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Shelter Island school board shortens budget-vote hours to 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Summary
Facing lower late-night turnout and the county’s removal of tabulator machines, the Shelter Island Board voted unanimously to change future Budget Vote & Election hours from 12 p.m.–9 p.m. to 10 a.m.–8 p.m., aiming to reduce hand-counting burdens and better match voter behavior.
The Shelter Island Union Free School District Board of Education voted unanimously Dec. 8 to change future Budget Vote & Election poll hours to 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Superintendent Dr. Brian Doelger summarized data showing rising voter arrivals before the previous 12:00 p.m. opening and few voters between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. He also told the Board that the Suffolk County Board of Elections will no longer provide tabulator machines, meaning districts must count paper ballots by hand after polls close. "To first close the polls at 9:00 p.m. and begin counting makes for a very long night," Doelger said during the discussion.
Board members discussed precedents in neighboring districts and legal minimum hours. After deliberation, Karina Montalvo moved and Margaret Colligan seconded the superintendent’s recommendation; the motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: The earlier closing time aims to reduce late-night staffing burdens and align polling hours with observed voter patterns and absentee voter needs. The change will be applied to future Budget Votes & Elections; the Board did not identify additional procedural changes in the minutes.
