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NYC ballot proposals: What voters will decide on
FOX 5 NY's Sharon Crowley breaks down the five ballot proposals New York voters will have to decide on this Election Day.
NEW YORK CITY - A ballot proposal is a proposed amendment to the city's constitution. Here are the five proposals that will be on the ballot this election.
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2026 ballot proposals for NYC
Local perspective:
Each proposal would institute some change to how the city's government operates if passed.
JUMP TO: PROP 1 | PROP 2 | PROP 3 | PROP 4 | PROP 5
Ballot proposal 1
The first ballot proposal concerns the process of installing outdoor structures in public spaces.
If passed, this proposal would streamline the process property and business owners currently undergo in order to install structures like benches, accessibility ramps and outdoor cafés.
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Under this proposal, the public hearings typically required would become optional, and there would be fewer formal review steps.
Ballot proposal 2
The next proposed ballot would alter the city's contracting process by simplifying the questionnaire and require the Procurement Policy Board to meet regularly.
If passed, the board could reduce the requirements for certain contractors, and the board would meet at least once every three months.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office says that this proposal would lessen the administrative burdens on "small businesses and nonprofits that contract with the city."
Ballot proposal 3
The third ballot proposal would change the city's approval process for:
- Major transportation projects
- The sale or lease of certain city-owned properties
- The city's acquisition of office space
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Mamdani's office predicts that this proposal, if passed, would speed up street safety projects by at least 33%.
Ballot proposal 4
This ballot, if passed, would simplify construction permitting by authorizing additional agency officials to approve projects.
This proposed ballot would also require the Department of Buildings to create a centralized system for submitting and approving permit applications by 2030.
Ballot proposal 5
The final ballot proposal would set savings targets for the city's "rainy day fund," which is money the city has set aside to tackle potential economic downturns, emergencies or revenue shortfalls.
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If passed, this proposal would require the mayor to develop methodology for calculating deposits for this emergency fund.
The Source: This article includes information from New York City's government websites.