Making Democracy Work for the Rivertowns of Westchester County
The League of Women Voters of the Rivertowns encourages active and informed participation by residents in these communities:
Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and Yonkers
WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US!
The LWV of the Rivertowns is a local chapter of the League of Women Voters of the United States,
which has chapters at the local, county, state and national levels.
At all levels, LWV is a nonpartisan, multi-issue, grassroots organization
that encourages informed, active participation in government and local communities.
The League of Women Voters is unique in its strict non-partisanship.
While we may lobby in support or in opposition of issues or legislation,
we never support nor endorse candidates or political parties.
Visit our About page to learn more about the history of the LWV.
To join or renew your membership, click here
Visit our Voter Information Page for information about voting in New York State
LWVR Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy - Click Here to Read: DEI Policy
check out our YouTube channel for videos
of past LWVR programs and candidate forums:
www.youtube.com/@lwvrivertowns5747
LWVR NEWS
Primary Season 2025 in the Rivertowns is here! Political office primaries and school board elections will be held in May and June. So that residents can get to know the views of their candidates, LWVR will be holding several virtual candidates’ forums. All are recorded and can be seen on our YouTube channel after they are completed. Questions were submitted in advance by email to LWVR from local residents.
To watch any of these videos in Closed Caption or another language: click on the link below, open the video, then pause it. On the bottom toolbar click on the CC icon (Closed Caption). You can change the language from English to another language by clicking on the cogwheel icon next to CC, select Subtitles, then Auto translate. Select your preferred language from the language list.
May 7 we held a forum for Hastings School Board Candidates. See here for recording
May 13 we held a forum in cooperation with the PTA for Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Board of Education Candidates. See here for recording.
May 14 we held a forum in cooperation with the PTSA for Dobbs Ferry School Board Candidates. See here for recording
May 15 we held a forum for Pocantico Hills School Board Candidates. Recording here
MOST RECENT FORUMS:
June 24 is primary day - hear candidates for Yonkers City Council President respond to questions submitted by the community. Forums were recorded and can be seen on our YouTube channel.
The Republican forum held June 2 can be seen here and the Democratic forum held June 4 can be seen here Two Republican candidates and four Democratic candidates answered a wide variety of questions, submitted in advance by Yonkers residents.
MONDAY, JUNE 2 : REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR YONKERS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT FORUM ; and WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4: DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR YONKERS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT FORUM.
Hastings-on-Hudson residents: virtual forum for mayoral candidates will be June 14 at 7:00 p.m. Hastings residents only are invited to submit questions. To Register: bit.ly/Hastingsmayorprimary
or with QR code on flyer below. The Forum will be recorded and can be seen on the LWV Rivertowns YouTube channel.
Call to Action to Oppose the Federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act
All U.S. Leagues are encouraging the public to contact their Senators to oppose the SAVE Act, (H.R. 22), which is seen by LWV as a voter suppression bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The House of Representatives has approved its passage to the U.S. Senate where it will come up for a vote. WHY OPPOSE? By requiring certain proofs of citizenship in person, i.e. birth certificates or passports, it is estimated that more than 21 million Americans are unable to access the additional documents that would be required to register to vote under the SAVE Act or easily get to a Board of Elections office. Married people who have changed their name, minority group citizens at the poverty level, as well as young and elderly people, are more likely to have difficulty in accessing these documents. We already have strict laws in place to protect the security of our elections IN SUMMARY: The right to vote is a basic American freedom, and our elected officials should be working to protect that right, not restrict it. If the bill passes it is likely to have little effect on noncitizens voting, as there are very few cases of noncitizens trying to vote, but it will make it significantly harder for many American citizens to be able to register to vote. LWVUS opposes this legislation as unnecessary, divisive and likely to have a disparate impact on citizens who cannot access their birth certificates, do not have passports, or married women whose surnames do not match their birth certificates. So, we request: Please contact your Senator!
Want to join us at a
future event in 2025?
We would love to hear from you!
click here or email: info@lwv-rivertowns.org
Our 2024 annual meeting included reports from LWVR committees and a recap of Students Inside Albany from two participants who were chosen based on their essays. AJ Woodson, journalist guest speaker, told us about sthe Black women from Westchester who he “celebrated” in one of his books .
At Mercy University we registered new voters and were joined by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the oldest collegiate black Greek letter organization.
