Voter Information for 2025 County Executive (Unexpired Term) Special Election

Westchester County will hold a special election to fill the unexpired County Executive term created by former County Executive George Latimer’s election to the House of Representatives for Congressional District 16. All registered voters in Westchester County are eligible to vote.

The candidates are Kenneth W. Jenkins (D) and Christine A. Sculti (R). The winner of the special election will serve as County Executive until the expiration of the current term on December 31, 2025. Another election will be held in November 2025 for a full term.

Deadlines for the Special Election on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (Early Voting Saturday, February 1, 2025 to Sunday, February 9, 2025):

Saturday, February 1, 2025 (Golden Day, ten days before the election): Last day NYS voter registration form must be received by the Board of Elections by mail or in person. Those with a NY.Gov ID may register using the new NYS Board of Elections Online Voter Registration portal. Check your voter registration status at the NYS Board of Elections Voter Lookup Service. For more information, view the NYS Board of Elections Voter Registration Process webpage.

The League of Women Voters of Westchester announces that it will not be holding a Candidate Forum for the Westchester County Executive Special Election.

Democratic candidate Ken Jenkins had stated that he would be available for the proposed February 3, 2025, virtual candidate forum. However, Republican candidate Christine Sculti declined the League’s invitation to participate.

A candidates’ meeting with only one candidate present is an “empty chair” meeting, and is not permitted under LWVW rules and its policy of nonpartisanship. LWVW regrets that this important proposed educational event for voters had to be cancelled.

“This is a lost opportunity for the public to hear directly from candidates during a virtual event or post-event recording and to address their own questions to them through electronic submission,” stated Westchester County League President Kathy Meany. “We strive to run forums in a respectful, non-partisan environment that encourages civil discourse and allows candidates to address voters’ inquiries and concerns. It is a disappointment that there will be no such opportunity for voters residing in Westchester to learn more about the candidates running for County Executive in this Special Election.”

Early Mail and Absentee Ballot Information

Saturday, February 1, 2025 (ten days before the election): Last day for an application for a mailed early mail or absentee ballot to be received by the Board of Elections. Applications may be made via email, fax, or electronically through the New York State Early Mail Ballot Application Portal or the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Portal. See the Westchester County Board of Elections Request a Ballot webpage and the New York State Board of Elections Request a Ballot webpage for additional details.

Sunday, February 9, 2025: Last day of Early Voting. 

Monday, February 10, 2025 (one day before the election):  Last day to apply in person at the Westchester County Board of Elections (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601) for an early mail or absentee ballot.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (Election Day): Last day to postmark a completed early mail or absentee ballot (must be received by Tuesday, February 18, 2025) or to submit an early mail or absentee ballot in person to the Westchester County Board of Elections or any polling site throughout Westchester County by the close of the polls.

Please note the following procedural changes:

New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued a ballot may cast an affidavit ballot in person, to be counted only if the voter’s early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot has not been received.

If a voter requests a second early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot, any previously issued absentee ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date will be accepted unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely ballot and also casts an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee return deadline, will be canvassed.

Qualifications to vote by Early Mail Ballot

Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Making a false statement in an application for an early mail ballot, attempting to cast an illegal ballot, and helping anyone cast an illegal ballot are felonies.

Qualifications to vote by Absentee Ballot

• Absent from your county on Election Day.
• Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
• Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
• A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
• Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

In Person Voting

Saturday, February 1, 2025 through Sunday, February 9, 2025: Early voting at any of the early primary voting polling locations and times in Westchester County.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (Special Election Day): In person voting only at your assigned polling location, that may be found using the Westchester County Board of Elections Find a Polling Place webpage.

Follow these links for the NYS Voter Registration Process webpage for additional information, and to the NYS online voter registration portal (NY.Gov ID required) or the downloadable fill-in NYS voter registration form that can be used to:

• Register to vote
• Change your name or address on your voter registration
• Become a member of a political party
• Change your party membership (Please note: An application to change one’s party enrollment for the primary election in any year must be received by the board of elections no later than February 14th of that year. Party changes received on or after February 15th, will be placed on hold until seven days after the June Primary.)
• Pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17 years of age