The official ballot wording of every City Charter question on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Every voter in the city sees all of them.
Your address goes to the City's Geoclient service to find your districts. This site does not save it.
Five changes to the City Charter, proposed by the 2026 Charter Revision Commission.
Every voter in the city sees all of them, after the races. The wording below is exactly what appears on the ballot.
The commission's final report and the
full text of the amendments are on its website.
Under each proposal: what others have said about it, quoted as published and credited, with a link to where they said it. The Civic Stoop takes no position on any proposal.
On all five together
“Cutting nonprofit and small business procurement time by more than half, adding a formal rainy-day fund, consolidating 40 permits across 18 offices into a single hub, streamlining the use of public space, and unlocking more than $200 million in value from underutilized City property are exactly the kinds of reforms our industry has been calling for.”
Speed Up Process for Granting a Revocable Consent to Use Public Space
Simplify process to use public space for uses such as ramps, planters and cafes, by removing mandatory hearings and Council disapproval of sidewalk cafes, while maintaining community and Council input.
Yesspeeds up process to use public space while maintaining community input.
Nomaintains longer process with mandatory public hearing to use public space and Council review of sidewalk cafes.
The Commission's own summary
This proposal would simplify the process for the City to grant a "revocable consent" to a property owner to use public property for private use like benches, ramps, planters, and cafes. It would eliminate a requirement that a City agency hold a hearing prior to granting a revocable consent and remove the requirement to publish notice in newspapers in advance of public hearings for revocable consents and franchises. With respect to sidewalk cafes, this proposed Charter amendment would remove City Council's power to disapprove a sidewalk cafe, while retaining the requirement that notice be provided to the relevant Community Board, Borough President and Councilmember.
“These proposed reforms will allow us to reduce costs and reclaim valuable time by streamlining paperwork, eliminating unnecessary fines, and simplifying complex regulatory requirements.”
Reduce City Contractor Paperwork; Require Regular Meetings of Procurement Policy Board
Reduce paperwork for City contractors by authorizing Procurement Policy Board to simplify contractor questionnaire. Require quarterly meetings of the Procurement Policy Board. Remove mandatory hearing for required client services report.
Yesamends Procurement Policy Board authority, including to simplify contractor questionnaire; authorizes Mayor to delegate certain contract approvals.
Noleaves laws unchanged, with Mayor and Comptroller maintaining longer questionnaire.
The Commission's own summary
This proposal would make various changes to the City's laws governing procurement. It would allow the Procurement Policy Board to simplify a questionnaire that contractors must fill out before seeking City contracts to reduce burdens for smaller businesses contracting with the City; remove a requirement that agencies hold a hearing each year relating to a report about client services contracts; authorize the Mayor to delegate authority to approve certain contracts to agencies; and require the Procurement Policy Board to meet at least quarterly to promote transparency in the City's rules governing procurement.
“We strongly support quarterly meeting requirements for the Procurement Policy Board, which has not met on a regular basis, even while many important contracting policies should be addressed.”
“There's no one change that could be made that will magically unlock city contracting timelines. But I think only shaving 30 days off when it's as long as it is really shows there's a lot more work to be done.”
“These changes to the Charter will affect all future administrations and will provide for less oversight by eliminating the Mayoral oversight of the $5 million cap approval and the open bidding process by ACCO.”
Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing
Simplify review of street safety projects to reduce construction timelines. Fast track disposition of unused City property with approval from City Planning Commission. Expedite leasing offices used for City workforce.
Yessimplifies street project approval, City property disposition and office leasing.
Nomaintains intra-agency consultation for road projects, Council approval for City property dispositions and Council disapproval of office leases.
The Commission's own summary
This proposal would simplify the approval process for street safety projects by eliminating certain intra-agency consultation requirements. This proposal would also allow the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to sell or otherwise dispose of smaller City-owned properties and development rights using an expedited land use review process, make permanent a program allowing DCAS to sell certain undevelopable properties without public auction, and speed up the process for the City's acquisition of office space for City employees by removing a public hearing before the City Planning Commission and review by the City Council.
