Long Islanders tell us why they are voting

George Handler and Steven Berman, Syosset, voting at Berry Hill Elementary School

Berry Hill Elementary School in Syosset was buzzing with traffic today as Syosset residents cast their votes for the election. The ballot process seemed to be well received. George Handler and Steven Berman each said the new electronic machines were easy to use, and monitors were available to help if someone got stuck. Berman said he was looking for transparency and integrity in a candidate and that he voted accordingly. Berman said he voted Republican because he feels the party can better address the national deficit. - TC McCarthy

Travis Cumbo, Westbury, voting at Powells Lane School

Travis Cumbo, 20, said he did not like the new machines. They take "too long and are too slow." He said he voted to "see change."- Joie Tyrrell

Brandon Ray, Hempstead, voting at Fulton Middle School

Hempstead voter Brandon Ray said the machines have both good and bad. He voted at Fulton School. "It helps you concentrate on the person you want to pick," he said. But there have been some hiccups with the machines this morning.

He voted because of the tea partyers. "They are trying to get us back to the pre civil rights era," he said. "We can't let them get control of our country."- Joie Tyrrell

JoAnn Cronin, Dix Hills, voting at Candlewood Middle School, Dix Hills

Despite an early phone complaint to Newsday that district activities made parking difficult for voters at the Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills, by midmorning at least half a dozen security guards were directing traffic around the school's lot and helping voters find spots. JoAnn Cronin said she was able to find parking at the Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills with the help of the security guards. "They were good, considering the situation," Cronin, 70, a Dix Hills resident said. "They're having another meeting here."- Sophia Chang

Yvonne Clark, voting at Candlewood Middle School

Yvonne Clark managed to avoid any parking problems at the Candlewood MS in Dix Hills by riding her bike to cast her vote.

Clark, 58, a homemaker, said she prepared ahead of time to use the new ballots by reading about the new system, but she still ran into a minor problem because her paper ballot had a rip and the machine did not scan it. She filled out another ballot, Clark said.

The biggest issues for her were health care and the banking system reforms, Clark said. "I don't want a lot of Obama's programs to be revoked," she said. "When a president gets elected, his first term is really trying to fix the problems from the past president."

"People should just wait and let him work," she added.

One program she disliked was the reforms in home lending which have made it difficult for her to refinance her mortgage. "The banks are really unfair," Clark said. "My husband and I, we pay our mortgage every month and we want to take advantage of low rates and refinance. But even with good credit we can't qualify."

Still, Clark said, she voted for the Democratic ticket in this election. - Sophia Chang

Louis Lanaro, voting at Half Hollow Hills High School East

Looking back at his 86 years of living, Louis Lanaro said, "I know a little bit about life."

He came out to vote at Half Hollow Hills High School East because he wanted to support the Obama administration. "I think Obama's getting a bad rap," Lanaro said. "These young guys" - meaning right-leaning voters, pundits and candidates alike - "they don't know their history. The Republicans put us in this position."

He voted for Andrew Cuomo but not because he is partisan. "I vote for the person, I don't vote Democrat or Republican."

Of Carl Paladino, Lanaro said, "I'm not impressed with loudmouths. I don't like the way he made his money."

Of politics in general: "You take the best of the two and then you pray."- Sophia Chang

Marilyn Scattoreggio, Dix Hills, voting at HHH High School East

The election was a chance for Marilyn Scattoreggio, 56, of Dix Hills to demonstrate her support for the Democratic Party.

"I like what's been happening in the country in the past two years and I like what Obama's been doing," she said after voting at HHH High School East. "I think we're on the right track." She said the new ballots were "pretty easy to use." - Sophia Chang

Dorothy Smith, Dix Hills, voting at HHH High School East

Dorothy Smith came prepared to vote on the new ballots, having researched the ballot format at her Dix Hills home.

Smith, 80, said she was voting on economic and tax issues when she cast her ballot at HHH High School East in Dix Hills.

She voted for Cuomo, in part because she trusted his legacy. "I think his background is good. His father did a good job," Smith said. "The other one"-Paladino-"I don't have the word for it, he's just not the right man." - Sophia Chang

Doreen and James Furnari, Shirley, voted at William Floyd Elementary School in Shirley

Doreen Furnari on the new ballot: "It's like going back in time. We were just making jokes that the next time you'll have to chisel your vote on stone like an old 'Flintstone' cartoon."

"At least go to a touch-screen computer," James Furnari added. "Paper ballot? Come on."

The Furnaris said they voted Republican.

"I'm concerned about spending, and I'm worried that the United States is going to turn into a welfare state like counties in Europe, where nobody's working and the government just hands out money to the populous," said James Furnari, a commercial printer who's been out of work for the past 18 months. - Carl Corry

Joe Leslie, Shirley, voting at William Floyd Elementary School

Running to his car, Leslie of Shirley said the new ballots "work great. It's not that hard." - Carl Corry