New York City voters will decide five ballot proposals this November that address housing, land use review, and local elections, following adoption by the 2025 New York City Charter Revision Commission. The proposed reforms emerge from a comprehensive review of the City Charter and target the city’s housing shortage by accelerating affordable development while shifting municipal elections to align with presidential voting years.
Ballot Proposals Targeting Affordable Housing and Land Use Reform
The first four ballot questions focus heavily on streamlining construction timelines and modernizing bureaucratic processes for real estate and infrastructure projects across the five boroughs. Question One establishes an Affordable Housing Fast Track, granting zoning relief powers to the Board of Standards and Appeals for publicly financed projects while creating a streamlined public review track for community districts that currently permit the lowest volumes of affordable housing. Question Two introduces the Expedited Land Use Review Procedure, or ELURP, to simplify land use changes for modest housing increases, property acquisitions, and climate resiliency projects. Question Three creates a new Affordable Housing Appeals Board composed of the Mayor, the City Council Speaker, and the relevant Borough President to give rejected affordable housing proposals a path forward by replacing the mayoral veto at the conclusion of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. Question Four addresses operational hurdles by consolidating and digitizing the official City Map, which currently spans over 8,000 individual paper maps across five borough offices.
Even-Year Elections and Municipal Charter Reforms
Question Five proposes moving New York City’s primary and general elections to even-numbered years to coincide with presidential races, a change city officials project will more than double voter turnout and reduce municipal administrative costs. According to nyc.gov, implementing the shift to even-year local elections also requires an amendment to the New York State Constitution before taking effect. These reforms run parallel to governance discussions led by Mayor Mamdani’s Committee on Government Efficiency, known as COGE, which has examined similar city contracting and budget management protocols.
Public Discussion at New York Law School
The New York Law School Center for New York City and State Law hosted an expert panel discussion to break down the mechanics of all five ballot measures for voters. COGE Chair Patrick Gaspard and Executive Director Ann Cheng delivered presentations detailing the charter commission’s proposals during the morning event at the Manhattan campus auditorium, fielding questions moderated by Center Director Ben Max. The forum provided legal analysis on how the charter changes alter city contracting, outdoor dining approvals, public space infrastructure, and the city’s Rainy Day Fund alongside the land use reforms.
Common Questions Regarding the 2026 Ballot Measures
What specific changes does the Affordable Housing Appeals Board make to city land use decisions?
The newly created board consists of the Mayor, the City Council Speaker, and the relevant Borough President. It replaces the traditional mayoral veto at the end of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure and can overturn City Council decisions on land use applications specifically designated for affordable housing, provided at least two of the three board members vote in agreement.
How does the proposed digital City Map differ from the current system?
The current official City Map consists of more than 8,000 separate paper maps spread across five independent borough offices, creating administrative delays for housing and infrastructure approvals. Question Four consolidates these paper documents into a single, centralized digital platform.
Why does moving local elections to even-numbered years require state action?
While New York City voters decide on the ballot proposal locally, changing the municipal election cycle to coincide with presidential election years conflicts with current election schedules governed by state law. Consequently, the transition cannot be executed without a concurrent amendment to the New York State Constitution.