More than eight in ten New York voters say independent candidates should face the same signature requirement as major party candidates, or a lower one. Just 9% back a higher barrier. 🧵

Unite NY is taking the NYC clerk and Board of Elections to court. At issue: 23,000+ open primaries petition signatures the city threw out, and whether a judge will review them line by line. 🧵

Two thirds support open primaries, and that support holds across registration: 62% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, 77% of unaffiliated voters.

Our July Voter Empowerment Index surveyed 1,667 registered voters across the state of New York. 68% said they want changes to the rules governing who can run for office. 🧵

What a night! Thank you to everyone who came out in Albany on Wednesday to hear David Imamura and Amy B. Marion break down how Newburgh won ranked choice voting—and what it could mean for the Capital Region. And thanks to @fairvote.bsky.social for their support!

New statewide polling out today: 71% of New York voters feel their vote doesn't impact who ends up running the state. Not "I dislike the outcome." Closer to: the mechanism doesn't connect to the result. 🧵

Ballot access laws decide who appears on your ballot each election cycle. It's the most procedural-sounding part of an election and one of the most consequential—by the time you're voting, the field has already been set. NY's rules are among the most restrictive in the country. 🧵

New York gives you one channel for policy: elect legislators and hope they move. 47 other states give voters a second one—propose laws, and put questions on the ballot directly. NY doesn't have that at the state level. The gap is worth sitting with. 🧵

Last night Buffalo's Charter Revision Commission voted down a package of election reforms that would’ve given Buffalo voters election reform choices on the November ballot, including open primaries, ballot access, ranked choice voting. 🧵

This weekend marks 250 years of American independence — a radical experiment built on the premise that government should answer to the people it serves. 🧵

60% of New Yorkers support opening primaries to every voter. Demand isn't the missing piece. The missing piece is a path to reform that doesn't depend on the system fixing itself from the inside.

Our site just got a real glow up: refreshed design, easier navigation, and a Voter Empowerment Index page we’re genuinely proud of. Same URL, same democracy reform movement, new style. Visit: uniteny.org

Memorial Day, a time to honor the people who gave their lives in service to our country, and the families and communities still carrying their memory. Today we’re reflecting on our responsibility to the country they served.

New York is one of only 10 states with a completely closed primary system. That means 3+ million registered voters have zero say in who appears on their November ballot — not because they checked out, but because they're not enrolled in a party. 🧵

74% of New Yorkers support implementing a citizen ballot initiative. Cross-ideological, cross-regional. That's not a fringe reform position—it's a majority governance preference Albany has chosen to ignore.

New York has 3 million voters locked out of primary elections. The fix— open primaries—has 60% public support. So why hasn't it happened? Follow the incentives. 🧵

When candidates need broader support to win, extreme polarization becomes a losing strategy. Ranked choice voting fixes the incentive structure. Here's why that matters for New York right now. 🧵

82% of New Yorkers support term limits on statewide elected officials. 81% support term limits on state legislators. Regardless of party affilation, upstate, or downstate, the numbers barely move. That kind of consensus is almost unheard of in NY politics. So why doesn't New York have term limits? 🧵

30% of New York voters report sitting out a recent election because they believe nothing ever changes. That's not apathy. That's a rational response to a system that wasn't designed to be responsive. One reform could directly address that: the citizen ballot initiative. 🧵

This Women's History Month, we're thinking about Shirley Chisholm — and what her legacy actually demands of us right now. 🧵

Hot take: term limits for state legislators shouldn't be a controversial idea. And in New York, the data proves it isn't. 🧵

According to our latest Voter Empowerment Index, 63% of New Yorkers support reforming ballot access. The public is ahead of Albany again.

On February 25, Unite NY brought 22 New Yorkers from across the state to Albany to push for real democracy reform that would give New Yorkers more voice and more choice. 16 legislative meetings. 14 constituent drop-ins. 13 video testimonials. In one day.

Our latest statewide polling released Friday finds that while most New Yorkers believe the state's political system is unhealthy, a majority support specific changes aimed at increasing voter choice and accountability.

New statewide polling out: 1,411 NY voters on democracy reform. Thread on what the data shows—and what it means for organizing. 🧵

Happy Holidays from Schenectady, New York! Unite NY hosted a holiday party with our Capital Region Organizer, Riley.

🗳️Ready to lend a hand and support better democracy, in person or from home? Join our volunteer corps at uniteny.org/volunteer.

🗽Unite New York is bringing New Yorkers together to build a stronger, more informed democracy! 🍻From happy hours to meetups, film screenings, and virtual phone banks — there’s something for everyone. 🤝Join us for an upcoming event in your town or online! ✅Register here www.uniteny.org/events

We’re hosting a Phonebank Party, and you are invited! 📞 Join us on Zoom as we reach out to new volunteers and welcome them to Unite NY. We’ll share the list, script, and guidance — you just bring your phone and enthusiasm! This is a fun, easy way to make a difference right from home.