To read the latest issue of the
LWV-NY “State Voter” click here
JOIN THE LWV OF THE RIVERTOWNS
(NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY!)
(click on the Join/Renew tab above)
Joining LWVR begins at
$20 per year.
It’s easy to join and/or renew!
By clicking the tab above
you can opt for
automatic renewals each year;
also you can designate a donation to the LWV Rivertowns.
We are part of LWV U.S.
LWVUS leaders and volunteers work on key issues that matter to voters and impact public policy nationwide.
TO LEARN MORE AND, IF YOU WISH, HOW YOU CAN VOLUNTEER, GO TO: https://www.lwv.org/
LWVR PRESIDENT'S LETTER
and LWVR Monthly Newsletter
MAY 2025 click here
If you would like our monthly newsletter emailed to you, please email us with your request - we promise no solicitations!
IMPORTANT MEETING DATES
PLEASE JOIN US:
All are welcome to join us
at our Annual Meeting followed by dinner
Friday, June 13th - 5:00 p.m.
Andrus-on-Hudson, 185 Old Broadway, Hastings
In February, Congressman George Latimer attended our Board meeting to explain details of the SAVE Act which was pending (see opposite column for details). On Feb. 19 at a virtual presentation sponsored by the LWV Westchester, Rep. Latimer explained the details of this proposed legislation and opened the conversation to all attending. It can be seen here.
STUDENTS INSIDE ALBANY - May 18-21, 2025
Each year our League joins with all Leagues in NYS to send two students to Albany for an insider's view of New York State government at work. No student is required to pay for any part of this program and funds are contributed by Leagues and individuals to support the program. Here is a summary of their 2025 exciting and potentially life-changing program (and surprise visitor). The two students sent by LWVR report at our annual meeting - come join us at our annual meeting on June 13 to hear about their experiences with legislators at the NYS capitol!
Perhaps some future legislators in this group?
They learned so much in 4 days!
click below to learn more about the NY ERA :
What You Need to Know About New York’s Equal Rights Amendment – NYCLU
________________________________
Moderators Needed
for the 2025 election cycle!
Disabilities rights in regard to voting:
Westchester Disabled On The Move and the LWV of Westchester co-sponsored a Voting and Disabilities Rights Special Event concerning NYS voting rights with an emphasis on those with disabilities. To watch go here
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LEAGUES FROM ALL NYS MET AT THE STATE CAPITOL TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS AND LOBBY THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES
The people's voices must be heard.
JOIN US: The LWV has launched “One Person, One Vote”, our campaign to build the movement to end the Electoral College. Leagues throughout the country will work to move our nation beyond the archaic Electoral College and toward true representation. To hear from a panel of experts on why the Electoral College has existed for so long, how we can dismantle it and build a democracy powered by the people, for the people, ALL the people, please click here
CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS
click on this link : NYS Voter Registration Database Search
Election results are official 25 days
after Election Day.
To see the unofficial tally of results in Westchester, please go to the Board of Elections page here
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Do you wonder:
WHAT IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING?
When there are more than 2 candidates for an office “ranked choice voting” (RCV) is a method to assure the voters’ choice will be the winner. It also gives a chance to candidates who are not official choices of the two major parties. RCV is becoming more popular and takes the place of run-off elections. In RCV, instead of selecting one candidate, you look at all candidates and rank them, marking your 1st choice, your 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and so on . . . . By adding candidates
you could live with, you increase the likelihood
of being satisfied with the winner,
even if your first choice did not prevail.
A brief video explaining mechanics and advantages of RCV can be seen by clicking here:
Sometimes elections can come down to a small number of votes which greatly affect how our cities, state and nation are run.
YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
EVERY ELECTION IS IMPORTANT
AND EVERY VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Increasing the number of people that vote in each election means better representation, more funding to our communities and
a better quality of life.
Politicians listen to two things: money and votes. Education, healthcare, immigration, social security, infrastructure, the economy, veterans… are all affected by our vote! __________________________________________________
TO FIND YOUR
PERSONAL VOTING INFORMATION:
click here to go to Vote411.org
POLL WORKERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED! EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE :
what is involved in becoming a poll worker?
click here to find out
(click here:) https://www.lwv-rivertowns.org/donate