“We're particularly excited about ballot proposals one and three, to speed up outdoor dining permitting and fast-track the installation of street infrastructure that will both save lives and save commuters a great deal of time.”
“As proposed, this question does NOT advance a single, coherent governmental purpose: The street proposals are in no way related or legally, managerially, or organizationally interdependent with the other two elements.”
“It removes Council review of City property, eliminating an independent layer of oversight for transactions that can involve millions of taxpayer dollars.”
Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings
Create centralized construction permits hub to simplify permitting. Move waterfront permitting from Department of Small Business Services to Department of Buildings. Allow construction approval by additional Department of Buildings officials.
Yessimplifies permitting by authorizing a centralized permitting hub, moving waterfront permitting to Department of Buildings, and allowing additional Department of Buildings officials to issue approvals.
Noleaves laws unchanged.
The Commission's own summary
This proposal would authorize the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings (DOB) to appoint additional deputy commissioners and additional borough commissioners who could approve construction documents as part of the permitting process. This proposal would also direct DOB, in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Fire Department, and the Department of Transportation, to develop a centralized construction permit submission and approval system. Finally, this proposal would transfer responsibility for permitting along the waterfront from the Department of Small Business Services to DOB.
“A more coordinated approach to permitting would provide a predictable path from planning to construction, reduce unnecessary delays and costs, and allow developers to better focus on building the affordable homes New Yorkers need.”
No published concern found. League of Women Voters of the City of New York wrote: “We believe this is a straightforward proposal and could not identify any cons.”
Set Contribution Targets for Rainy Day Fund to Promote Sufficient Budgetary Reserves
Set target amount of money to hold in reserve funds, including rainy day fund, to address unexpected financial hardships in future years, and require development of methodology to calculate contributions.
Yesrequires Mayor to develop methodology for calculating deposits to rainy day fund, with deposits subject to approval in the City budget.
Noleaves laws unchanged, with no reserves target.
The Commission's own summary
This proposal would set a target amount of funds for the City to maintain in the revenue stabilization fund (also known as the "Rainy Day Fund") and other reserve funds. The Mayor's Office of Management and Budget would be required to publish a methodology regarding deposits into the Rainy Day Fund. Deposits would be required in accordance with that methodology, subject to appropriation through the annual budget process. The methodology would be subject to a 30-day public comment period and a public hearing. The City could not withdraw more than 50 percent of the amount of the fund except when the Mayor certifies that there is a compelling fiscal need.
“This is an important milestone, and we look forward to working through the remaining policy details to ensure the final measure gives the City the strong fiscal safeguards it needs.”
“While today's action marks meaningful progress, key elements of the proposal remain unresolved – including the rules governing deposits and withdrawals and a clear definition of what qualifies as a reserve fund.”
“This proposal shifts greater authority over the source of the contributions to the executive branch, reducing the Council's role despite its Charter-mandated budget responsibilities and limiting the collaborative approach that has long guided the City's fiscal planning.”
Oct 19Last day for a change of address to reach the Board of Elections in time for this election (at least 15 days before)
Oct 24Last day for the Board to receive your voter registration, and to receive a request for an early mail or absentee ballot sent to you by mail
Oct 24 to Nov 1Early voting. Hours vary by county
Nov 2Last day to apply in person for an early mail or absentee ballot
Tue, Nov 3Election Day, polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A mail ballot must be postmarked by today and reach the Board by Nov 10, or be dropped off at a poll site or your county Board of Elections office by 9 p.m.
Where to vote
Your Election Day poll site and your early voting site are assigned by the Board of Elections, and they can differ.
Races, candidates, party lines and proposal wording:
NYC Board of Elections, General Contest List,
printed September 11, 2026. The Board marks this list tentative and subject to change.
Through Election Day this page is checked against the Board's newest printing every night.
Dates: New York State Board of Elections, registration and voting deadlines, early voting, requesting a ballot, election information.
Districts for an address: NYC Geoclient. Proposal wording matches the 2026 Charter Revision Commission's adopted text.