Mixed Turnout Reported in East Hampton Village

Democrat and Republican poll watchers reported a mixed turnout for the two districts casting votes at the in East Hampton Village on Tuesday morning.

Some voters came out in the pre-work hours, but by noon, it was too early to tell which party had the greater participation, they said.

“District 8 tends to vote much earlier than this district,” Tom Friedman said of District 13, though it was only about 11 a.m. A local real estate broker and volunteer poll watcher for the Democrats, Friedman pointed out that District 13 encompasses Newtown Lane, Dayton Lane, Toilsome Lane and part of Route 114, which is a much smaller area than that of District 8. “It’s a crazy patchwork quilt,” he said.

Republican poll watcher for District 13 and publisher Lynne Scanlon concurred that voter turnout had been slight Tuesday morning. “They’re trickling in,” she said.

Scanlon and Friedman are first-time poll watchers this year. Their job as poll watchers is to keep track of their party members as they vote and to report the no-shows. Names of registered Republicans and Democrats who don’t come in are then reported to their respective party headquarters so calls may be placed encouraging them to vote before polls close.

 “I thought it was time to understand the issues and take a stand through my vote,” Scanlon said, explaining her reason for volunteering this year. “A vote can really count in this town,” she added. Scanlon became active in local politics while fighting the most recent , and she said it has been tremendously exciting to get involved.

Scanlon said there had been a feeling of mistrust between the parties at the polls this year. "Everybody is suspicious of one another," she said, explaining that election volunteers seem fearful that their opponents will cheat or lobby illegally.

Friedman said he gets involved with the elections every year, but this year his focus is unseating incumbent East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson. “The supervisor has run his office in a very dictatorial way, and I don’t think that is the way to win the hearts and minds of the people,” Friedman said, though he would volunteer even if there wasn’t a particularly pressing issue. “I volunteer because I feel I should partake in the democratic process,” he said.

Democrat poll watcher for District 8 and Springs resident Betsy Ruth said the polls had been busy on Tuesday morning. “We’ve been busy, clumpy, but busy,” she said. Ruth had the desire to get involved in the election, but her particular concern is code enforcement. “Code enforcement has been active, but we’re hoping it will be more active,” she said. “Springs is overcrowded and stressed out.”

Stephen Lynch Jr., son of Republican candidate for Superintendent of Highways volunteered to be the Republican poll watcher for District 8. He said Republican and Democrat turnout had been about even in the hours leading up to 11 a.m, but it would be hard to know until the parties counted their votes. Not typically involved in local politics, Lynch said he volunteered to support his father. “I did it for my father last time he ran,” he said, adding that he was the only poll watcher with previous experience at John Marshall on Tuesday.

Lynch said he’s had to take over his father’s excavation and gravel business because of the election, but it’s worth it to help. “He feels confident that he’ll do a good job,” Lynch said of his father, noting that he wants to bring confidence back to the workforce.

Outside the polling place, voters were cagey on Tuesday. Few wanted to reveal their choice of candidates, or even speak about the election.

District 13 voters and senior citizens Barry and Anne Forman did have a lot to say about the new paper-and-pencil voting format that replaced the old voting booths at the polls this Election Day. “It’s like going back 50 years,” Anne said. “Why are we back to a paper and pencil? It’s just absurd.”

She said she had no real problem voting, but she added that seniors generally struggle with change and new concepts. “With all the technology, we’re filling in little circles?  It’s ridiculous,” she said.