Uncontested Cortlandt Races, Low Turnout Possible

MONTROSE, N.Y. – Voters were in short supply Tuesday morning at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library in Montrose, part of the Town Of Cortlandt. An off-year election coupled with several uncontested races may result in a low overall turnout. 

“For an uncontested election, it hasn’t been bad,” said 10-year election inspector, John Mattis. “Although, we did get more people because they eliminated a district,” he said. By 11 a.m., District 34 had only received about 50 voters. During the primary, only four voters turned up to cast a ballot.

Three seats on the Cortlandt Town Board are completely uncontested, those being Supervisor Linda Puglisi plus council members Richard Beckeer Frank Farrell. There is a race for the town justice, between incumbent, Republican candidate Daniel McCarthy, and former Assistant District Attorney and Democrat Frank Priolo.

There is also a race for the county legislator’s seat. The northern Cortlandt district is currently represented by Republican candidate John Testa and he is being opposed by Democrat Mike Kane.

Election inspectors said most people inevitably come in at the end of the day after work. “We get the rush after dinner,” said Mattis. Election inspectors also said they thought voters were still getting comfortable with the new voting machines.

“If it doesn’t go in smooth, it takes time, and you want them to vote,” said Mona Giuliano, another election inspector at Hendrick Hudson Free Library. She said people can get frustrated with the machines, especially on their way to work.

“When I was a kid, when I went with my parents to vote, that’s what we used,” said John  Mattis, about older voting machines. Mattis said some people felt like they were taking a step back by casting large paper ballots, but, said Guiliani, “the machine counts the votes.”

Each voting location must also now have a “Plan B” voting machine, which makes it possible for a quadriplegic to vote unassisted, via a tube which a voter can blow into, to cast their ballot. The machine also offers audio, and can read paper ballots in the event there is an error with another electronic machine.

The only disappointment with the machine, which resembles a large black metal box, is that “Nobody’s ever used it. It’s a shame they’re so underutilized,” said Mattis.

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