Thousands of local primary votes may be thrown out

Simplified food stamp application process tested

Rick Brand on Long Island; Celeste Hadrick on Long Island; James T. Madore in Albany

February 11, 2008

GOP: IT STINKS

Sewer plan split along party lines

Hempstead Republicans are taking on Nassau Legis. Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside) over his vote to approve a sewer consolidation plan that calls for sewage now processed in Lawrence and Cedarhurst to be pumped to the county's Bay Park treatment plant in his district.

At a stormy first meeting of the legislature this year, the 10-vote Democratic majority approved the plan over the objections of residents from Bay Park and East Rockaway, both GOP strongholds.

Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Board member Anthony Santino wrote Toback, asking him to change course.

They also issued a news release announcing a petition drive against the plan as well as a protest rally on March 1 at the entrance to the Bay Park plant.

- Celeste Hadrick on Long Island

QUESTIONABLE VOTES

Ballots may not count

Election officials in Nassau and Suffolk say Tuesday's presidential primary brought out a record number of voters whose ballots may end up discarded - either because they were not registered to vote or not listed as belonging to either of the political parties holding contests.

Officials say nearly 14,000 votes cast were considered questionable. These are affidavit ballots in which the voters swear they are qualified to vote. Election records are checked later in Mineola and Yaphank to determine whether the voter was in fact qualified.

Cathy Richter Geier, Suffolk's Republican commissioner, said, "It's very confusing for the voter when they hear things on TV about other states and think they are entitled [to vote] in any primary."

"We had people come and say they were Democrats because they always vote for Democrats," said William Biamonte, Nassau's Democratic elections commissioner.

Officials say prolonged delays in an Elmont polling place resulted in part from large numbers casting affidavit ballots.

In New York, only those enrolled in a party can vote in that party's primary.

- Rick Brand on Long Island

THE SPITZER WATCH

Nassau and Suffolk counties are among 10 in the state testing a simplified application process for food stamps as part of an initiative by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to aid poor families.

Under the experiment, applicants for food stamps who are employed for a minimum number of hours each week no longer have to visit a social services office to be interviewed and fill out the necessary forms. The fingerprinting requirement has also been waived.

"There are still a significant number of eligible working families who are in need of support, yet not accessing the program," Spitzer said. "If we can help hardworking, low-income households achieve a greater degree of economic stability by providing nutritional support and encouraging savings, we will help develop a workforce that is more dependable."