Suspicion Grows Over Voter Registrations in Mount Vernon
In the city of Mount Vernon, there’s a growing sense of distrust, particularly regarding the voter rolls. Some residents have noticed names that shouldn’t be there—like those of deceased individuals and folks born as early as 1897.
This situation has stirred quite a debate, with a notable 30% rise in the number of registered voters over the past year. Democratic candidate Bill Schwartz, who has garnered considerable support, recently took action. He filed a complaint with county election officials last week.
“It’s not just about messy records,” Schwartz commented after losing a primary last month. “When the Election Commission doesn’t address voter concerns, it raises questions about what else might be overlooked.” It’s a fair point. Sometimes, when procedures seem loose, the overall integrity of the election process can come into question.
Schwartz believes that transparency is essential. “I’m asking the court to ensure that the upcoming elections are fair and conducted properly,” he stated.
The lawsuit he filed on July 15 targets the Westchester County Election Commission, including its two commissioners, Doug Collety and Tadian Nelson.
While Nelson was unavailable for comments, Collety noted that they were unable to respond to Schwartz’s allegations because those complaints hadn’t been formally submitted.
Schwartz pointed out that Democrats tend to have a significant presence in suburban areas like Mount Vernon, where around 80,000 people reside. This demographic typically wields considerable political influence in the county.
Both Schwartz and local residents have raised concerns over the voter registration numbers, particularly the substantial increase. He compared data from last year to June of this year and found over 10,000 new voter IDs added in just 13 months.
To put that in perspective, last year’s records showed 34,386 unique voter IDs, with a clear majority—25,900—registered as Democrats. This year, though, the count soared to 44,021 unique IDs, of which 31,311 are Democrats and only 2,821 are Republicans.
Schwartz has deemed many of these records “deeply problematic.” Notably, some listed voters have birth dates that raise eyebrows, like one individual born on October 13, 1897. Additionally, there were reports of people not having voted in over a decade, while others have allegedly changed their birthdates or addresses.
Two residents, John Gallagher and Gregory Bonaparte, for instance, are claimed to still be on the active voter list although they have been deceased for several years.
Another cited voter, Rawls, left for Virginia over a decade ago, while more names were flagged for having been dead for over 15 years. It’s just perplexing.
Despite the troubling findings, Schwartz insists that the election commission has yet to rectify these inaccuracies. “This isn’t merely about party politics,” he commented. “It’s crucial for public trust in the election process. The rules should apply universally, regardless of connections.”
Feeling a bit powerless, he added, “It’s disheartening. There should be a way to address this.” It’s a reminder that maintaining electoral integrity is everyone’s responsibility.
