NYC Voter Guide Fiasco: A Massive Error

The New York City Campaign Finance Board made a significant blunder by mailing out over 3.5 million voter guides with a major error. These guides, distributed a month before the June 24th primary, incorrectly listed Mayor Eric Adams twice as a Democratic candidate.

This is particularly noteworthy because Adams is actually running for reelection as an independent, skipping the Democratic primary altogether.

The Details of the Mistake

The error appeared in the "2025 Primary Election Voter Guide," printed in 14 languages and 96 editions. The guide incorrectly placed Adams on the Democratic primary ballot and even included his party affiliation under his name.

The Campaign Finance Board acknowledges the mistake and says they are taking it "very seriously." They are working to correct the issue by sending out additional mailers to registered Democrats with the accurate information.

Adams's Independent Run

Adams announced his decision to run as an independent in April, explaining that he's aiming to form a broader coalition of voters. His decision comes after realizing the challenges he would face in a Democratic primary, especially considering his association with President Donald Trump and a federal case that saw corruption charges against him dropped.

Legal Battles and Funding

The situation is further complicated by Adams' lawsuit against the Campaign Finance Board. He is suing them for denying him $3.4 million in matching funds, which is another point of contention stemming from his independent campaign status.

The board maintains Adams is not eligible for these funds due to a past federal indictment.

The voter guide also mistakenly included checkmarks beside candidates who have not yet received matching funds. These checkmarks are meant to signal candidates participating in the city's public matching funds program.