By Mark Hallum
Grace D’Agostino, poll coordinator at PS 146 in Howard Beach, said she arrived at the location to find voters lined up 40 minutes before opening. Not far along into the day, she hit a snag.
Three of the ballot reader machines had malfunctions. D’Agostino had no time to wait for technical assistance and with the help of a manual and police officer keeping a close eye, she was able to get the machines running again.
About 800 to 1,000 voters had turned out by noon.
“I vote every time, anyway, but this time it’s very important,” said Carmella Cerar, who wore red to show her support for Donald Trump.
Immigration issues and the improved job market were why Cerar was voting Republican at all levels of government.
Lena Sabella made her way to the school on Election Day. At 94, she has never before seen the United States in its current state of disarray.
“I’m a Hillary girl,” Sabella said. “Trump is a show-off, he’s always degrading people. I was for him in the beginning, but then when he started to talk … I can’t.”
Born in Sicily, Sabella immigrated as an 8-month-old child and has spent 45 years on Lahn Street in Howard Beach.
“I’ve never seen a mess like this in all my years,” she said
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Mark Hallum
TimesLedger reporter
