Politics & Government

Early Turnout at Polls Mixed

St. James polls are busy while others in Smithtown have not seen as much traffic.

Voter turnout has been inconsistent throughout the Smithtown at the midway point of Election Day, but New York State poll workers expect a late voter push.

Russ Qualliotine, assistant coordinator at the St. James Elementary polling location, said there has been a “good turnout so far" as of 2 p.m., and that voters have been coming in consistently since polls open.

Qualliotine added that there has been a large elderly voter turnout.

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Eva Normandin, poll coordinator at the Joseph M. Barton Building on New York Avenue, said the turnout has been light, but since 2:30 p.m. the location traffic has been increasing.

While voters have been tight-lipped about who they voted for, they haven’t been afraid to speak what they look for in all the candidates up for election in every race.

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“Now with the economy the way it is, I think we’ve got to get the right people in,” said Cathy Reimers of Smithtown.

Reimers would not reveal her candidates of choice, but said she typically votes along her chosen party lines.

“I feel that they have the right attitudes towards the issues that I believe in. I tend more to vote along the party than the individual person. Occasionally I’ll break away but mostly it’s pretty much along the party lines,” she said.

Marlene Elflein, of St. James, said she is mostly concerned with taxes and keeping the town clean.

RELATED: Patch's 2011 Voter Guide

Stick with Smithtown Patch throughout the night for election updates, and as always follow us on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook for up-to-the-minute updates.


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