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
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: Ocean Village, 57-07 Shore Front Pkwy., Arverne, NY 11692
NEW: Far Rockaway HS, 821 Beach 25th St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
OLD: PS 114-Belle Harbor, 134-09 Cronston Ave., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: Seaside Library, 116-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: PS 333-Goldie Maple Academy, 365 Beach 57th St., Arverne, NY 11692
NEW: PS 104-Bays Water, 26-01 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
OLD: Dayton Towers West, 102-00 Shore Front Pkwy., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: PS 105-The Bay School, 420 Beach 51st St., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
NEW: PS 104-Bays Water, 26-01 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
OLD: Dayton Beach Park 8600, 86-00 Shore Front Pkwy., Far Rockaway, NY 11693
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: Arverne Pilgrim Church, 74-16 Beach Channel Drive, Arverne, NY 11692
NEW: PS 104-Bays Water, 26-01 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
OLD: Dayton Beach Park 8200, 82-00 Shore Front Pkwy., Far Rockaway, NY 11693
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: Beach Channel HS, 100-00 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: Hammel Comm Center, 81-14 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Far Rockaway, NY 11693
NEW: PS 104-Bays Water, 26-01 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
OLD: Services for the Underserved, 318 Beach 85th St., Far Rockaway, NY 11693
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694
OLD: Dayton Towers East 7400, 74-00 Shore Front Pkwy., Arverne, NY 11692
NEW: PS 104-Bays Water, 26-01 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway, NY 11691
OLD: Peninsula Library, 92-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Far Rockaway, NY 11693
NEW: PS 180, 320 Beach 104th St., Rockaway Park, NY 11694