Polls open across Long Island

A tempestuous November election cycle is coming to a close Tuesday as voters across Long Island and beyond headed to the polls beginning at 6 a.m. to choose candidates for governor, the State Legislature, Congress and dozens of posts in local government.

Among the races attracting the most attention is the state gubernatorial contest between Democratic incumbent Andrew M. Cuomo and his Republican challenger, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Cuomo is seeking a second term in office. Both Cuomo and Astorino have campaigned heavily on Long Island, with Cuomo focusing on voter turnout and Astorino telling rallies over the weekend that Long Island's support would be key to his success.

In all, 74 races -- including the gubernatorial election -- are now before Long Island's voters, in addition to several propositions -- three statewide, two in Suffolk County and one in Southampton Town.

Statewide races include those for governor, attorney general and comptroller. Long Islanders will choose winners for five congressional seats, eight state Senate seats, and 22 state Assembly seats.

Among the key congressional races is 12-year incumbent Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop of Southampton, who is in a close rematch with two-term State Sen. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley).

In Nassau County, Democratic District Attorney Kathleen Rice and Republican Bruce Blakeman, a former Nassau presiding officer, hope to fill the 4th District seat held by retiring Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.

The statewide battle over control of the state Senate will be fought locally in the 3rd Senate District, where Republican Islip Supervisor Tom Croci is facing environmentalist Adrienne Esposito, who is running on the Democratic line.

Wall Street financier Adam Haber, a Roslyn Democrat, is challenging State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) in the 7th District, while Nassau Legis. Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) remains on the ballot in the 8th Senate District against freshman GOP Nassau County lawmaker Michael Venditto. Denenberg had stopped campaigning because of legal problems with his former law firm.

Locally, Suffolk County voters will cast ballots in the races for county comptroller, in addition to judicial posts. Two county ballot propositions ask voters if they want to abolish the office of county treasurer and if they want to approve the use of bonding to replenish the county's drinking-water protection program.

Judgeships are up before voters in Nassau County, while voters in the towns of Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Shelter Island, Southold, North Hempstead and the cities of Glen Cove and Long Beach also have local races to decide.

Six State Supreme Court justice slots also are up in Nassau and Suffolk counties.