Press Release: Despite Broad Voter Support, Buffalo Charter Revision Commission Rejects Election Reform Proposals
Unite NY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Despite Broad Voter Support, Buffalo Charter Revision Commission Rejects Election Reform Proposals
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Charter Revision Commission voted Wednesday not to advance election reform proposals that would have allowed voters to consider semi-open primaries, ranked choice voting and expanded ballot access on the November ballot.
The Western New York RCV Coalition, chaired by Unite NY, launched a petition effort that gathered nearly 500 signatures urging Mayor Sean Ryan, Deputy Mayor Maria Whyte, the Buffalo Common Council and the Commission to put election reform on the agenda for the July 8 meeting.
Despite that effort and recent polling from Unite NY showing broad support for election reform among Buffalo voters, the Charter Revision Commission voted not to advance the proposals.
According to Unite NY’s June 2026 polling:
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80% of Buffalo voters support a ballot initiative to let voters decide whether to adopt election reforms.
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67% of Buffalo voters support open primaries.
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67% support reducing the number of signatures required for independent candidates to get on the ballot.
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50% of Buffalo voters support ranked choice voting.
"As per the chair's confirmation of not reading the ranked choice voting proposal it is unclear the Charter Revision Commission understands what the proposals are or how they work," said Anthony Thomas, executive director of Unite NY. "Voters deserve the chance to decide whether these reforms belong on the ballot, and we are leaving all options on the table as we consider next steps."
Since 2011, Buffalo’s nine Common Council districts have had 36 opportunities for general election contests. Only 13 were contested. The remaining 23 races — 64% — featured no opposition.
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About the Western New York RCV Coalition:
Unite NY chairs the Western New York RCV Coalition, a coalition of organizations working to advance open primaries, ranked choice voting, and expanded ballot access in Buffalo.
Coalition partners include: PPG Buffalo, 1199 funds, Clean Air Coalition WNY, Voice Buffalo, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Common Cause, LWV Buffalo, Buffalo Health Equity, Buffalo Jewish Federation, Stronger Together Buffalo
Media Contact:
Ellie Krasne
Communications Advisor, Unite NY
ekrasne@uniteny.org
