Broken Scanners, Long Lines Seen At Babylon Town Polling Places

LONG ISLAND, NY — As local voters in the Town of Babylon hit the polls on Election Day Tuesday, some were met with long waits and broken machines.

Deer Park resident Mark McCain says he went to vote in the morning at his usual polling place at May Moore Elementary School, but this time had to use a affidavit ballot because the computer said he voted early already.

"[The poll workers] were nice and professional, but when I read the notice to voters I got the feeling I had just wasted 2 hours - my ballot was going to be tossed," he said. "It appears there is no recourse. Either someone gamed the system or a poll worker somehow made an honest mistake."

The ballot counting machine was also jammed at the Babylon Public Library, according to local resident Mike Lesak.

"We had to manually push our ballot into the slot, with the assurance that our vote would be counted as soon as the machine was repaired," he said.

A voter at Alleghany Avenue Elementary School reported a line of at least 45 minutes and a broken scanner there as well.

Danielle Digirolamo went to vote at Daniel Street Elementary School in Lindenhurst, but found that all the ballot scanners were broken. She, and other who were voting there, was told to throw their ballots in a box to be scanned later. Sue Johnson went with her 90-year-old father and 84-year-old mother to Daniel Street and was upset to find that three of the four scanners were broken.

"This is totally unacceptable," she said. "They wanted to cast their votes in person so there would be no tampering with their votes."

Kristi Ferro, of Lindenhurst, went with her daughter, 18-year-old Gabriella Vacchio, bright and early to allow Vacchio to vote for the first time.

"[My daughter] understands the importance of this election more than any other," Ferro said. "She is frustrated with the state of country and feels she can make a difference. She feels even if her candidate doesn't win, she did her part."

Unfortunately, the two had to wait on line in the chilly weather for an hour and a half, bundled up with hats, gloves and blankets. However Ferro said they would have stood on line for three hours if they had to.

"I couldn't be more proud of her," she said. "Her social awareness at such a young age amazes me."

Debra Brady was also met with a long line when she went to vote at Alleghany Avenue Elementary School in Lindenhurst. She said that she arrived at 12 p.m. and did not leave the building until 2 hours later.

"Although the wind was blowing and biting at times everyone was calm," she said. "When an elder or infirm person came to vote people at the head of the line let them go right in. Even though I did not leave the building until after 2:00 it was a pleasant experience and very well coordinated. Thank you to all the volunteers who made the experience easy and quick."