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Local School District Elections are on Tuesday, May 19

New York residents are called to the polls on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 to participate in the annual budget vote and school board election for the school district in which they reside. Town of New Castle residents reside in one of six (!) school districts - Chappaqua Central School District, Ossining Central School District, Bedford Central School District, Yorktown Central School District, Byram Hills Central School District and Pleasantville Union Free School District. Of these school districts, Chappaqua and Ossining have Public School District Libraries, so residents of those school districts will also find library budgets and library board of trustees candidates on their ballots. 

Information about voter eligibility, early mail and absentee ballots and proposed budgets can generally be found on school and/or library websites. Where available, links are included below. Because over 80% of New Castle residents reside in the Chappaqua Central School District, LWVNC prepares a Voters Guide for that election and, when an election is contested and candidates are willing, hosts a Candidates Forum for that election. If you reside in a different school district and would like to work on voter education for that school district, please send us an emaillwvnewcastle [at] gmail.com

Chappaqua Central School District - voter information; budget information

Ossining Central School District

Bedford Central School District

Yorktown Central School District

Byram Hills Central School District

Pleasantville Union Free School District - voter registration information; absentee and early mail ballot information; budget information

LWVNC Voters Guide and Candidates Forum for Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees Candidates

LWVNC will be preparing a Voters Guide (look for a link here on or about April 29) and will host a Candidate Forum to introduce the candidates for the Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees to community voters on Monday, May 11 at 7 pm. Because the Board of Education election is uncontested, there will be no candidate forum for that race. This Forum will take place virtually via an NCCMC webinar. To register to attend, use this link. A link to a recording of the forum will be posted here on or about May 12. All questions must be submitted in advance, by Friday, May 8;  there will be no questions from the floor at the event to ensure that all residents have equal access to have their topics of concern addressed. For more information or to submit a question by the May 8 deadline, visit this form - https://forms.gle/BYdkNpPjHybB61fX6

Fall
Election Season Recap

Thanks to our student interns Keira Conrad and Madison Treible for their help this election season including filming a short video about local election results. You can watch their recap here

Even Year Election Law Upheld/New Challenge Raised

On Thursday, October 16, 2025 the New York State Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of a 2023 law requiring counties and towns to hold elections for certain offices in even-numbered years instead of odd years.  This ruling is the final word on the state court challenge. Under this law, recently elected town and county officials will have their terms shortened by one year. In New Castle this means that the town supervisor and the county legislator positions will be up for election again in 2026. Not all local elections are covered by the change - among others, town justices, county judges, and city and village elections require a constitutional amendment to change their voting cycle. 

However, a new lawsuit was filed on October 30, 2025 in federal court, challenging the law’s validity on other grounds, including free speech and Voting Rights Act of 1965 violations.  As a result, candidates that were elected on November 4, 2025 to affected county and town offices still do not know whether their terms will be shortened by one year

Now Live! Membership Renewal Through LWVUS ChapterSpot Portal

On February 3, the LWVUS ChapterSpot portal went live, creating a new procedure for joining the League or renewing your membership. All current members will be receiving an email from LWVUS inviting them to set up a Chapter Spot account. Memberships will now be rolling - expiring on the date of joining. If you set up your Chapter Spot account now, your information will load including the end date of your membership. For members who renewed through LWV New Castle in December and January, your membership is good through December 31, 2025. LWVUS will send you a renewal notice a few months prior to your membership expiration. This new membership renewal structure has shifted the membership category definitions to LWVUS - there will no longer be family memberships and each family member must join as an individual in the future. But don't worry - because the new LWVUS system allows you to pay what you can afford (subject to a minimum), you can elect to give your second family member the "additional member" discount that you have been receiving. Questions? Send us an email - lwvnewcastle [at] gmail.com and we're happy to discuss the new system. You can join or donate through our unique LWV New Castle membership link.

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

Where LWVNC Is  Engaging Today:

∙      We're Getting Voters registered and to the polls, because elections impact every aspect of our lives. 

∙      We're Creating Opportunities for citizens to come together to discuss issues and shape solutions for the future.

∙      We're Educating Citizens, giving them the knowledge and the tools  they need to use their voices to make a difference.

∙       We’re Supporting our Youth by offering our popular programs, Students Inside Albany and Running & Winning, as well as providing hands-on experience for Senior Experience and  Youth Interns. 

Support your local League by making a tax deductible contribution today!

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