| Kayla Jennings | Hoodline |
Albany could be headed toward a major overhaul of how it picks its mayor and Common Council members. Ranked Choice Voting Albany turned in a petition with 1,975 signatures to the city clerk's office on Oct. 29, and now officials must determine whether at least 1,200 of them are valid before the proposal can move forward.
”Give every registered Albany voter a meaningful voice
If the clerk validates enough signatures, Albany voters could decide the fate of ranked-choice voting as soon as the 2027 general election, according to WAMC. The referendum would ask residents whether to eliminate party primaries altogether and instead elect city officials, including the mayor and Common Council members, through a single November election decided by ranked-choice voting.
Ranked Choice Voting Albany co-chair Charlotte Collet said hundreds of registered voters she has spoken with like the proposal, citing its fairness, inclusiveness, lower cost and simplicity. Collet said the system would give every registered Albany voter a meaningful voice, regardless of party affiliation.
