New York voters pass all five Mamdani COGE ballot measures; certified totals still pending

New York City voters on November 3 passed all five City Charter amendments proposed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE). According to unofficial results from the New York City Board of Elections, with about 88 percent of voting scanners reporting, all five measures led by comfortable margins: the first four drew about 61 to 67 percent support, and the fifth, on emergency financial reserves, about 72 percent. Final certified totals are still pending. (Cover photo is a file photo of voting in New York, not election night.)

What the five measures change

Proposal 1 streamlines approvals for private use of public space, removing mandatory public hearings and City Council review for certain uses such as outdoor dining structures, ramps and planters. Proposal 2 reforms the contracting process, simplifying contractor paperwork and requiring quarterly meetings of the Procurement Policy Board, aimed at making it easier for small businesses and nonprofits to win city work. Proposal 3 bundles street-project approvals, city property disposition and office leasing into a faster track. Proposal 4 creates a centralized system for submitting construction-permit applications to multiple city agencies at once. Proposal 5 sets a savings target for the city's rainy-day fund to cushion downturns and emergencies.

Where the commission came from, and who objected

COGE is the 15-member Charter Revision Commission Mamdani established in May 2026, chaired by former diplomat and Democratic National Committee official Patrick Gaspard; it released its final report in late July 2026 and voted unanimously to put all five measures on the ballot. The nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission encouraged voters to support measures one, three and four, while Staten Island Republican Council Member Frank Morano urged voters to reject proposals one, two and three, warning that shorter approvals could stifle community input. Some provisions take effect on certification of the results, while others require further administrative work, on different schedules.