LEGISLATOR KEVIN ROBERTS REQUESTS A TEMPORARY POLLING PLACE FOR PLATTEKILL DISTRICT 4

Posted July 17, 2017

LEGISLATOR KEVIN ROBERTS REQUESTS A

TEMPORARY POLLING PLACE FOR PLATTEKILL DISTRICT 4

 

Plattekill, NY – Ulster County Legislator Kevin Roberts is asking the Ulster County Board of Elections to temporarily move the polling place for District 4 in Plattekill to accommodate voters who usually vote at the Plattekill Fire House at 24 Old Firehouse Road during the reconstruction of the Rt. 32 Bridge over the NYS Thruway.

“The folks in District 4 will have to drive into Orange County and back up into Ulster to vote. Many of them will have to drive back around again to go to work,” said Roberts. 

According to Roberts, voters who normally drive a minute or two may now need to drive 20 to 30 minutes to get to their polling place at the Plattekill Fire House. Much of that is on a back road detour that is already accommodating about 6400 cars a day according to NYS DOT.  Then voters may have to drive 20 to 30 minutes back home or to work. Currently there are 1113 registered voters in Plattekill District 4.

Roberts, working closely with Plattekill Town Supervisor Joseph Croce, reached out to Election Commissioner Tom Turco and suggested other polling places like the Senior Center or the Town Hall where other districts in Plattekill currently vote. The Ulster County Board of Elections is looking into the issue. 

Supervisor Croce wants to look at the options and see what makes the most sense.  “We hope to resolve the issue soon so we have sufficient time to get information about any change out to voters,” said Croce “and if any changes are made the information will be posted on the Town’s website.” (http://town.plattekill.ny.us/)

Roberts noted that his constituents understand the need for the bridge replacement and have been very tolerant the inconvenience it has caused in their daily lives.  However he feels with a little foresight and planning some of those inconveniences can and should be mitigated. State officials estimate the bridge work will continue through December of this year.

 “Right now there is literally a road block between District 4 and their voting booth,” said Roberts. “We don’t want to disenfranchise any voters.”

 

Map shows District 4 and the red x marks the polling place at the Plattekill Fire House.

NYS Route 32 Bridge over the NYS Thruway is closed for reconstruction.

Traffic is being detoured to Forest Road to Route 300 in Orange County.