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
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LWVR NEWS
ADVOCACY: Call to Action to Oppose the Federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act
All U.S. Leagues are encouraging the public to contact Congresspeople 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. It is likely to come to a vote before the end of February in the House of Representatives. 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. People of color, married people who have changed their name, 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. There is a clause in the SAVE Act that leaves it up to each state to establish a process for applicants to "provide additional documentation to the appropriate election official of the State as may be necessary to establish that the applicant is a citizen of the United States in the event of a discrepancy with respect to the applicant's documentary proof of United States citizenship. “ 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 Americans 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.
Please contact your Representative!
To find your Congressperson go here
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At the end of the Fall election season, and after the February 11th special election, LWVR would
like express our gratitude to those who
registered voters, to all the wonderful poll workers,
to the staff of the Board of Elections,
and to everyone who voted!
We registered voters at festivals, craft fairs,
school events . . . 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
To help voters in the Rivertowns make informed decisions, in Fall 2024 LWVR conducted two
recorded local candidate forums:
CLICK PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE RECORDING OF FORUM
See this forum at www.youtube.com/@lwvrivertowns5747
Our annual meeting on June 8 included reports from LWVR committees and a recap of Students Inside Albany from two participants who were chosen based on their essays. Our guest speaker, journalist AJ Woodson, told us about some of the Black women from Westchester who he “celebrated” in one of his books .
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On May 22nd at the Will Library in Yonkers
we had a wonderful informative community panel program on our latest “hot topic:
“Trying to Solve the Puzzle of
Affordable Housing in Westchester”
To see the recorded video go here
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In March LWVR was invited to register voters and answer questions about the LWV at the
Women’s Empowerment Conference
at Mercy University
Representing the Rivertowns LWV: Linda Fleischman, Ann Scholl , Joann Watterson and Jurate Mohen . Several members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity joined our registration drive. (This is the oldest collegiate black Greek letter organization.)
To read the latest issue of the
LWV-NY “State Voter” click here
TO JOIN THE LWV OF THE RIVERTOWNS
(NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY!)
GO HERE: join LWV Rivertowns
(or click on the Join/Renew tab above)
We are part of
LWV United States
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
MARCH 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
general Board Meetings
at 10:00 a.m.
at the Hastings Public Library.
The next meeting: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Most meetings are also on Zoom - email us here
by April 3rd to request the link.
Westch. Co. Legislator David Imamura will be speaking for the first half hour on what was and hopefully will be accomplished by the BOL .
UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS:
May 10 and June 14 (Annual Meeting)
WE MEET ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
ALL ARE WELCOME!
At our February Board meeting, Congressman
George Latimer came to let us know about the
SAVE Act (see opposite column).
On February 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.
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TRIBUTE TO
DR. DEBORAH ANN TURNER
LWVR joins with all US Leagues in mourning the passing of LWVUS President Deborah Ann Turner. Click here to learn more about this fearless advocate for voting rights and empowering women. ______________________________________________________
click below to learn more about the NY ERA :
What You Need to Know About New York’s Equal Rights Amendment – NYCLU
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Moderators Needed!
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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JOIN ALL LEAGUES IN NYS AT THE STATE CAPITOL
This will be a full day event: hear from speakers in the morning and then head up to the Capitol to lobby our representatives in the afternoon.
(Details forthcoming on how to sign up.)
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:
Go to Vote411.org here
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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
