The unofficial opening shot of New York City’s 2025 election went off on Tuesday, issuing a reminder for candidates considering a run – but who haven’t announced yet – that it’s time for action.
Legions of clipboard-carrying candidates and their volunteers have descended on street corners, subway stops and grocery store entrances, armed with ballot petitions that need signatures like yours. You might have seen them already.
Candidates who have run for office before know that petition season is not to be taken lightly. The easiest way to defeat a campaign rival is to prevent their name from appearing on the ballot. The signature-gathering also represents the first real test for citywide candidates to see if they have the money and organizational support to qualify.
“If you don't get enough signatures – good signatures – to get on the ballot, then you don't have a campaign at all,” election attorney Sarah Steiner said. “You're done. You might as well just go home.”
A “good signature” is from a registered voter in the party holding the primary. For a citywide race, the person can live anywhere in the city. For boroughwide or City Council races, the person needs to be a registered voter who lives in that specific district.
How many does a candidate need? Like everything in New York City politics, it’s complicated.
The City Charter says Council candidates need 450 signatures, but state law says 900. The Charter says citywide candidates need 3,750 signatures; it’s 7,500 in state law. For borough president, the Charter says 2,000 signatures are required; state law says 4,000.
“ There's never been a court decision that decided which of these is the correct number,” Steiner said. Still, she encourages candidates to go for the higher number since they could get knocked off the ballot, or risk a court challenge, if they collect too few signatures.
Completed petitions must be filed between March 31 and April 3. That’s when the challenge process begins. If a candidate’s petition gets challenged, there’s a hearing where the 10 commissioners of the New York City Board of Elections decide who makes the cut.
Ballot Box
This week we're wondering: Have you been asked to sign a candidate’s petition this week? Let us know here.
Last week we asked: Is there anybody not in the race yet who you’d want to see run for mayor?
Eight respondents nominated Kathryn Garcia, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s director of state operations who was runner-up to Mayor Eric Adams in the 2021 primary. Civil rights attorney Maya Wiley, another 2021 contender, also made the list. Others included NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, City Councilmember Gale Brewer and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
And finally, this honorable mention:
“My mailman. Best city worker, knows everyone in the neighborhood and is beloved by all. I keep telling him I'm going to write in his name!”
- Joyce, Manhattan
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Submit a news tip. Is there something we should know? You can also use this form to share a news tip. You can also email our editor, Maia Hibbett: mhibbett@wnyc.org.
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