After each resident cast a ballot and left their voting station, Verneena Merriett would take their place, armed with paper towels and sanitizing spray.
A volunteer at the Public Safety Building polling site, one of two sites in the City of Poughkeepsie Tuesday, Merriett wiped down each voting machine before the next resident was allowed to visit the station.
She said it’s the most extreme measures that have been taken in her six years volunteering at the polls. Of course, this is also an extreme year.
LIVE RESULTS: New York's primary election results - Click here to view
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, every party member in the state was given the option of casting an absentee ballot rather than visiting a polling site in-person for Tuesday’s primary elections. They also had the option of visiting one of two early voting sites between June 13 and 21.
What resulted was an election in which the results are unlikely to be known for at least a week, the number of polling sites were reduced, and fewer voters may have visited sites than average years.
As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, roughly 215 voters had visited the Public Safety Building to vote.
"I think a lot of people voted already, because if you look at the count it's good for one area, but this is all over Poughkeepsie," Merriett said.
Joe Biden easily wins New York Democratic presidential primary
New York primary: Four years - and a world apart - from 2016 presidential race
According to the Dutchess Board of Elections, as of 7 p.m. Tuesday 13,919 absentee ballots had been received from Democrats, 1,703 ballots from Republicans, 739 from Independents, 46 from Green Party voters and two from the Serve America Movement.
By law, the absentee ballots cannot be counted until June 30. That gives the state Board of Elections time to check if absentee voters cast their ballots elsewhere in the state, and ensure duplicate ballots are not cast.
Consequently, while it was a foregone conclusion Joe Biden would win the Democratic primary, the most high-profile race of the night determining the Republican who will run against Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado in the 19th District, is unlikely to be known.
In Dutchess, 814 voted for Kyle Van De Water, and 776 opted for Ola Hawatmeh in unofficial results. But the district also spans all or parts of 10 other counties, and the results before absentee ballots are open show Hawatmeh leading Van De Water 5,502-5,037.
Democrats are also selecting their Delegates for the Democratic National Convention in both the 18th and 19th districts. And, there are Dutchess County Court Judges races to be decided by Independence and Green party voters, and a state committee choice must be made by the Serve America Movement’s 9th Judicial District.
Despite the coronavirus, City of Poughkeepsie resident Akeyah Pamphile, 18, was excited to cast her first ballot as a registered voter.
"If you can vote do it, it's really important now more than ever, especially with what's going on right now," the New York University student said after voting, and before hugging her mom.
In addition to increased cleaning, the Poughkeepsie site kept everyone waiting in line at least six feet apart.
Voters said they felt comfortable with the safety measures in place. Lacey Harrison, 49, said she hopes the measures will be used again in the future.
"I think it went really well, and I think it will be great for the (November) election to go the same way," Harrison said. "We went in one way, out the other, and it's very regulated."
Her 19-year-old daughter, Chanelle Rodriguez, stressed the importance of residents making their voices heard through voting.
"We are young, and we are in control. Our votes count. Not everyone realizes that," Rodriguez said. "It's important we need to speak our voice to get what we want."
Katelyn Cordero: kcordero@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4870; Twitter: @KatelynCordero.
"results" - Google News
June 24, 2020 at 10:06AM
https://ift.tt/2NrBIxX
Unique election over but results may not be final for a week; see who is in the lead - Poughkeepsie Journal
"results" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SvRPxx
https://ift.tt/2Wp5bNh
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Unique election over but results may not be final for a week; see who is in the lead - Poughkeepsie Journal"
Post a Comment