Introduction to the Blank Ballot Protest
Last year’s organized protest of U.S. government support for the war in Gaza in the Democratic presidential primary resulted in more than 40% of ballots cast blank in many Brooklyn and Queens election districts, a new city Campaign Finance Board assessment finds.
Geographic Distribution of Blank Ballots
The blank-ballot protest of former President Joe Biden garnered the most support in northern Brooklyn and western Queens, according to the 2024 annual report on city voters from the Campaign Finance Board. The results show that anywhere between 42% and 70% of Democratic voters in Long Island City, Astoria, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, and in parts of Park Slope and Flatbush cast blank ballots in the April 2, 2024 presidential primary.
Overall Voter Turnout and Blank Ballot Statistics
Overall, 14.8% of New York City Democratic voters who turned out for the primary, roughly 40,000 people, cast blank ballots in the low-turnout presidential primary. The tally was driven largely by the “Leave It Blank” campaign, a protest with roots in the national “Uncommitted” movement that urged Democratic primary voters to cast blank ballots as an objection to the Biden administration’s support of Israel and support a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the CFB’s analysis.
Reaction from Campaign Leaders
New York’s “Leave it Blank” campaign leaders did not respond to THE CITY’s questions about the more detailed voter data released Wednesday. But at the time, they celebrated what they saw as a successful showing. “We’re really proud to see that despite pouring rain and the many other barriers we faced on this campaign — around reporting infrastructure, budget and time – that nearly 40,000 New Yorkers were willing to show up and cast a blank ballot to send a message to Biden that we want an end to the genocide in Gaza,” spokesperson Brittany Ramos DaBarros told City & State last year.
A Campaign Finance Board map showing where voters cast blank ballots in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary.
Comparison to Previous Elections
The share of blank ballots cast in 2024 was significantly higher than in the 2016 and 2020 primaries, where 1.1% and 4.2% of voters, respectively, cast blank ballots. And unlike previous presidential election years, the CFB notes in its report, there were “discernable geographic patterns in the usage of blank ballots in 2024.” The sharp spike in blank ballots — or “unrecorded” ballots as the CFB refers to them — cast in the primary suggests that the “Leave it Blank” campaign had an impact on voter behavior, the CFB said in its report.
Voter Turnout and Recommendations
A broad share of voters in northern Manhattan — home to many Columbia University and City College students — and the Lower East Side also cast blank ballots, according to the CFB data. Virtually all of the Democratic primary voters in southeastern Queens and The Bronx cast a vote for one of the three candidates on the ballot, which included Biden, Marianne Williamson, and Rep. Dean Phillips. That primary was also notable for its abysmal turnout. Only 228,000 eligible city voters overall cast ballots in the presidential primary election, out of the 3.4 million who were eligible to vote. Turnout was slightly higher for the Congressional primary in June at 10.1%; in the November general election, 60% of registered voters showed up to the polls. The CFB issued several recommendations to boost turnout, including combating voter fatigue by reducing the number of elections in any given year. As it has previously, the CFB recommends combining primary elections and aligning odd-year city elections with even-year state and federal elections. In 2024 alone, New Yorkers cast ballots in five elections: two primaries, one general election, and two special elections.
Conclusion
The significant number of blank ballots cast in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary, particularly in certain neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens, highlights the impact of the “Leave It Blank” campaign and the concerns of voters regarding U.S. support for the war in Gaza. The Campaign Finance Board’s recommendations to improve voter turnout, including reducing the number of elections, may help address the issue of voter fatigue and increase participation in future elections.
FAQs
- Q: What was the percentage of blank ballots cast in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary in some Brooklyn and Queens election districts?
A: More than 40% of ballots were cast blank in many Brooklyn and Queens election districts. - Q: What was the main reason behind the “Leave It Blank” campaign?
A: The campaign was a protest against the Biden administration’s support of Israel and to support a ceasefire in Gaza. - Q: How many New York City Democratic voters cast blank ballots in the primary?
A: Roughly 40,000 people, or 14.8% of those who turned out for the primary, cast blank ballots. - Q: What recommendations did the CFB issue to boost voter turnout?
A: The CFB recommended reducing the number of elections in a year and aligning odd-year city elections with even-year state and federal elections to combat voter fatigue.
