With Three Weeks Until Election Day, Commission on Government Efficiency Launches “Vote on Faster Government” TV & Digital Ad

 

“Vote on Faster Government” PSAs will help ensure New Yorkers know about Props 1-5 this November

The Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), the 2026 New York City Charter Revision Commission convened by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, today launched a new TV and digital ad as part of the “Vote on Faster Government” public education campaign to inform New Yorkers about this November’s five ballot proposals. The ad will run now through the General Election on November 3 and is part of COGE’s public education campaign. In addition to ads, the public education campaign includes an online information hub available at nyc.gov/fast, engagement with community leaders and educational materials distributed directly and through digital outreach.  

  

“We know New Yorkers are not afraid to make their voices heard — whether they are cheering for the Knicks, ordering from the bodega or voting at the ballot box,” said Mayor Mamdani. “From small business owners facing bureaucratic mazes, to affordable housing developers frustrated with delays and multiple approvals, the same New Yorkers who informed the Commission on Government Efficiency’s proposals will now decide whether they become reality. That is why ‘Vote on Faster Government’ is giving New Yorkers the tools to make an informed decision at the ballot box in November.” 

  

“No one should be surprised at the ballot box,” said Ann Cheng, Executive Director of the Commission on Government Efficiency. “We want every New Yorker to know that there is an election November 3, the deadline to register to vote is October 24, there are five proposals on the ballot, and they can learn more at nyc.gov/fast. The ‘Vote on Faster Government’ public education campaign aims to get the word out now so that New Yorkers have time to research the proposals and decide how they want to vote.” 

  

“New Yorkers have been in the driver’s seat of the COGE process since the beginning, and this public awareness campaign will ensure that they remain in the driver’s seat through the election,” said Patrick Gaspard, Chair of the Commission on Government Efficiency.  “The ‘Vote on Faster Government’ PSA will remind New Yorkers to Vote on November 4 — not just on who will represent them, but also on how efficiently government should work. Each of the five ballot proposals came from the ideas of New Yorkers, and it is New Yorkers who will ultimately decide their outcome.” 

  

Launched on September 15, the Vote on Faster Government campaign is reaching New York City voters through: 

•    An online information and resource hub, available at nyc.gov/fast 

•    PSAs and digital advertising, including efforts in ASL 

•   Briefings with community leaders and critical stakeholders, including New Yorkers who participated in public hearings 

•    Digital engagement and mobilization efforts to sign New Yorkers up to vote 

•    Canvassing 

  

New Yorkers can access palm cards and educational materials in 15 languages on nyc.gov/fast:

•    English: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Arabic: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Bengali: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    French: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Haitian Creole: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide  

•    Italian: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Korean: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Polish: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Russian: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Chinese (Simplified): Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Spanish: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Filipino: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Chinese (Traditional): Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

•    Urdu: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide  

•    Yiddish: Palm Card, Flyer, Lobby Slide 

  

The Five Ballot Proposals 

  

In July, following 10 public hearings, COGE voted to advance ballot proposals to New York City voters. 

  

Question 1 saves small businesses time and money by making it easier to open outdoor dining and build accessible ramps. 

•    Cuts the outdoor dining application process by 75%, from eight months to two months 

•    Saves small businesses up to $1,800 in application costs and thousands of dollars in staff time 

•    Speeds up the approval process for accessible entrance ramps and lifts by two months 

  

Question 2 speeds up City contracting so small businesses and nonprofits can deliver services more quickly. 

•    Reduces administrative burdens on small businesses and nonprofits that contract with the City 

•    Saves City contractors like small businesses and nonprofits up to 30 days in the contracting process 

  

Question 3 fast-tracks street safety projects and generates revenue from surplus City property. 

•    Speeds up street safety projects, including bike lanes, by at least 33% 

•    Unlocks more than $200 million in potential City revenue through the sale of small surplus lots and unused air rights over City-owned landmarks 

  

Question 4 simplifies construction permitting to speed up housing. 

•    Brings 40 approvals from 18 separate offices and agencies into one place, saving builders time and frustration 

  

Question 5 sets a rainy-day savings target to strengthen the City’s long-term fiscal stability 

•    Establishes a savings target of 12% of total tax revenue to help strengthen the City’s financial position over the long term