Happy Black History Month and Lunar New Year and welcome to the DemocracyNYC and NYC Civic Engagement Commission's monthly newsletter! Please see some important updates, resources, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities below.

Voting is Open - We Want to Hear from Youth!

CEC's “It's Our Money” Youth Participatory Budgeting Project

Through Friday, February 26, all New Yorkers ages 9-24 can vote on how to spend $100k. Five projects will be awarded $20k each, and will focus on topics including mental health, civic engagement, education, and arts & culture. Click here to vote and for more information.   

Through the “It's Our Money” youth participatory budgeting pilot project, CEC asked youth to decide how to spend $100k. 50 projects were submitted by community organizations in response to the needs outlined by our youth participants. Share information about this opportunity using this social media toolkit.

Ranked Choice Voting Workshops

As of 2021, NYC is using Ranked Choice Voting in primary and special elections for local offices. Ranked Choice Voting is a new system in which you can rank up to five candidates in order of preference. See upcoming resources and workshops below!

• February 22: Join India Home and DemocracyNYC for a workshop at 1 PM. If you are interested in attending, please email duttat@hra.nyc.gov.
• February 24:  DNYC in collaboration with Medgar Evers College is hosting a Black History Month workshop featuring: Deputy Mayor Thompson, Professor Gregorio Mayers, Lurie Daniel Favors, Jahlil Allah, Kathleen Daniel and Rhodine Louisaire. RSVP at on.nyc.gov/BHMWorkshop.  
• March 3: Join India Home and DemocracyNYC for a Bangla workshop at 3 PM. If you are interested in attending, please email duttat@hra.nyc.gov.
• March 4: Join DNYC and Casita Maria for a Voter Outreach Workshop in Spanish. RSVP at: on.nyc.gov/LatinXEvent.
• March 11: Join CEC, DNYC, and APNA for an Urdu language RCV roundtable. Interpretation will be provided. Information on the event will be posted here in the coming days.

Additional RCV Resources:

• CFB RCV FAQ
• CFB Youth Trainings 
• CFB Voter Guide
• Ranked Choice Voting Workshop in Bangla Video
• Ranked Choice Voting Toolkit
• BOE RCV Information
• CEC RCV Information
• Rank the Vote
• Video Tutorial from MPR News

NYC Local Elections

New York State lags behind many others when it comes to voter turnout, but voting is one way New Yorkers can preserve democracy and ensure their voices are heard and help shape their communities. However, despite the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices, many barriers to voting still persist. By knowing our rights, registering voters, making voting plans, and educating our communities on new systems of voting we can combat voter suppression and move toward greater civic engagement.

Special Elections Updates

Early Voting for Queens City Council District 31 began on Saturday February 13  and will continue until Sunday, February 21. Election Day is February 23. Voters in Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens will choose their new City representative. See more information below and a social media toolkit here. 

Key dates for Queens CD 31:

• February 13: Early Voting Began (Find your early voting site and hours here.)
• February 16: Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (Request your absentee ballot here.)
• February 21: Early Voting Ends
• February 23: Absentee Ballot Mail-In Deadline
• February 23: Election Day (Find your Election Day poll site and hours
  here)

What's on the ballot?

• City Council District 31: Members of the City Council draft and vote on legislation, negotiate the City's budget with the Mayor, and monitor City agencies.
  • See a sample ballot here.
  • Learn more about the City Council.
  • Learn about the candidates.

Other Special Election Key Dates:.

• 3/13-3/21: Early Voting for CD 11 and CD 15 (former Councilmember Cohen's seat and former Councilmember Torres' seat).
• 3/23: CD 11 and CD 15 Special Elections (former Councilmember Cohen's seat and former Councilmember Torres' seat).

Get Involved!

Volunteer Efforts

Join DemocracyNYC's phone banking efforts and ensure NYC voters in Queens are aware of the upcoming Council District 31 Special Election and how they can get to the poll from February 18 to February 23. Sign up here: on.nyc.gov/CallOutTheVoteQueens.

CEC's Commission Meeting

Join the Civic Engagement Commission for our next public meeting on Tuesday, February 23 at 11 AM. For information on meetings, click here or email us at info@civicengagement.nyc.gov to receive notifications.

Volunteer Training

The NYC Civic Engagement Commission will be holding a Volunteer Training on Thursday, March 5 from 5:00 PM to 6 PM. The training will provide information about the Commission's programs and initiatives and includes training on best practices and tools for Community Engagement. Click here to register for the training. To learn more about the Commission and  volunteer opportunities visit the Get Involved page.

Social Media Toolkits

Help us promote our volunteer efforts and the upcoming special elections. See below for sample graphics and toolkits in various languages.

• Ranked Choice Voting Toolkit: on.nyc.gov/RCVToolkit
• Voter Outreach CD 31 Toolkit: on.nyc.gov/QueensCD31Election           

COVID-19 Community Resources:

Community engagement will be critical in ensuring our city continues to recover from COVID-19. Learn more through these resources:

• Attend a Community Conversation
• Help others navigate the process by attending a Vaccine Train-the-Trainer
• Host a Townhall for your organization

Mark Your Calendar for the Following Events

• 2/22 – DNYC workshop co-hosted by India Home. RSVP by emailing duttat@hra.nyc.gov.
• 2/23 – RCV town hall hosted by Assemblymember Seawright.
• 2/24 – Black History Month workshop with Medgar Evers College.
• 2/24 – CFB's Voter Assistance Advisory Committee hearing.
• 2/24 – Join the New York Public Library, League of Women Voters, and CEC, for Trivia Matters of State.
• 2/25 – Future voters town hall hosted by BRIC Media and CFB.
• 3/3 – DNYC workshop in Bangla co-hosted by India Home. RSVP by emailing duttat@hra.nyc.gov.
• 3/4 – DNYC workshop with Casita Maria in Spanish. RSVP at: on.nyc.gov/LatinXEvent.
• 3/5 - Join the CEC for their Volunteer Training.
• 3/11 – Join CEC, DNYC, and APNA for an Urdu language RCV round table. Interpretation will be provided.

Who Are We?

DemocracyNYC:

DemocracyNYC is a nonpartisan NYC mayoral initiative focused on increasing voter participation and civic engagement in NYC. Part of that mission is to encourage every eligible New Yorker to make their voice heard at the ballot box. DemocracyNYC also works to address and eliminate historic barriers to voting through public education, outreach, and policy reform efforts. Currently we are focusing on encouraging voters to participate in special and local elections by educating New Yorkers on ranked-choice voting and pushing for long term reform through legislation. Learn more here.

Civic Engagement Commision:

The New York City Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) is a new city agency that was formed to promote civic participation and to improve civic trust. We believe that all New Yorkers should have access, knowledge, and confidence to engage fully with their government, in their communities, and in elections. CEC initiatives include: the “It's Our Money” participatory budgeting youth pilot program, providing support to community boards, and serving language access needs of limited English proficient New Yorkers at poll sites. Get involved here and follow us on Twitter at @NYCCEC.