On US Election Day, the closely watched mayoral race isn’t the only thing on New York City voters’ ballots. A set of three ballot measures aim to take down political roadblocks to building new affordable housing. They’re part of the broader national movement to streamline the path for more construction.

NYC’s land use decisions are disproportionately shaped by individual city council members under its policy of “member deference.” When a housing project is up for approval, the whole 51-seat city council votes in lockstep with the representative for the district where it’s proposed. If that representative rejects a proposal, everyone else does, too. That’s led to stark disparities in where housing has been built - and even pitched. Rachel Fee, the executive director of the New York Housing Conference, says some developers avoid districts where council members are most vocally resistant to growth.