Some voting sites moved after Sandy damage

A voting machine sits amongst donated clothing at the East... — A voting machine sits amongst donated clothing at the East Meadow Fire Department. (Nov. 4, 2012) Credit: Howard Schnapp

By LAURA FIGUEROAlaura.figueroa@newsday.comNovember 5, 2012

The vote will go on, but not necessarily in the usual spots.

While most Long Island voters will be able to use their normal polling places Tuesday, storm damage and continued power outages have caused some last-minute changes to a few sites.

The board had anticipated LIPA restoring power to dozens of polling locations left without power or securing generators for those sites, but Sunday afternoon, with those precincts likely remaining in the dark, Biamonte said the board was mapping out alternate voting locations.

He said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has committed to providing generators, but a revised list of changed precincts would be available Monday.

"We are doing everything possible to ensure that our elections will move forward as scheduled," Suffolk Board of Elections commissioners Anita S. Katz and Wayne T. Rogers wrote in a joint news statement.

Following the 9/11 attacks, a Congressional Research Service report examined whether presidential elections could be postponed. It determined there is no law that provides express authority to delay an election. To change the date, Congress would have to override an 1845 law making Election Day the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the 2004 report noted.

Polls will operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in both counties.

Voters with questions about polling places can call 516-571-2411 in Nassau and 631-852-4500 in Suffolk.