Over 85,000 early vote ballots have already been cast in New York's mayoral primary, as New Yorkers head to the polls on 22 June. For many- the first look at a new ballot, New York voted by referendum to bring in ranked-choice voting last year. We put this issue in context among the other changes to voting law currently underway in the US. We spoke with New Yorkers about the issues that matter to them and what they think of the new ranked-choice system. We also speak with Dr Robert Shapiro, professor of political science at the University of Columbia, about potential pitfalls to the system.

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IN THE BIG APPLE- NEW YORKERS HEADING TO THE POLLS, READY TO VOTE IN THE CITY'S MAYORAL PRIMARIES DECIDING ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THEM.

MOS
We got too many homeless out here.
No one and no one seems to be caring or taking care of them

MOS
infrastructure, specifically the subway and making sure that that's maintained and accessible for people.

FOR THOSE CASTING THEIR BALLOT- THINGS LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. NEW YORK WILL BE USING 'RANKED CHOICE VOTING'- MEANING INSTEAD OF PICKING JUST ONE CANDIDATE, VOTERS CAN RANK THEIR TOP FIVE CANDIDATES.

MOS
eric Adams has a wealth of experience.
I also think her name is uh Maya Wiley has also a great background

RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS A NEW IDEA IN NEW YORK BUT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE IN CANADA, IRELAND, AUSTRALIA FOR MANY YEARS. MAINE AND ALASKA ARE THE FIRST STATES TO HAVE ADOPTED THE SYSTEM FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

mos
I really love ranked choice.I think it is a great way for candidates who don't meet certain funding requirements, certain thresholds to get on the ballot and to actually have a chance of influencing the narrative in the race.


IN A YEAR DOMINATED BY DISCUSSION AND CONTROVERSY OVER VOTING RULES- NEW YORK'S EXPERIMENT WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED BY THOSE ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES TO HOW WE VOTE, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND REMEMBER THE DELAY IN COUNTING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTES? THE NEW SYSTEM OF RANKED VOTING COUPLED WITH MORE ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAN USUAL MEANS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT A SIMILAR DELAY IN THE RESULTS BEING ANNOUNCED.

ROBERT SHAPIRO, COLUMBIA

The problem isn't so much in the counting of the votes in the rank choice system.The problem is, is the delay in the vote count because of the absentee ballots coming in and they have to allow well, ample time for those votes to be counted.

WHETHER THE REST OF THE US WILL FOLLOW SUIT, OR WHETHER THIS NEW SYSTEM OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING OPENS UP NEW YORK TO CRITICISM OR SPECULATION ON ELECTION INTEGRITY, THAT ALL REMAINS TO BE SEEN. BUT NO MATTER HOW THE VOTES ARE CAST, POLICING, HOMELESSNESS, CRIME AND NEIGHBOURHOOD ISSUES LIKE COLLECTING THE TRASH- THAT'S WHAT IS DRIVING NEW YORKERS TO THE POLLS.