The Nation - News from Aug. 14, 1985

A federal judge struck down a law requiring a runoff when no candidate for office in New York City receives at least 40% of the vote in a primary, ruling in a suit that it discriminates against minority candidates. The law affects races for mayor, City Council president and comptroller, for which runoffs are held between the top two finishers if no candidate gets the 40% minimum. The plaintiffs, black and Latino activists, said the runoff system allows white voters to choose one candidate and then defeat minorities in “bloc voting.”