The Advocate

What's on Your Ballot, New York? 2023 Ballot Proposal Edition

October 31st, 2023

Whether you are voting early, absentee, or on Election Day, remember to flip your ballot! In addition to individual candidates, New Yorkers will vote on two ballot proposals that will impact daily life in New York. Keep reading to learn more about what is on your ballot this election season.

Key Voting Dates

Plan ahead before casting your ballot! Start building your voting plan by staying up to date with this year's New York City Election Calendar.

  • Saturday, October 28 - Sunday, November 5: Vote early in-person before Election Day! Check your early voting poll site and hours before you go.
  • Monday, November 6: This is the deadline to request your absentee ballot in-person.
  • Tuesday, November 7: General Election Day! Head to your poll site between 6 AM - 9 PM. Visit FindMyPollSite.vote.nyc to check your poll site.
  • Tuesday, November 7: This is the deadline to postmark your absentee ballot in the mail or drop it off at a poll site.

"It's crucial in this moment for people to make their voices heard, to make their vote count, to help make our government reflective of and responsive to the needs of our communities. I urge New Yorkers to make their plan to vote – and to make sure you flip your ballot when you do. Ballot proposals directly shape our city and state." – Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams

Ballot Proposals

Proposals in this election are for amendments to the State Constitution. Remember: ballot proposals are on the other side of your ballot! There are two statewide proposals this fall:

Ballot Proposal 1

Removal of Small City School Districts From Special Constitutional Debt Limitation

The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. If this proposal passes, per NYC Votes, “small city school districts would be eligible to have the same debt limit, enacted through statute, as other state school districts.” Click here to learn more about Ballot Proposal 1.

Ballot Proposal 2

Extending sewage project debt exclusion from debt limit

The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution extends for ten years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove from their constitutional debt limits debt for the construction of sewage facilities. If this proposal passes, per NYC Votes, “the exclusion of the costs of the treatment and disposal of sewage from the amount of debt the Constitution allows counties, cities, towns and villages to incur would continue for 10 more years.” Click here to learn more about Ballot Proposal 2.

Be sure to Get Out the Vote this election season! The future of New York State and New York City belongs to each one of us.


By Luiza Teixeira-Vesey, Digital Marketing Specialist and Mirielle Clifford, Deputy Digital Media Director

Image: Get Out the Vote, 2023


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