Grahamsville

To the editor:

As someone who served as an Election Inspector this past Election Day, I must take issue with Nadia Rajsz’s comments during the Thursday, December 8 meeting of the County Legislature. (Legislature adopts budget: Discusses amendments – Democrat, Tuesday, December 13, page 1 – 3).

First of all, it was extremely confusing that she asked the Legislature for an extra $100,000 for the Board of Elections “for equipment that they need to operate more efficiently,” and then went on to say there were no problems on Election Day.

I was stationed at the Neversink Town Hall for a half-day shift that started at 1:30 p.m. and ended quite a bit after the polls closed at 9 p.m.

There was no let up during the entire time I was there, and my fellow Inspectors reported that it had been that way since the polls opened at 6 a.m. So going “earlier in the day” as Ms. Rajsz suggested wouldn’t have made any difference.

As the afternoon and evening stretched on, we had lines out the door of the room, down the hall, out the door, down the stairs and wrapped around the building. People reported waiting for one-and-a-half hours and more. And I heard reports of other people walking away without voting from various places around the county.

Not everyone can get to Monticello for early voting. Yes, it’s a nine-day event, but it’s also a schlep from Tennanah Lake, Barryville and Glen Spey. And there are people who just want to vote on Election Day, as is their right.

As far as voters who “created their own disaster by all congregating at the same time,” are you suggesting that people call their neighbors to find out what time they’re going to vote so as to avoid congestion?

No, Ms. Rajsz, there was no “chaos” at our polling place, but there was a wait that an additional check-in station could have improved. If additional funds are allocated, they should go for equipment and personnel to allow people to vote in an efficient and timely manner.