Voting Registration Info LWV of New Castle NY

We've included some information on voting requirements, how to register, enrollment in a political party, applying for an absentee ballot, absentee voting, and voting at the polling place. For information about candidates running for election see our page about SmartVoter or go directly to www.SmartVoter.org.

For information you can go to the Board of Elections website: http://www.westchestergov.com/boe/

Election Dates

Please note: deadlines for voting registration are firm and vary depending on the election date. The 2007 elections are
Primary Elections: September 18, 2007; and General Election: November 6, 2007

To register in person the deadline is August 24 for a the primary election, October 12 for general election. To register by mail the deadline is postmarked by August 24th and received no later than August 29th for a primary, postmarked by October 12th and received no later than October 17th for the general election.

To Register to Vote

In order to register to vote, you must:

Be a U.S. Citizen
Be 18 years of age by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote
Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election
Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction
Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

How to Register:

If you have moved since you last registered, you need to re-register. Name, address or party enrollment changes can be made by submitting a new registration application. If you have any questions, call the New Castle Town Hall or the Board of Elections at 1-800-FOR-VOTE.

Registration by mail: Forms are available from the Board of Elections, New Castle Town Hall, Chappaqua Post Office, and Chappaqua Public Library. You can download a form from the Board of Elections
http://www.westchestergov.com/boe/register_to_vote.htm

Registration in person: You may register in person at the Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street., White Plains, 10601, 1-800-FOR-VOTE or the Department of Motor Vehicles, 200 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, (800) 342-5368 Mondays through Fridays.

If you move within Westchester County or change your name you may transfer your registration by sending a letter with your new address/name and bearing your signature to the Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas St., White Plains, 10601

Enrollment in a Political Party: When you register, you may enroll in the party of your choice or you may choose not to enroll in any party by marking the appropriate box. Registered voters may change enrollment at any time in person or by mail by completing the enrollment section of the registration form. Change of enrollment goes into effect only after the following General Election. Anyone can work for any candidate, but only members of a party can vote in that party's primary election. In November, registered voters may vote for any candidate of any party.

Applying for an Absentee Ballot: If you are a registered voter who will be out of Westchester County on Election Day, or will be unable to go to the polls because of illness or physical disability, you can request an application for an absentee ballot from the Board of Elections either in person or by telephone, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, 914-285-5700. The completed application must be postmarked by or hand delivered to the Board of Elections. Requests for an Application for an Absentee Ballot must be postmarked to the Board of Elections. You may also download an absentee ballot from www.elections.state.ny.us .

Absentee Voting: Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day prior to the election and received no later than one week following the election by your Board of Elections or hand delivered to your Board of Elections.

At the Polling Place:

a sample ballot is posted
election inspectors can assist if the machine is unfamiliar

If your name does not appear in the polling book and you believe you are eligible to vote in the district, you may vote by affidavit ballot. You must sign a statement of your eligibility. If your eligibility is found valid by the Board of Elections, your ballot will be counted.

The procedure for voting for a write-in candidate for any office differs with the type of voting machine which is used. If you wish write in a candidate, ask one of the election inspectors about the proper procedure.

Updated Oct. 26, 2007 by Valerie Castleman

Many thanks to Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA ) & the Westchester Library System (WLS) for hosting this site.