The New York City Campaign Finance Board recently sent out over 3.5 million voter guides with a significant error regarding Mayor Eric Adams’ candidacy. The guides incorrectly stated, twice, that Mayor Adams would appear on the Democratic primary ballot next month. However, Mayor Adams is actually skipping his party’s primary to run in November as an independent.
Errors in the Voter Guides
The “2025 Primary Election Voter Guide” was distributed to 3,523,795 voters in the city, starting on May 19, just a month before the June 24 primary. Each guide, printed in 14 different languages with 96 editions, contained the erroneous information about Mayor Adams.
The New York City Campaign Finance Board spokesperson, Amy Lebowitz, expressed the Board’s commitment to providing accurate information to voters. She emphasized the importance of trustworthy voter education and acknowledged the seriousness of the errors in the guides.
Corrective Measures
In response to the errors, the Campaign Finance Board announced that it would expedite the distribution of corrected mailers to all registered Democrats in the city. These mailers will include a revised list of mayoral primary candidates to rectify the misinformation provided in the initial voter guides.
Additionally, the voter guide’s section on Democratic mayoral candidates listed Eric Adams as the second candidate among 15 others, with his partisan affiliation incorrectly labeled in his candidate profile. Adams, who declared his intention to run for reelection as an independent in April, is working to secure a spot on the ballot lines of “EndAntiSemitism” and “Safe&Affordable.”
Legal Challenges and Responses
Mayor Adams is currently involved in legal proceedings with the Campaign Finance Board over the denial of $3.4 million in matching funds. His campaign spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, criticized the board’s rules, alleging unfair treatment of candidates running outside party lines. The dispute stems from the board’s decision to disqualify Adams from receiving matching funds due to allegations of misconduct.
Despite the challenges, Mayor Adams remains committed to his independent candidacy, aiming to broaden his voter base and distance himself from past controversies. The errors in the voter guides have underscored the complexities of the electoral process and the importance of accurate information for voters.
