Politics & Government

Local Voters Say Presidential Race Too Close to Call

Also, voter coordinators say emergency workers are coming in by the droves to vote.

By 1 p.m. on Tuesday, some 1,000 voters had already ventured to the Westhampton Beach Fire Department to cast a ballot for president and other local candidates. Of those, some 100 were emergency workers from out of the area and residents that were displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

Bonnie Brophy, election coordinator in Westhampton Beach, said that her election site had been busy since early in the morning with LIPA workers and other power restoration workers, some from out-of-state, coming in to vote.

"It was nice to see them come in because while it made things a little more crazy, we were able to say thank you to them," she said.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Brophy says that according to a law signed by the Governor Cuomo late last week, emergency workers and displaced residents were allowed to vote at any polling place; however, they must sign an affidavit and if they are from out of the area, they can only cast a ballot in the presidential election.

At the Hampton Bays Library polling place, coordinator Charles Bivona said that of the 300 voters who came in as of noon to vote, 18 of them were emergency workers and displaced residents; some from the city, others from western Long Island and one from North Carolina.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But, no matter which voter Patch spoke with, regardless of their political affiliation they all said the same thing about the presidential election: it's just to close to call.

"I consider myself an independent," said Joanna Rewinski of Westhampton Beach, "I gave both [presidential] candidates some thought. I hope the president will pull through, but I think it is just too close to call."

Melissa Paladino, of Westhampton Beach, echoed similar sentiments, saying that she has her fingers crossed that President Obama wins and continues to work for the middle class.

In Hampton Bays, one voter, who did not wish to give her name, said, "It better be Romney and Altschuler that win. We can't let those other two jerks get in."

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