USA: POLITICS - New York's storm-hit residents cast their ballots in tents with voting equipment powered by generators

Record ID: 702426

  • Title: USA: POLITICS - New York's storm-hit residents cast their ballots in tents with voting equipment powered by generators
  • Date: 6th November 2012
  • Summary: LIGHTS INSIDE VOTING CENTER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN THOMPSON, TRAINING SPECIALIST FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SAYING: "It's going to be thousands in here. We have seven poll sites combined into this one tent, so we have voters from all over the Rockaways coming here. Feedback so far is mostly positive, people are getting in line, getting the chance to vote and then they're getting out of here." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX VALGER, RESIDENT OF QUEENS, NEW YORK, SAYING: "This is okay, this is okay. Rest of the job is horrible. No gas, no heating, you ever try to sleep in a house where there is no heating control and the temperature outside is 34 [farenheit]?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRENA VALGER, RESIDENT OF QUEENS, NEW YORK, SAYING: "It's a little bit strange, but whatever works." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHARISSE GEORGE, POLL WORKER, SAYING: "No matter what Barack, you got my vote, but at the same time I'm angry because we're outside voting and you have to leave from the cold to go sleep in the cold and it's not fair. They made it their business to go get generators to vote for people who live in the White House and who are nice and warm and cuddly." (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE RAUL RIVERA, RESIDENT OF QUEENS, NEW YORK, SAYING: "Well we want our candidate to get in, we want Obama to get in so we do our best. They sacrificed all these things to set up in this situation. We have a situation that's only getting to get worse, it's not going to get better." JOSE RAUL RIVERA VARIOUS OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT CHARISSE GEORGE HELPING VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS ELECTRONICALLY (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN THOMPSON, TRAINING SPECIALIST FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SAYING: "It's definitely warmed up with the sun. This morning was a little rough. But hopefully tonight we'll have the heaters running and it'll be alright." VARIOUS OF ELECTRICAL TAPE AND WIRES OUTSIDE TENTED POLLING STATION WRECKAGE AND DESTROYED HOMES BEHIND THE TENTED POLLING STATION
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Disasters,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEG2F3QJ6U2ETWCGKNW4C5COCF
  • Story Text: Voters affected by Hurricane Sandy in Queens, New York filed into a tented voting center on November 6 to cast their ballots for the next U.S. president.
    The center is being powered by two generators, which provide enough power for lights, electronic ballot booths and eight space heaters, which officials hope will keep people warm as the temperatures drop.
    Stephen Thompson, a training specialist with the Board of Elections, said federal and state officials have worked hard to accommodate residents who have been devastated by the effects of the hurricane.

    "It's going to be thousands in here. We have seven poll sites combined into this one tent, so we have voters from all over the Rockaways coming here. Feedback so far is mostly positive, people are getting in line, getting the chance to vote and then they're getting out of here."
    Local resident Irena Valger said that voting in a tent is "strange", but effective. Her husband Alex on the other hand said officials still have a lot of work to do to help residents.

    "This is okay, this is okay. Rest of the job is horrible. No gas, no heating, you ever try to sleep in a house where there is no heating control and the temperature outside is 34 [farenheit]?"
    Valger isn't the only one frustrated. Poll worker Charisse George said it was disappointing that authorities were able to erect and power the polling station so quickly, yet many area residents are still living without heat or electricity.

    "No matter what Barack, you got my vote, but at the same time I'm angry because we're outside voting and you have to leave from the cold to go sleep in the cold and it's not fair. They made it their business to go get generators to vote for people who live in the White House and who are nice and warm and cuddly."
    The tented polling station will stay open until 2100 EST (0300 GMT). Officials are expected to go door to door and use loud speakers to alert residents about the polling station so that they do not miss the opportunity to vote.
    voxpops
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