Voters Have Mixed Reactions to Electronic Machines

Coordinators at and said they think the are a good method for voting, while some voters disagree.

Carole Regina, coordinator at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, said there haven't been any problems with the three machines so far this morning and that turnout has been high.

Mary-Ann Zielinski, coordinator at Commack High School, said voters were waiting for them at 6 a.m. this morning.

"We had a line when we arrived and it's been steady ever since. It's good that they are voting, some people are bringing their children because of the school closures," she said.

At Commack High School there are six machines and about 15 privacy booths. Zielinski said the ballots are explained by posters on the back wall of the gym, to allow voters to understand the new process. She said the machines are efficient and allow you to see immediately if the ballot has been processed.

Voters are allowed to attempt the process three times, something Bill Savary, a Commack resident, was grateful for.

"Originally I wasn't pleased, but I understand the scan, need for electronic records and the three scans are going to be good for some people. It worked the first time for me, it was pretty simple," Savary said.

Mike DiMartino, a Commack resident, however, is still unsure of the privacy in this new process.

"I liked the old ones. It is my first time using the new machines, I didn't vote in , and I am afraid someone will be able to read my ballot as they enter it into the machine," DiMartino said.

Zielinski said voters are given a privacy sleeve to cover the ballot while placing it in the machine, to avoid issues like the one presented by DiMartino, but some refuse it.

Gary Saporta, Commack resident, said the machines made the process a lot easier and allowed him to vote quickly.

Rita Beckman, a Commack resident, agreed and said that everything worked well as she had hoped it would.

Jerry Wenig, election volunteer at Commack High School, disagrees.

"I don't like the machines, it takes too long. Voters have to register at the desk, take a ballot, head to the privacy booth and then submit their ballot. It's not as much privacy, the ballots are handled too much," Wenig said.

Wenig also noted that it is an exceptional turnout for a midterm election and said he thinks it is because of all the problems on Long Island with the economy, unemployment and nation-wide issues like social security and Medicaid.