Politics & Government

View Finder: Election Night in Malverne-West Hempstead

The last round of voters turn out to the polls Tuesday night.

A steady but small stream of voters continued to trickle into polling places around Malverne and West Hempstead Tuesday night.

With polls closing at 9 p.m., they cast their ballots for their local Nassau County legislators, Hempstead Town officials and judges in the few hours that remained. 

Nassau County Legis. Vincent Muscarella, who is up for re-election in the 8th district, was spotted at West Hempstead Middle School around 6:30 p.m., where a handful of residents, one who brought their small dog, turned out to vote.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Thomas Jacob, a 19-year West Hempstead resident, had expected a bigger turnout at the middle school. "I always come here at this time and it never looks like this," he said. "It's usually packed."

While many consider this an 'off' election year, Jacobs said "economic issues" motivated him to come out. "I'd like to see some change," he added.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

His sentiments were echoed by another West Hempstead man who hit the polls with his young son in tow. "I'm hoping to see a big change," he said, preferring to withold his name. "My taxes need to go down."

The crowd wasn't much bigger over at the Eagle Avenue School, where poll workers said a few hundred votes had been cast by 7 p.m. They estimated that the election would only bring out about a third of registered voters in that area.

But voters like Christine DeMarco, a 22-year West Hempstead resident, said they never miss an election.

"There was only one person in particular I wanted to vote out this year," she added, but didn't disclose who that candidate is.

The state of national politics influenced Dennis Ferington, an 11-year West Hempstead resident, to vote in favor of the Democratic candidates when he cast his ballot.

"I"m very anti-Republican, especially with what's going in Washington now," he said.

But Republican Kate Murray, who is seeking another term as Hempstead Town Supervisor, did receive the support of one couple who has resided in West Hempstead for the past 40 years. They wished to remain anonymous, but did say that unemployment and the economy were factors when casting their votes.

Over at Maurice W. Downing Primary School, one of two polling places in Malverne, a poll worker said the turnout was good.

"We started out a little slow, but we've been doing well," she said.

If you haven't voted yet, hurry up and get to your local polling place. And continue to check Malverne-West Hempstead Patch for results after the polls close tonight. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest developments.


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