RCV Albany Submits Signatures for Voting Referendum
Advocates seek a ranked choice voting ballot measure after the Common Council did not act on their earlier petition.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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RCV Albany submitted 1,975 signatures to the Albany City Clerk's Office on Thursday, October 29, 2026, seeking a ranked choice voting referendum. The group gathered the signatures in a second round of canvassing after the Common Council did not act on its original petition with 2,624 valid signatures.
Why it matters
The referendum would change how Albany residents vote in city elections, and the clerk's office must first verify enough valid signatures for the measure to advance. The proposal also faces opposition from the Albany County Democratic and Working Families parties, which oppose eliminating party primaries.
The clerk's office must validate at least 1,200 of the 1,975 submitted signatures for the referendum to advance. Under the proposal, candidates would be ranked by voters, with a 50% threshold to win and up to five candidates ranked per ballot, and the verification outcome remains unknown.
The players
RCV Albany
A local advocacy group pushing for ranked choice voting in Albany city elections.
Albany City Clerk's Office
The municipal office responsible for verifying petition signatures and administering city ballot measures.
Albany Common Council
The city's legislative body, which did not act on the group's original petition.
Jack Flynn
An Albany councilmember who has submitted an alternate ranked choice voting proposal.
New York State Attorney General's Office
The state office that must clear the ballot measure under the New York Voting Rights Act.
The details
Under the proposal, candidates would appear with their party registration and the names of any other parties that endorse them. Councilmember Jack Flynn has submitted an alternate ranked choice voting proposal, which is currently in the Common Council's Law, Buildings and Code Enforcement Committee.
Timeline
Fall 2026: RCV Albany conducted a second round of signature canvassing.
Thursday, October 29, 2026: RCV Albany submitted petitions to the Albany City Clerk's Office.
2027 general election: Earliest possible voter referendum on ranked choice voting.
2029 city elections: Earliest possible implementation if voters approve the referendum.
Political Context
Albany's referendum effort follows New York City's use of ranked choice voting in primaries and special elections since the 2021 cycle, and it would extend the system to a city where opposition from county parties centers on preserving party primaries. The Democratic and Working Families parties in Albany County argue against eliminating those primaries, a concern that frames the debate over the proposal.
If voters approve the measure, Albany residents would rank candidates on their ballots, with the system potentially in effect by the 2029 city elections. The referendum could appear on the ballot as early as the 2027 general election, shaping how residents cast their votes.
The takeaway
Residents who want to follow the outcome should watch the clerk's signature verification and any Attorney General review, since both steps determine whether the referendum reaches voters.
What happens next
The Albany City Clerk's Office must verify the submitted petition signatures before the referendum can advance toward a ballot.
Further reading
Explore more on Civic Engagement in Albany and across New York.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WAMC/Northeast Public Radio.
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