States Give Provisions to Displaced Voters
Some of the regions most affected by the devastation of Superstorm Sandy are providing creative ways to ensure that the votes of their displaced residents are still heard.
In New York and New Jersey, voters can cast a provisional ballot at any polling site in the state, which will allow them to vote for both national and statewide officials. If voters show up at a polling site where they are not listed as eligible to vote, they will be given a provisional ballot, or "affidavit," that will be counted after confirmation of their voter registration.
In addition to these provisional ballots, New Jersey will send officials to retrieve mail-in ballots from people away from their homes. Some authorities are even planning to drive displaced voters to their polling sites.
"Compared to what we have had to deal with in the past week, this will be a walk in the park when it comes to voting," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a report by the Associated Press.
New Jersey is reaching out to displaced voters who, according to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, are eager to cast their ballots -- even in the wake of disaster.
On Tuesday morning, lines were long in places like Point Pleasant, N.J., where many residents were forced to vote because of damages to their original poll location. "I have been so anxious about being able to vote," said Annette DeBona, who is of Point Pleasant, in an Associated Press report. "It's such a releif to be able to do it. This is the happiest vote I ever cast in my life."
"I'm amazed at how resilient people are. I think there's tremendous interest in the election here and nationwide," said Gov. Christie, just a week after stating that in the wake of Sandy's destruction he didn't "give a damn about Election Day."
Although many of the storm's victims are still without power, Ernie Landante, a representative of the New Jersey Division of Elections, said that most polling places have been restored, according to the Associated Press.
