EARLY VOTING DEBUTS
People take advantage of the change to cast ballots at Kingston polling site
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Saturday was the first day of early voting in New York state, and the SUNY Ulster polling site at 94 Marys Avenue received a steady stream of voters all morning. The mood was upbeat and very satisfied.
Frank Cardinale, of Kingston, who arrived at the site at about 11:30 a.m., said early voting was, “long overdue.” His wife, Anne, quipped, “Ditto!”
“I think it’s terrific,” said Annie LaBarge, of Kingston, another morning voter. “I wish we did it nationally. More people would vote!”
Amy Coté, of Kingston, said she saw the “vote” sign on Marys Avenue as she drove by and
came on in. “I usually can’t get to the polls when I’m working,” she added.
At the desk in the building’s foyer, Scott Williams, a peace officer, directed people downstairs to the official polling place, one of seven in the county. Any registered voter in the county could walk in and vote at any polling place, but the majority of the people arriving at Marys Avenue were from Kingston.
The brightly lit room was simply arranged with two desks to check people in, more desks for people to vote, and two scanners to accept ballots. Mirrors lined one wall, reflecting the steady trickle of people filing in. By 1 p.m., an actual line had formed.
Cindy Muro, of West Hurley, took a break from gardening at George Washington Elementary School’s community garden to vote. “I got a little card in the mail that said where to vote,” she said. “I thought I’d get it in there!”
Andrei Cervoneascii, of Kingston, waiting in front of the check-in desk, glanced over the shoulder of the person ahead and said, “This is impressive!”
The technology and the speed were impressive. The two Board of Elections workers behind the desk, both of whom had years of experience, remarked that the new system was much better and the technology was faster.
The process was streamlined, especially during the initial check-in. Voters gave their names, showed identification and signed an electronic pad. Since nobody had to physically look up the names, voters immediately received a printed receipt.
At the next desk, voters exchanged the printed receipt for a ballot. They took their ballots to another, shielded desk, filled them out, then fed the completed ballots into the scanner.
“I love it,” said one voter, passing out the door. “What took us so long?”
Ashley Dittus, the Ulster County Democratic Elections Commissioner, said in a Facebook post
Saturday that “964 people voted early for the first time ever in Ulster County, New York!”
Local voters can cast ballots at any early voting site in their county between now and Nov. 3. Hours of operation vary and are listed below, along with the locations. Election Day is Nov. 5. Ulster County • Kingston: SUNY Ulster Kingston Center, 94 Mary’s Ave.
• Highland: American Legion Hall Post 193, 84 Grand St.
• New Paltz: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 90 Route 32 South.
• Accord: Accord Firehouse, 22 Main St.
• Town of Ulster: Russell Brott Senior Center, 1 Town
Hall Drive.
• Ellenville: Ellenville Public Library, 40 Center St.
• Woodstock: Mescal Hornbeck Community Center, 56 Rock City Road.
Ulster County early voting hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2.; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3; noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 and Oct. 30; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 29, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Dutchess County • Millbrook: Millbrook Fire House, 20 Front St.
• Poughkeepsie: Dutchess County Board of Elections, 47 Cannon St.
• Rhinebeck: Rhinebeck Town Hall, 80 E. Market St.
Dutchess County early voting hours are noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3; 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2; noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 29 and Oct. 30; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31. Greene County
• Catskill: Greene County Office Building, Suite 430, 411 Main St.
Greene County early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3; noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 and Oct. 30; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 29, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Columbia County • Hudson: Columbia County Office Building, 401 State St.
Columbia County early voting hours 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2 and Nov. 3; noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 27; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; and noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 29 and Oct. 30.