“I can tell you — from long experience — that I have never questioned the veracity, the efficiency, and the effectiveness of the board of elections. They have always done a great job,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said on Friday as he and other county officials unveiled a new $2.8 million Early Voting Training Center in Yaphank that will be used as a training space for poll personnel, including those in East Hampton.
“We give them the tools, and they’ll do the job,” said Mr. Romaine, a Republican.
The facility, which was designed to comply with new election laws, is part of a $34.8 million countywide investment in election infrastructure intended mainly to replace all voting machines in Suffolk.
Mr. Romaine cut the ribbon on the facility with John Alberts, the Democratic election commissioner, and Betty Manzella, the Republican commissioner, at his side.
The new voting machines will not be implemented for this year’s election cycle, Ms. Manzella later confirmed, as the machines must be vetted through a state certification process, which would have been difficult during a presidential election year.
Ultimately, all voting machines will be replaced at once — as opposed to several at a time — as part of the “$35 million decision.” This will prevent having “two or three different types of machines” throughout the county, Mr. Romaine said.
As for the building’s purpose, the county trains 5,000 poll inspectors annually, Ms. Manzella said, and the new facility will alleviate the burden of undertaking that effort at “smaller venues.” Now, it can be done at the new dedicated space.
“Election law is constantly changing, so we have to keep our people updated with those changes,” Mr. Alberts added about the intent of the facility.
With the unveiling came questions about election security and accuracy. Out of concern for election integrity, however, the officials did not dive into specifics about security efforts. Mr. Romaine, however, vouched for the accuracy of county elections.
“The accuracy of the count I don’t think is going to be challenged — certainly not in Suffolk County,” he said, pointing to the new investments. “The vote is not going to be questioned.”
In addition, the county has met with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the New York State Board of Elections, cybersecurity personnel, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure a fair count.
While East Hampton voters might not flock to Yaphank to cast their ballots, the facility is also serving as one of 28 early voting locations in Suffolk County, up from 12 in 2020. Unlike on Election Day, early voting procedures do not bind voters to one polling location. As such, both commissioners boasted of the facility’s easy accessibility from the Long Island Expressway, while Ms. Manzella also pointed to the newly expanded parking lot.
“Building this center is a crucial step in guaranteeing that all elections in Suffolk County are run with the highest levels of professionalism and integrity,” Mr. Alberts said. “We have established this state-of-the-art early voting center — centrally located and easily accessible from major thoroughfares — for our voters.”
In 2020, 120,000 people participated in early voting in Suffolk County. This year, the board of elections anticipates that 200,000 will go to the polls for early voting through Sunday. At the press conference, both commissioners offered their views on whether they recommend that people participate in the early voting process.
“It is their personal preference, but it’s a lot easier just to get it out of the way, try to beat the lines on Election Day,” Mr. Alberts said. “Unfortunately, with the presidential election, you’re probably going to have lines regardless, but it’s good to get out there early.”
Ms. Manzella largely concurred, but she also pointed out that unexpected circumstances, such as inclement weather, could prevent voters from casting their ballots on Election Day.
“It’s up to people,” she said. “If they’re comfortable voting early, it’s definitely helpful. It does help alleviate some of the lines. It also helps alleviate a problem that may arise on Election Day that prevents you from getting out and casting your vote.”
In East Hampton, Windmill Village opened as an early voting site on Saturday. Over the weekend, lines extended out the door and looped into the parking lot, as hundreds of voters waited hours to cast their ballot. As the workweek began, the lines died down. By Tuesday afternoon, it was about a 10-minute wait.
“Between this $2.8 million building and $35 million to new voting machines, the board of elections is ready to face the future, and I can tell you, people in all parties know that we are going to get a fair and accurate count in a timely manner from this board of elections,” Mr. Romaine said at the press conference. “They have done a phenomenal job over the years, and I’m very proud to be here.”
