Mount Vernon Voter Rolls Under Scrutiny Amid Allegations of Irregularities

A new lawsuit has uncovered alarming issues with voter registration records in Mount Vernon, a city known for its strong Democratic support. The suit claims the voter list contains entries for deceased residents and individuals born as early as 1897, raising significant concerns about election integrity.

Over the past year, the number of registered voters surged by approximately 30%, with a disproportionate increase among Democrats. This escalation has prompted calls for investigation, as records show more than 10,000 new voter IDs in just 13 months—an unusual figure for a city with around 41,000 voters.

The lawsuit, filed in White Plains, names the Westchester County Board of Elections and its commissioners, Republican Doug Colety and Democrat Tajian Nelson. The suit highlights discrepancies such as voters who have not participated in elections for over a decade, and records that have altered personal details like addresses, birthdates, and party affiliations.

For instance, the oldest voter listed was born in 1897, with some registrants confirmed to be deceased long ago—one died in 2002, another over 15 years ago, and some have moved out of the state. Notably, a voter registered in Mount Vernon moved to Virginia 12 years ago, yet still remains on the rolls.

Despite reports of these irregularities, Schwartz, a city resident and former primary candidate, asserts that election authorities have refused to address or rectify the issues, undermining confidence in local elections. He emphasized that safeguarding electoral fairness is critical, regardless of party affiliations.

“This is about ensuring elections are conducted transparently and fairly,” Schwartz stated. “Until the rules are enforced equally for everyone, public trust will remain compromised.”