Why You Should Vote in Today's Election for Village Mayor and Trustees

Jane Veron, Karen Brew, Jonathan Lewis and Sameer Ahuja have been nominated to serve as Mayor and Village TrusteesScarsdale Village will elect a new mayor and three Village trustees on Tuesday March 16, 2021. The election will be held today at the Scarsdale Congregational Church at 1 Heathcote Road, with the polls open from 6 am to 9 pm.

The Scarsdale Citizen’s Nominating Committee has selected four candidates, and this year they are running unopposed.

The Scarsdale Citizen’s Non-Partisan slate is as follows:

Mayor: Jane Veron
Village Trustee: Sameer Ahuja
Village Trustee: Karen Brew
Village Trustee: Jonathan Lewis

Find information about the candidates and the non-partisan system here:

You might ask why you should vote in an uncontested election?

There are many good reasons. By voting, you demonstrate your support for Scarsdale’s unique non-partisan system of governance that has served the Village well for almost 100 years. The Scarsdale Citizen’s Non-Partisan Party “promotes the election of non-partisan candidates and encourages cooperative, deliberative and open civic government to attract highly qualified individuals to public service.”

Representatives from Scarsdale’s five neighborhoods are elected for staggered three-year terms  to serve on the Citizen’s Nominating Committee in a general election. These nominators recruit, vet and select qualified candidates to serve Village office for designated terms, ensuring term limits and a progression of leadership. Candidates are not selected because of their stance on a single issue, but for their ability to consider all views and reach consensus on what is best for Scarsdale.

The non-partisan system averts the need for costly and divisive political campaigns while inviting widespread participation in the process and fosters a sense of community.  It also encourages qualified candidates to run who might otherwise be discouraged from serving if they had to run time consuming and expensive campaigns.

So though you’re not being asked to choose candidates from different parties in this upcoming election, you are being asked to show your support for Scarsdale’s non-partisan party and the residents who have stepped up to serve.

If you’re not already registered to vote the last date to register with the Westchester County Board of Elections is Friday, March 05. Mail-in registration forms are available at the Scarsdale Village Clerk’s Office, online from the Westchester County Board of Elections, or in-person at the Westchester County Board of Elections Office, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains.

In order to register to vote, one must:
-Be a U.S. Citizen;
-Be 18 years of age by the date of the election in which you want to vote;
-Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election;
-Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction;
-Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

Registered voters who will be out of Westchester County on Village Election Day, or for other reasons including concern about contracting or spreading COVID-19, as provided on the absentee ballot application form, can obtain an absentee ballot by filling out an application form at the Village Clerk’s Office in Village Hall, requesting one by phone or mail, or downloading one directly from the Village website. The last day for the Village Clerk to receive an application by mail for an absentee ballot is Tuesday, March 09, 2021; however, applications made in-person will be accepted until Monday, March 15, 2021. Absentee Ballots may be accepted by mail, drop box or in person until the close of polls on Tuesday, March 16th.

All others are encouraged to vote at the Scarsdale Congregational Church at 1 Heathcote Road in Scarsdale from 6 am to 9 pm on Tuesday March 16, 2021.