STATEMENT: Fewer than 1 in 4 NYC voters cast a ballot that mattered for mayor

Fewer than a quarter of New York City voters cast a meaningful vote — a ballot that actually mattered in determining the outcome — to elect their next mayor. While results aren’t official yet, and with the ranked choice voting tabulation still to come, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has nonetheless conceded to Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. 

Because NYC is overwhelmingly Democratic, the winner of the Democratic primary is virtually guaranteed to win the general election — leaving most voters without a say.

Unite America issued the following statement:

“The mayor of New York City shouldn’t be determined in a low-turnout party primary where millions of independents can’t participate. But that’s exactly what happened in yesterday’s election. Looking at current vote totals, about one million voters have determined representation in the nation’s largest city. That’s fewer than one in four registered voters in NYC. 

“Elections should be decided in general elections, when most people vote. The solution is simple: open primaries — which increase competition and give every voter the freedom to choose any candidate, regardless of party.”

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Unite America is a philanthropic venture fund that invests in nonpartisan election reform to foster a more representative and functional government.

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