The Board of Elections in the City of New York conducts New York elections within New York City. It is an administrative body of ten Commissioners, two from each borough upon recommendation by both political parties and then appointed by the New York City Council for a term of four years. Over the past few years, the Board has come under fire for what is widely seen as its botched handling of several recent elections.
Role and responsibilities
The Board of Elections in the City ofNew York, as provided under, is responsible:
Conducting fair and honest elections, from local to federal levels: the preparation of the ballot for primary, special and general elections to the extent that all vacancies for public office and party positions may be filled.
Enfranchising all eligible New Yorkers to register to vote and to practice those rights: that qualified voters may exercise their right to franchise and that every opportunity be given to voters to execute that right and to vote for whom they choose.
Conducting elections, certify the canvass and to retain the official records: that the votes of the electorate at primary, special and general elections be properly canvassed and that a true count be given for each candidate voted for.
Voter outreach and education: that the Board makes every effort to inform and educate the voting public of their rights as a voter and also to reach out to all Americans to instruct them in the voting process.
The Board is responsible under the Election Law for the following:
Processing and verification of candidate petitions/documents
Campaign finance disclosures of candidates and campaign committees
Recruiting, training and assigning the various Election Day officers to conduct elections
Operate poll site locations
Maintain, repair, setup and deploy the Election Day operation equipment
Ensure each voter their right to vote at the polls or by absentee ballot
Canvassing and certification of the vote
Voter education, notification and dissemination of election information
Preparation of maps of various political subdivisions
Organization and structure
There are ten commissioners, two from each of the five boroughs of New York City. One of these two is from each of the two parties whose candidates got the most votes in the last gubernatorial election. Since the top two candidates in the last election represented the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party get five representatives each on the Board of Elections. The ten Commissioners meet once a week at 32 Broadway, New York, NY, on the sixth floor. The Commissioners appoint a bipartisan staff to oversee the daily activities of its main and five borough offices. These include over 10 Chief and Deputy Chief Clerks, 316 deputies, clerks and other personnel who ensure that no one party controls the Board of Elections. The Board appoints an executive staff consisting of an Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and other senior staff managers charged with the responsibility to oversee the operations of the Board on a daily basis. Together, the executive and support staffs provide a wide range of electoral services to residents in Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
