Suffolk County Voters Report Smooth Sailing

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — With just a few hours left before the polls close, residents across Suffolk County told Patch that for the most part, Election Day was smooth sailing, save for a few issues including malfunctioning voting machines and a man who refused to wear a mask in a voting line.

Long lines and wait times were reported early Tuesday morning, though things seemed to clear up as the morning wore on.

Malfunctioning voting machines seemed seemed to be the greatest concern among those who reported issues.

Melissa Trayner told Patch she and her husband voted at Remsenburg Elementary School around 7:15 a.m. "None of the machines were working; we had to put our ballots in a box," she said. "They did not know who would be responsible to scan them. If a ballot was incorrect, we would have no way of knowing or an opportunity to correct it. We have no proof that our vote will be counted."

Some took the broken machines in stride.

Irene Downs told Patch she voted at the Hampton Bays Library at 10:45 a.m. "I waited less than five minutes. The box that was supposed to electronically record the ballot had a paper jam and the gentleman who was stationed at that box said they were waiting for an election official to come to fix it. After it was fixed, he said, they would submit each ballot separately. Some people who were in front of me decided to vote later on in the day after the machine was fixed. I voted then and there. I have confidence that my vote will be registered and counted."

April Petricevich DeVoe said she voted at the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Library and waited an hour and a half. She said only one of the three ballot machines were working and the polling place was running out of pens.

The Suffolk County Board of Elections did not immediately return a request for comment. An individual who answered the phone at its headquarters Tuesday said it was standard procedure to submit ballots as described if a machine was down. "There's nothing nefarious," he said, adding the polling places were experiencing high volume.

Joseph Finn also reported an issue: "While attempting to vote at the same location for years in Hampton Bays I was told I was not eligible to vote because I had not voted during previous elections," he said. "Because of this error I had to fill out numerous forms under circumstances that were not easy because of my injured knee, which was painful. I could not have accomplished this if it weren’t for my wife assisting me. I successfully voted after much delay but wonder how many others experienced the same? A woman complained about the similar situation as I did while at the table."

Police officer defuses tensions with unmasked man

In Mattituck, at least two residents, who asked not to be named, reported a man refusing to wear a mask threatened to hold up a long line. But a police officer stepped in and resolved the issue, both said.

"Whatever your belief on the mask and virus is keep reading," one North Fork woman wrote. "This morning at 8 a.m. I went to vote. There was a man five or six people ahead of me without a mask on causing an issue for the polling volunteers who were staying as calm as possible while following the protocol they were told to follow which involved having to empty out the entire gym and building.

"Everyone ... was getting extremely irritated."

Southold police Officer Greg Simmons approached and "within 30 seconds was able to talk him into putting a mask on calmly with no questions asked," she said. "This is what our police have to deal with. Thank you Greg and the entire STPD for leaving your family at home every day to protect ours. Back the blue."

Southold police Chief Martin Flatley confirmed the encounter, saying the man refused to wear a mask inside and was causing a delay. "They would not let anyone else inside until it was resolved," Flatley said. "Officer Simmons knew the man, talked him into complying, and was able to get a mask from school staff for him to wear."

Simmering tensions

Outside the polls Tuesday, there was a report of hostility by The Butcher at Wading River Market: "This is not a political post; it's a warning to our community," a representative of the business, who asked not to be identified, wrote. "An employee's car was parked in our back lot today with a hitch flag supporting her candidate when a young twentysomething year old man ... ripped her flag off, damaging her vehicle."

When a repairman for the business "caught him in the act and attempted to reason with him as to why he felt he had the right to vandalize and interfere with someone else's freedom of expression the young man went back to his car and pulled out a crow bar," the post said. "Our guy met his crowbar with a much larger cast iron pipe, prompting the young man to speed off in his car. Please be careful out there, everyone."

A police report was reportedly filed and there is video of the encounter, the person said. Riverhead police could not immediately confirm the specifics of the vandalism.

Acts of kindness

Many voters relayed positive experiences at the polls.

"My husband was hospitalized recently quite unexpectedly, and thus too late to do mail in that we know of," a woman named Joyce from Mastic told Patch. "We went to the firehouse and my husband got in line. I was concerned about him standing for that length of time. Long story short, I went to the election people and was told to ask the people in line if my husband possibly could come up front. I would say the first 10 people heard and all said it was fine with them. I did have proof of his hospitalization. Everyone was absolutely fantastic. I love my neighbors in Mastic. There were no protesters or mad people. Everyone was maybe not 6-feet apart, but they were apart, and all had masks. So proud of my community."

Another reader said they voted at the Mastic firehouse, with about a 45-minute to an hour wait, with all wearing masks and the process "quiet and orderly."

A Mattituck reader told Patch: "I just voted at Mattituck High School around 9:30 a.m. 15 minutes from parking the car to leaving after voting. It was very well organized and staffed. Nice job to the staffers and volunteers!"

"I was in and out in a half hour," wrote Angelina Belfiore, who voted at the Mastic Firehouse.

Kim Swicicki added that she voted at the recreation center in Mastic. "No line at all. Walked in and out in 10 minutes."

Bonnie Hubbell Stock said she voted early in Mattituck. "Long line, but the workers were well organized and helpful."

Another said the voting process at the ambulance garage in Shirley was "as smooth as silk."