Amidst High Turnout, Voters Mixed on Who Should Lead

Election inspectors around town cited high voter turnout this afternoon around Riverhead. 

"It's been like this all day," said Antoinette Carbone, working at John Wesley Village, where voters from Riverhead's 12th and 22nd districts voted. The line wrapped around into the recreation hall's lobby and nearly out the door. "Our workers have had no breakfast and no lunch. I'm hoping we can get a break for dinner."

In Wading River, Jeanne Hogan, an election inspector for the past 18 years, said it had been "busy, constantly, all day."

"I guess people wanted to vote," she said.

Records indicate a strong showing this evening is required to mark a vast difference from the 2006 election, the last mid-term election. Records show that in 2006, approximately 41 percent of enrolled voters cast a ballot in the First Congressional District. According to the Suffolk County Board of Elections, as of approximately 6:30 p.m. this evening, 29.78 percent of enrolled voters in the district had hit the polls.

Polls, which opened at 6 a.m., close at 9 p.m.

An exit poll of nearly 50 voters around town, in election districts spanning Wading River to Jamesport, showed that Riverhead constituents may have a flavor for the underdog this year.

While the sampling is small compared to Riverhead's entire population, making the margin for error larger than the average poll, voters were quick to voice displeasure with incumbents.

"They have to get out of there, they're getting lazy," said one voter at Cornell Cooperative Extension, where district 4 voters went to cast their ballots.

Voters interviewed gave Republican candidate for the First Congressional District Randy Altschuler 27 votes compared to Tim Bishop's 20. Those who revealed their votes also chose Republican Assemblyman Dan Losquadro (25) over Marc Alessi (20) and Senate candidate Joseph DioGuardi (23) over Democrat incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand (22).

Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo notched 25 votes compared to Carl Paladino's 20, with one cast for Jimmy McMillan, running on the Rent is 2 Damn High party. State Senate incumbent Ken LaValle had 34 votes compared to Jennifer Maertz's nine.

Political candidates were not the only thing on voters' minds. Several complaints, ranging from lack of privacy to time required for seniors to learn the new system, were cited.

"If they want to save time counting the ballots I can see why," said Chrissy Lessard, voting at Pulaski Street School. "But I think they were stupid. I made a mistake and had to fill out a new ballot. And they're not as private - my ballot was put in face-up. But it said the machine accepted it."