Bayport-Blue Point Residents Cast Their Ballots

With polling places open since 6 a.m., about 3,000 Bayport residents had voted at Bayport-Blue Point High School by 8 p.m., one of the two voting locations for residents residing within the two hamlets. Board of Elections voting coordinators at the high school said the polling place was busiest around midday, and noted their surprise at the light voter traffic at 6 p.m., a time they felt they would see a second wave of voters.

For those that did cast their ballots at the high school, the new voting method was not too popular with some. "There were problems with the lighting in the room and the small print on the ballots," said John Ranke, a voting coordinator and Bayport resident. "We tried to make it easy for everyone. We provided a magnifying glass on each voting desk and helped them if they needed."

Co-coordinator Evelyn Vallario added that numerous voters asked her what was wrong with the lever machines used for many years throughout Suffolk County, and said that some were hesitant before using the new voting method. But Vallario added that some who were reluctant found the process easier than they first anticipated.

She did say that the streamlining of polling locations over the past two years has proved helpful to residents. The merging of both the Academy Street Elementary School and United Methodist Church voting districts with the high school's is much more convenient for the community, who, this year, either voted at the high school or at Bayport-Blue Point Public Library, Vallario added.

Aside from the new machines, other thoughts were on residents' minds as well. Bayport residents Debbie and Joe Dozier cited the economy and healthcare as two issues that were important to them when deciding who to vote for this year. The couple emphasized their distaste for the "hate ads" on television, which they referred to as the candidates "playing dirty."

"We don't like the negative propaganda," Joe Dozier said. Debbie Dozier added, "They need to stop making promises and tell me what they would like to do to change things instead of telling me they will definitely do something."