, and independents to come together to seek common sense solutions. This new movement offers a home to more than 3.5 million New York voters not currently enrolled in a major party. Focused on a non-partisan approach to fixing real problems in our government, democracy, and economy, Unite NY supports candidates who understand working together is the only way we can succeed. Further, in 2022, Unite NY seeks to establish a ballot line by running a candidate for Governor to help fill the void created by our loss of 5 of the 7 minor parties previously holding statewide ballot access now eliminated from voter choice as the result of 2020 legislation which tripled the qualification hurdles needed to qualify as a minor party. Learn more, join the movement, or donate at www.UniteNY.org.
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