Government

North Fork residents cast their ballots

GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | Thomas and Anne Carpenter wait in line to vote at Southold School Tuesday.

After 53 years of marriage, you might think Thomas and Anne Carpenter wouldn’t still be so cuddly. But there the Southold couple was Tuesday, arm in arm, voting in the 2012 presidential election.

It was the first time the Carpenters voted using the new paper ballot system.

The couple said they each cast their ballot for Mitt Romney, though Mr. Carpenter said he was initially confused by the newer system and might accidentally “end up voting for the president of Tasmania.”

Gerard Case, a vote coordination volunteer who was at Southold School today, said Mr. Carpenter is not alone in his concern over the paper ballots.

“People hate the new machines,” Mr. Case said. “It’s not nice for people with bad eyes or a slight tremor.”

He said the machines, which were first used here in 2008, have led to longer than usual lines.

Lou Serrano, who voted for Mitt Romney at Cutchogue East Elementary, said “bring back the lever machines,” when asked about his experience.

Southold resident Karen Catapano said she voted for Barack Obama.

“I figure he’s been at it for four years now,” she said. “He’s probably got a hang of how the job is done.”

LIVE ELECTION RESULTS

Check back at 9 p.m. for our live election results log. We’ll have reporters at both the Suffolk County Republican and Democratic galas. We’ll keep up with the results as the precincts report them and we’ll add photos, video and color from the galas.

Tonight’s blog will be sponsored by Blackwells at Great Rock in Wading River and Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor.

MORE POLLING PLACE PHOTOS

GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | The line at the polling place in Southold, which Election Day volunteers say was longer due to the paper ballot system.
GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | Anne Carpenter of Southold casts her ballot for Mitt Romney.
GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | Paper ballots being filled out in Southold.
GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | Ann and Ray Rainondi brought one year old, Devlin, with them into Cutchogue East Elementary, where they cast their vote.