Sandy shifts Queens polling sites

By Steve Mosco

Voters in storm-ravaged Queens neighborhoods might have to report to a new polling site to cast their ballots on Election Day.

Due to the damage incurred by Hurricane Sandy, the city Board of Elections is temporarily relocating or combining some poll site locations across all five boroughs to ensure voters are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

“The board surveyed and assessed all polling sites in each borough and determined the usability and accessibility of each poll site in advance of this Tuesday’s election. We have consolidated some poll sites and found alternative locations for others,” the Board of Elections said in a release.

Most of the poll sites forced to move in Queens were in the Rockaways. For a complete list of changed polling sites in the city, visit vote.nyc.ny.us/downloads/pdf/poll_site_location_changes_110412.pdf.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Hurricane Sandy affected close to 143,000 voters throughout the five boroughs.

“Over the next day, it’s going to be critical that the Board of Elections communicate this new information to their poll workers,” the mayor said. “Unfortunately, as you know, the board has had a history of not opening all poll sites on time, and they’re going to work hard to make sure that poll workers and voters know where they’re supposed to go on Election Day.”

Shuttle service will be provided to assist voters in getting to their poll sites in Far Rockaway.

For those voters who cannot get to their polling site on Election Day, they can vote in person at their borough’s Board of Election site until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5. In Queens, the office is at 126-06 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens. The phone number is 718-730-6730.

Poll site changes in Queens are as follows:

OLD: Young Israel, 716 Beach 9th St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: MS 53-Brian Piccolo, 10-45 Nameoke St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: Redfern Community Center, 15-44 Hassock St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: MS 53-Brian Piccolo, 10-45 Nameoke St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: 711 Seagirt Ave., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: MS 53-Brian Piccolo, 10-45 Nameoke St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: PS 207-Rockwood Park, 159-15 88th St., Howard Beach, NY 11414

NEW: PS 232-Lindenwood, 153-23 83rd St., Howard Beach, NY 11414

OLD: Ocean Park Apartments, 120 Beach 19 St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: MS 53-Brian Piccolo, 10-45 Nameoke St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: PS 146-Howard Beach, 98-01 159th Ave., Howard Beach, NY 11414

NEW: PS 232-Lindenwood, 153-23 83rd St., Howard Beach, NY 11414

OLD: Israel Senior Housing, 19-25 Seagirt Blvd., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: MS 53-Brian Piccolo, 10-45 Nameoke St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: PS 215-Lucretia Mott, 535 Briar Place, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: Far Rockaway High School, 821 Beach 25th St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: Allen AME Senior Center, 112-04 167th St., Jamaica, NY 11433

NEW: PS 140-Edward K. Ellington, 166-11 116th Ave., Jamaica, NY 11434

OLD: Brookdale Village Senior Center, 131 Beach 19th St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: Far Rockaway HS, 821 Beach 25 St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: Hillcrest HS, 160-05 Highland Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432

NEW: Thomas A. Edison HS, 165-65 84th Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432

OLD: Beach 41st Community Center, 426 Beach 40 St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

NEW: Far Rockaway HS, 821 Beach 25th St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691

OLD: Blessed Trinity Church, 204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd., Breezy Point, NY 11697