The Suffolk County Board of Elections is rolling out early voting for New York’s 2019 general election. That means we’re no longer limited to one day of voting. Instead, over the course of 10 days we’ll have numerous chances to weigh in (but still just one vote per person).
Find the Election 2019 Shelter Island ballot here.
What’s more, during early voting, we can participate at any early voting location in Suffolk County. That’s thanks to new electronic poll books that replace the manual system of checking in voters at the polls.
When a voter signs in, the electronic poll book will print a receipt and a ballot tailored to that voter’s home district. As before, voters will fill out their ballots and feed them into electronic scanners to cast their votes.
The electronic poll books are part of a $14.7 million state initiative to support early voting. The state budgeted another $10 million to reimburse counties for the additional cost of early voting operations.
Enjoy a humorous look at how we used to take care of this essential business in “Perils & Pastries at the Polls”, Joanne Sherman’s debut Off the Cuff column. We are pleased to announce that she’s joining the Gazette, with plans to post a column every other week (or so).
Early Voting details
On Shelter Island, early voting takes place in the Youth Center upstairs at the American Legion Hall, 1 Bateman Road. Here’s the schedule:
- Saturday, October 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Monday, October 28, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29, noon to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, October 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, November 1, noon to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other Suffolk County early voting locations
If you aren’t able to get to our local polling place during early voting, you can take part at any of the Suffolk County Board of Elections early voting polling stations.
Given heightened security concerns at schools, most early voting in Suffolk County will take place in other settings. They are:
- Babylon, Babylon Town Hall Annex, 281 Phelps Lane, North Babylon NY 11703
- Brookhaven, Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville NY 11738
- East Hampton,Windmill Village, 219 Accabonac Road, Community Room #2, East Hampton NY 11937
- Huntington, Dix Hills Fire Department, 115 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills, NY 11746
- Islip, Islip Town Hall Annex, 401 Main Street, Islip NY 11751
- Riverhead, Riverhead Senior Center, 60 Shade Tree Lane, Riverhead NY 11901
- Smithtown, Nesconset Elementary School, 29 Gibbs Pond Rd, Nesconset NY 11767
- Southampton, Stony Brook University Southampton gymnasium, 70 Tuckahoe Rd, Southampton NY 11968
- Southold, Southold Senior Center, 750 Pacific Street, Mattituck NY 11952
Election Day voting
On Election Day — Tuesday, November 5 — our polling place moves back to the Shelter Island School, where classes are suspended due to a superintendent’s conference day. Voting hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Throughout Suffolk County, those waiting until Election Day to cast their ballots must vote in their home district.
Absentee ballots
Unable to vote in person even with the expanded calendar? You can still vote by absentee ballot. Download an absentee ballot application here. Or, pick up a copy at any post office or public library.
The completed application must be:
- personally delivered to the Suffolk County Board of Elections no later than the day before the election,
- or postmarked by a governmental postal service no later than the 7th day before Election Day
Once you receive your ballot, it must be:
- personally delivered to the board of elections no later than the close of polls on Election Day,
- or postmarked by a governmental postal service no later than the day before the election and received no later than the 7th day after the election
If you have questions, call the Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500.
