With the primary set for June 24, Adams is notably absent from the race, having chosen to pursue reelection in November as an independent. However, the erroneous "2025 Primary Election Voter Guide" has unfortunately reached a massive audience, with 3,523,795 guides mailed out starting May 19.

The guides, which have been distributed in 14 different languages and come in 96 editions, mistakenly feature Adams in the section listing Democratic mayoral candidates, with his name appearing second among 15 others. The guide further complicates matters by indicating Adams’ party affiliation and including a check mark next to his name, typically an indicator of participation in NYC’s public matching funds program.

Amy Lebowitz, spokesperson for the Campaign Finance Board, addressed the mistake by emphasizing the organization's commitment to providing accurate, trustworthy voter information, stating, "In the business of voter education, every error is serious, and we take Voter Guide errors very seriously."

In response to the mistake, the board has announced plans to swiftly send out corrected mailers to all registered Democrats in New York City, though the cost of this corrective action has not been disclosed.

Adams had announced his decision to run as an independent in April, aiming to gather support from a broader coalition. His campaign, which is gathering signatures to appear on new ballot lines “EndAntiSemitism” and “Safe&Affordable,” faces additional challenges as Adams is currently suing the Campaign Finance Board over a denial of $3.4 million in matching funds. He has also denied corruption charges that were dropped at the urging of the Republican White House.

Despite these challenges, Adams’ spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, expressed discontent with the erroneous inclusion in the voter guide and the unfair penalties imposed by the board's rules against independent candidates.

The Campaign Finance Board has also faced criticism for including check marks next to other candidates who have applied for public matching funds but have not received them. Adams’ lawsuit aims to challenge these penalties and advocate for a system that encourages, rather than restricts, political participation.