Scarsdale – Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-88th District) is pleased to announce that the Eastchester Fire Election Bill (2288A) was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday.

The Eastchester Fire District Elections will now be held as part of the general election in November rather than on a separate day in December. The main objective of the change in date is to increase the voter turnout for the fire district election. The fire district includes Bronxville and Tuckahoe.

George Latimer (D-37) sponsored the bill in the State senate.

“As a former League of Women Voters president, I strongly believe in franchising voters,” Paulin said. “By moving the election to Election Day in November, voters will have longer hours to vote in their usual polling place. The goal all along was to increase voter turnout and I think this legislation will accomplish that.

“I believe this will make life a bit easier for the residents of Eastchester and afford them a greater opportunity to have a say in what is a very important decision.”

Paulin and Latimer hosted a town meeting in May during which Eastchester residents expressed overwhelming support of changing the election date. The law would benefit the residents in that the number of polling places would double from eight to 16, absentee ballots would be accepted and the polls would stay open longer.

"We reached out to the Eastchester Community at large and a diversity of voices said that they wanted the opportunity to vote in these elections at a more convenient time,” Latimer said. “This is an example of listening to the voice of the people."