The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library has decided to utilize paper ballots for its upcoming budget and trustee election scheduled for April 2, 2024. This shift from electronic voting machines directly responds to the unavailability of voting machines due to the concurrent presidential primary taking place on the same day.
The library's annual vote, crucial for determining its budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and electing its trustees, will proceed at the Mastic Beach Satellite Branch at 369 Neighborhood Road. Voting will be open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Library Director Kerri Rosalia explained the reasoning behind this change, stating, "Our trustees weighed the available options and determined that this was the only practical way to proceed. Our state-mandated calendar made this the best option."
As a spokesperson for the library stated, "The budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be discussed at the next meeting, and no further details were available at the time of this article."
Betty Manzella, the Board of Elections Commissioner for Suffolk County, shed light on the challenges of the presidential primary. She stated, "As you probably know, April 2 is the Presidential primary election, which is a county-wide election, meaning every polling place will be used for election day plus 27 sites for the nine days of early voting leading up to the election. All voting machines will be in use along with all personnel."
Manzella highlighted the impact on auxiliary districts, explaining, "Similarly, Villages hold their elections on March 19 and will be unable to use our voting machines. When these auxiliary districts (Village, School, Library, Fire, and Ambulance districts) use our voting machines, it requires us to program and test the machine for them, transport the machines to their site, and assign a machine technician to their site to troubleshoot or handle any machine issues that might arise. This will not be possible this year because of the Presidential primary election, whose date is set by the State Legislature and State Board of Elections in accordance with NYS Election law."
She further elaborated, "We have sent a letter out to all auxiliary districts advising them that voting machines will be unavailable. We can only offer them ballot boxes instead."
The decision to switch to paper ballots underscores the complex logistical challenges of the simultaneous presidential primary election. It ensures the library's election process continues, upholding transparency and public participation. The library's community looks forward to the upcoming budget discussion in the next meeting, which remains a crucial aspect of their governance and planning.