Friday, November 06, 2009
Bethel voter drive unlikely to change election results
A much-ballyhooed registration drive from Hasidic groups in the Town of Bethel might have spurred a surge in absentee ballots, but is not expected to change the outcome of Tuesday's races.
The Sullivan County Board of Elections received 262 absentee ballots to date from Bethel voters, and eight affidavits. Hasidic groups began a voter drive this summer after the town and the United Talmudical Academy, a Hasidic organization based in Brooklyn, went to court over the rapid construction of a shul on Schultz Road.
There are more absentee ballots than usual from Bethel, but not hugely so. In 2007, the Board of Elections issued 228 absentee ballots and got back 202, said Election Commissioner Faith Kaplan.
A group led by Legislator Dave Sager has challenged 152 new registrations, claiming the seasonal residents do not qualify to vote in town. Most switched this summer from addresses in Brooklyn, and stay in bungalow colonies that are open only in the summer. Sager says his organization will take the challenge to court if necessary.
"This is something that is going to present itself every year and there needs (to be) a clear determination with regard to election law," Sager said.
It won't be clear, however, how many of this year's absentee ballots came from the voter drive until the ballots are opened tentatively on Nov. 17.
Supervisor Daniel Sturm holds a 180-vote lead over former Supervisor Harold Russell. And while Russell hasn't conceded, Sturm says he's not worried.
"With the machine count there, I am statistically in good shape," he said.
Incumbent board members Richard Crumley and Denise Frangipane hold 154- and 97-vote leads, respectively, over Benjamin Friehling. The top vote-getters win the two seats.
Sturm believes he and other incumbents were targets of the drive, but it might have helped them in the end by activating Bethel's other community groups.
"Maybe people were more cognizant about the importance of voting," Sturm said.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091106/NEWS/911060352
The Sullivan County Board of Elections received 262 absentee ballots to date from Bethel voters, and eight affidavits. Hasidic groups began a voter drive this summer after the town and the United Talmudical Academy, a Hasidic organization based in Brooklyn, went to court over the rapid construction of a shul on Schultz Road.
There are more absentee ballots than usual from Bethel, but not hugely so. In 2007, the Board of Elections issued 228 absentee ballots and got back 202, said Election Commissioner Faith Kaplan.
A group led by Legislator Dave Sager has challenged 152 new registrations, claiming the seasonal residents do not qualify to vote in town. Most switched this summer from addresses in Brooklyn, and stay in bungalow colonies that are open only in the summer. Sager says his organization will take the challenge to court if necessary.
"This is something that is going to present itself every year and there needs (to be) a clear determination with regard to election law," Sager said.
It won't be clear, however, how many of this year's absentee ballots came from the voter drive until the ballots are opened tentatively on Nov. 17.
Supervisor Daniel Sturm holds a 180-vote lead over former Supervisor Harold Russell. And while Russell hasn't conceded, Sturm says he's not worried.
"With the machine count there, I am statistically in good shape," he said.
Incumbent board members Richard Crumley and Denise Frangipane hold 154- and 97-vote leads, respectively, over Benjamin Friehling. The top vote-getters win the two seats.
Sturm believes he and other incumbents were targets of the drive, but it might have helped them in the end by activating Bethel's other community groups.
"Maybe people were more cognizant about the importance of voting," Sturm said.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091106/NEWS/911060352
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