Vote On ‘Runoff Elections’ Looms For Hoboken Residents

HOBOKEN, NJ — Will runoff elections return to the Mile Square City? That’s for Hoboken voters to decide on Tuesday, Nov. 6 when they head to the polls for the 2018 General Election to fill three seats on the local Board of Education, as well as tally their votes for their U.S. Senate and House of Representative members in the 8th Congressional District (see ballot below).

As part of the ballot, Hoboken voters will also get a chance to vote on the following municipal question: “Shall runoff elections be held in the City of Hoboken as permitted by the Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law?”

• See related article: Hoboken Council Defies Mayor's Veto; Runoff Elections May Be Back

According to Councilman Mike DeFusco, a supporter of runoff elections, if the question is approved, any candidate for mayor or council in Hoboken will be required to earn 50% of the vote to win office. If not, the top two would square off in a runoff election.

“Runoffs are used across the state in similar cities like Jersey City, Trenton and Bayonne to ensure majority rule through fair, democratic elections,” DeFusco stated.

One of the most visible opponents to the idea of runoff elections in Hoboken has been Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who celebrated a narrow victory over DeFusco in the 2017 municipal election.

In January, Bhalla issued a statement that explains why he vetoed an ordinance that would have brought back "runoff elections" in the city, which would have mandated a second election if no candidate receives a majority of the votes.

According to Bhalla, a former Hoboken City Council member:

"The open secret known by every single member of the City Council and alluded to in multiple local news reports is that there is massive vote-buying that occurs in our elections. Reducing voter turnout through runoffs in December will amplify the power of those vote-buying operations, making our elections less democratic. Therefore, the approach taken by the City Council in achieving this objective is highly misguided and amounts to poor public policy that I cannot support. A far better approach, which I fully support, is to move to instant runoff (also known as ranked choice) voting which is commonplace around the country."

However, the mayor’s position on runoff elections isn’t shared by DeFusco, who issued the following statement last week:

“In last year's crowded and confusing municipal election, we had 14 candidates running for City Council and six running for mayor, with the winning mayoral candidate only earning 32% of the overall vote. Establishment politicians and special interests use this fault in the system to intentionally split our community and pander to smaller voting blocks, sometimes even buying those votes. Runoff elections would require candidates to create broader platforms and once elected, broader policies, which benefit the most number of residents as possible, not just the select few who elected them. Voting YES will make certain that everyone’s voice is heard and their vote counted, not drowned out by those looking to divide us for political gain.”

DeFusco said that although ranked choice voting – also known as “instant runoffs” – is an “exciting and interesting concept,” New Jersey law currently does not permit municipalities to vote that way.

DeFusco posted a video in support of runoff elections in Hoboken, which can be seen below.

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