Officials Cast Ballots, Urge Others To Vote Too
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Area officials cast their ballots Tuesday morning amid continuing concern over superstorm Sandy-related damage in New York and New Jersey.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the turnout in his own polling place was high despite storm-related issues. He spoke Tuesday after voting at the Mount Kisco Presbyterian Church in Westchester County.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports
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That's an original polling location, but Cuomo noted that a lot of people are displaced. He said they can go into any polling place, fill out an affidavit ballot and vote.
"More than anything, people should just vote," he said.
"This is an important election, this is a critical election," Cuomo said. "This country, this state has many important issues that it's facing and many important decisions to make. Who's in charge matters."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg cast his ballot Tuesday morning at a polling place on East 81st Street.
"I encourage all New Yorker to cast their ballots," Bloomberg said. "People all around the world would like to have our freedoms and to keep them and extend them we have to exercise them."
In New Jersey, Christie was accompanied by his youngest daughter when he voted soon after learning that power had been restored to his home.
"I'm amazed at how resilient people are. I think there's tremendous interest in the election here and nationwide,'' Christie said.
Speaking at a news conference later Tuesday morning, Christie urged all New Jersey residents to get to the polls.
"I encourage everybody to get out there and vote. I know you've got a lot of things on your plate right now in your life, but it's a national election, it's important to vote and have your voice be heard," he said. "I voted. There's no reason why anyone else shouldn't vote -- I'm pretty busy so everyone else should find some time to vote today too."
The state has contingency plans so voters displaced by the storm can cast their ballots.
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
