New York City voters are deciding five proposed changes to the City Charter during early voting and on November 3. The questions are separate from the candidate races, and each can be marked yes or no. Early voting runs through November 1. On Tuesday, October 27, city sites are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., but voters should confirm their assigned location before traveling because early-voting sites can differ from Election Day sites.
Proposal 1 concerns “revocable consent,” the city permission used when private or public structures occupy sidewalks or streets. Examples include accessibility ramps, planters, bus shelters and outdoor cafes. A yes vote would remove mandatory hearings and City Council disapproval of sidewalk cafes while keeping notification and forms of community input. A no vote would preserve the existing public-hearing and review structure.
Proposal 2 addresses city contracting. It would let the Procurement Policy Board simplify the questionnaire used by prospective contractors, including different requirements for smaller or lower-value agreements. It would remove a mandatory hearing from annual plans for certain direct-service contracts, allow more delegation of approvals for some contracts above $5 million and require the board to meet at least quarterly. A no vote would leave the existing rules in place.
Proposal 3 combines three subjects. It would simplify review for major street-safety projects, create a shorter process for certain sales or leases of small or unused city-owned properties and streamline the city’s acquisition of office space. Some reviews now assigned to the City Council or City Planning Commission would be removed or shortened. Because the measure covers transportation, property and office leasing together, voters may wish to read the full official explanation rather than relying only on its ballot summary.
Proposal 4 focuses on construction permitting. It would direct the Department of Buildings to create a centralized system for applications and approvals by 2030, permit additional department officials to approve construction documents and transfer certain waterfront-construction permitting from the Department of Small Business Services to the Buildings Department. Existing waterfront permits would remain valid. A no vote would keep the current division of authority.
Proposal 5 concerns fiscal reserves. It would establish a goal of maintaining the city’s rainy-day fund and other reserves at a minimum of 12 percent of the prior year’s tax revenue. The Office of Management and Budget, working with the comptroller, would publish a methodology for deposits when reserves are below target. The goal would not automatically force a deposit in every year; deposits would still move through the normal budget process and could be delayed during financial hardship.
The official NYC Votes guide includes summaries of arguments submitted for and against the measures. Supporters generally emphasize faster decisions, reduced paperwork and more consistent administration. Opponents generally raise concerns about reduced public hearings, community-board influence or City Council review. The New York Tribune is not endorsing a position on any proposal; the practical question for voters is whether the promised efficiency justifies each change in oversight and procedure.
Voters can use the Board of Elections poll-site tool to verify their location and view a sample ballot. The Board lists early-voting hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 27 and 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 29, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 30 through November 1. Election Day polls are scheduled to be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 3.
Sources: NYC Votes: 2026 ballot proposals; NYC Board of Elections calendar. Reviewed October 27, 2026. Development: October 27, 2026.