We have had a lot of conversations with residents about voting. One thing became very clear:
A lot of people have real, valid questions about how elections work, and how the different elections are connected (or not).
Some people we spoke with didn’t know about the upcoming school and library board elections, which will decide whether our taxes go up, AGAIN.
None of this is unusual. The system isn’t always explained clearly. Sometimes by design.
So, here’s a simple breakdown.
There Isn’t Just One Election
In Mount Vernon, elections usually happen at three different times:
- May → School Board & Library Board Elections
- June → Primary Elections
- November → General Election
Each one is different.
School Board & Library Board Elections (May)
This year, the School and Library Board Elections are May 19, 2026. These are often the least talked about, but they matter, a lot.
These elections decide:
- School Board members
- Library Board members
- School and library budgets
Key things to know:
- These elections are nonpartisan (no party labels like Democrat or Republican)
- Anyone eligible to vote may vote
- Turnout is usually low, so a small number of votes can make a big difference
Reality Check:
If you’ve never voted in one of these, you’re not alone, but if you’re still planning on sitting this one out, here’s what you should know:
- This year’s proposed school budget includes a 2% tax increase
- School taxes are typically the largest single component of property tax payments
- In Mount Vernon, school taxes represent well over 50% of our property tax bill
Only 2,538 people voted in the 2025 School Board election, an election that gave us three new board members and increased our taxes by 3.3%.
So, when you sit out these elections, you are forfeiting your right to have a say in the largest portion of your tax levy.
Primary Elections (June)
This year, the Primary Election is June 23, 2026. Primaries are where political parties choose their candidates. Democrats pick their candidates, Republicans pick theirs.
Key things to know:
- Primaries are party-specific
- In New York state, party primaries are closed
- That means you must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary
- For many local offices, the primary is the election that matters
Reality Check:
If you’ve never voted in a primary, you’re not alone, but here’s what you should know:
- In Mount Vernon, local races are effectively decided in the Democratic primary
- Those who win the Democratic primary usually go unopposed in the November general election
- There hasn’t been a Republican candidate or a Republican primary for Mount Vernon local offices in decades
- According to the Westchester County Board of Elections, there are 41,058 active voters in Mount Vernon:
- 29,108 Democrats
- 8,120 Non-Affiliated
- 2,619 Republicans
- 1,211 Other
That means that nearly 12,000 voters are shut out of the election that determines who holds local office.
- Less than 5,000 people voted in the 2025 Democratic primary
General Election (November)
This year, the General Election is November 3, 2026. This is the election that is most familiar to people and so, the one most people pay attention to.
- This is where:
- The winners from the primaries face off
- All voters get to choose among them
Key things to know:
- Everyone who is registered can vote
- Party affiliation does not matter, voters can choose whichever candidate most appeals to them
- The election includes:
- City, State, and Federal offices
- Any ballot proposals, initiatives, and reforms
This is the final decision-making election.
Reality Check:
In Mount Vernon, for local offices, the General Election is merely a certification of the Democratic primary results.
- Democratic primary winners generally run unopposed
- Most primary winners don’t even bother campaigning once the primary is finished
Wrap Up and Final Thought
There are three different elections that happen at different times, have different rules and involve different kinds of positions. So, it’s completely normal for people to ask, “Can I vote in this one?” “Is this the real election?” “Why didn’t I hear about this?”
Those are all fair questions, and we hope that we have answered them.
These systems weren’t designed to be simple, but participating in them shouldn’t feel confusing or out of reach.
But you can’t play if you’re not in the game, so the most important thing you can do right now is REGISTER TO VOTE.
The more people understand how it works, the more power stays where it belongs: with the voters.