Photo by Jake Naviasky

Yaeji

I am voting this November because I want to protect the people I love and vouch for the ones who are underrepresented and disadvantaged. The elections in New York, where I live, seem safely Democratic-leaning. Not all Democratic candidates have agendas that consider minority communities such as LGBTQ+ and people of color, and not all candidates have the cleanest record (like Governor Andrew Cuomo), but it’s our best bet to vote for the Democratic candidates who have a chance of being elected.

Ballot proposals, on the other hand, are the part of this election that we can really change, and they may prove to be significant. For those who are unaware, on the back of each ballot cast in New York City, there are three proposals that we can choose “yes” or “no” on. This year, they are:

Question 1: Campaign Finance

I vote yes. If voted yes, the city will lower the amount of funds a candidate running for office can accept. This means less influence from wealthy special interests/big money donors and the enabling of more people with diverse backgrounds and experiences to run for office. In other words, it encourages candidates to focus more on directly communicating with actual voters.

Question 2: Civic Engagement Commission

I vote yes. Yes means the city will create a new budget program for town meetings. People who attend the meetings can assign it where they want. This means people have more control over where their tax money goes. Also language interpreters will be provided as resource—very important!

Question 3: Community Boards

I vote yes. Currently, in many neighborhoods, the community board members are mostly (if not all) white, straight, and over the age of 40, as well as predominantly male. This definitely does not accurately represent the diverse community of New York City. If we say yes to this proposal, members will be limited to four consecutive two-year terms. The community boards can become more diverse and more reflective of their neighborhoods’ demographics.