Two Freeport voting sites closed

Legislator, volunteers work to help residents get to the polls

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The Nassau County Board of Elections has closed two Election Day polling sites in Freeport, the senior public housing buildings at 45 Wallace St. and 100 N. Main St., and instructed voters assigned to those locations to vote at the Freeport Recreation Center instead. 

The decision came after the organizations overseeing the two sites, the nonprofit Catholic Charities and the Freeport Housing Authority, urged the county Board of Elections to change the polling locations to avoid the possibility of spreading of Covid-19 at the senior housing buildings.   

Freeport Village Attorney Howard Colton said at an Oct. 19 village board meeting that because seniors represent a large at-risk population for Covid-19, the Board of Elections looked for alternative sites and found that the Recreation Center would be the most appropriate place for those residents to vote. 

“Unlike the village, the county has the expertise and knowledge in this situation to determine the places safe for voters,” Colton said. 

To help residents at those locations who might lack transportation vote at the Recreation Center, County Legislator Debra Mulé, a Democrat from Freeport, launched her “Roll to the Polls” initiative on Wednesday,  teaming up with local churches and volunteers to provide free rides from the former polling sites to the Recreation Center on Election Day. 

“We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to make their voices heard on Election Day,” Mulé said. “Despite all the tragedy we’ve been through because of the pandemic, it’s wonderful to see members of the community step up to help one another.”  

Along with volunteers, vans from the Bethel AME Church and the Zion Cathedral will be parked by the senior housing buildings to transport local voters to the Recreation Center. 

All drivers will be tested for Covid-19 before Election Day, and they will have masks and disposable gloves available for passengers. 

Both drivers and passengers will be required to wear masks at all times, and the vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected in between rides. 

Mulé added that “Roll to the Polls” was made possible by the Rev. Stephen Lewis of the Bethel AME and Bishop Frank A. White of the Zion Cathedral. 

But with the change made so close to Election Day, some Freeporters voiced their concern about how removing these two polling sites could affect election outcomes.

During the village board meeting, Trustee Carmen Piñeyro, who had reached out to Mulé for help, said that the village needed to do all it could to help residents be aware of the changes and find alternatives to reach their new polling location, about a mile away.   

“I understand the need for the changes...but it looks like it’s disenfranchising voters who are used to going to those locations,” Piñeyro said. “How will this affect the village elections in March? We don’t know what the effects of Covid will be then?” 

“This is very concerning,” added resident G. Dewey Smalls. “I fear it could suppress the voters in these important areas, who have been voting there for decades.” 

Mayor Robert Kennedy said that because this was a county issue, handled by the county Board of Elections, there wasn’t much the village could do. 

Freeporters can vote early, through Sunday, at the Recreation Center.