With presidential election season behind us, it is time to think ahead about future work to get out the vote and to ensure voters have the tools they need to make informed decisions. We need your help. How? Become a member of the League, sign up to receive our monthly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook (@LWVNewCastleNY) for timely reminders.  

Local School District Elections are on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

New York residents are called to the polls on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 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 Candidates Forum for Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education and Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees Candidates

LWVNC has prepared a Voters Guide and hosted Candidate Forum to introduce the candidates for the CCSD BOE to community voters. The recording of the Forum can be found here - https://youtu.be/ONNHVUVfrWk. Because the library board of trustees election is uncontested, there was no Candidate Forum for that race.

LWV Opposes the SAVE Act 

The House and Senate introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. The bill’s requirement of a document to prove American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is unnecessary and seeks to divide us. It also creates another barrier to voting.

Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote. The SAVE Act would create one more barrier to the voting process, as many eligible voters do not have easy access to the necessary documents.

Tell your members of Congress to oppose the SAVE Act. For a template of a letter to send to your congress person click here.

To learn more about the SAVE Act, visit the LWVUS Take Action page.

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. 

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