Mattituck Voters Apathetic About Local Election; Loathe Voting Machines

Though a steady stream of voters adding up to almost 500 people by noon came through the doors of the gymnasium from 6 a.m. until a lunchtime lull, the feeling from at least a few voters was that this election — at least on the local level — was not that important.

“I really didn’t feel like there was much of a difference in what the different candidates wanted accomplished,” said Loretta Buscemi, a Laurel resident of 13 years, who said she voted for candidates across several different party lines.

Anna, a registered Democrat from Mattituck who did not want to give her last name, said that she too voted across party lines for all available seats — though she said she was committed to over e for County Executive.

“There was a wider angle in the county race, but there wasn’t a whole lot of controversy for Southold Town,” she said, adding that she too didn’t feel like there was much difference in Southold Town Supervisor candidates

Despite the good turnout Pat Stegner, Board of Elections coordinator for Mattituck District 2, said that no one had anything good to say about the electronic voting system, which is on its second year of use. Last year, the results from electronic voting machines were contested by both and former

“They all still hate them,” Stegner said of voters. “They don’t like the paper, they can’t sit down to fill them out — they say have to break their backs to lean over. Most people still feel like the system is a step backward.”

At least one voter was confident in her choice to vote strictly along the Conservative party line this election.

“Every election right now is important,” said Arlene, a Mattituck resident who did not want to give her last name. “Because whoever we vote in here locally will support the next president. I just want to see things go in the right direction.”