Grace Marie Damico, St. James Q: Will you vote in the primary? A: Yes. Q: Why? A: Because I think that the country is in dire straits right now, and the more people that get out and vote for who they prefer, the better the country will be. Hopefully we can bring this country back. John Hayes, Coram  Q: Will you vote in the primary? A: Yes Q: Why? A: Because it’s too dangerous not to vote. It’s a very important election. I believe Donald Trump is a very dangerous man. I believe that every vote counts against him. If you don’t vote, it’s a vote for Donald Trump. Charles Spinnato, Port Jeff  Q: Will you vote in the primary? A: Yes. I want to choose who I want to vote for [and] who I want to be the nominee for the Republican Party. So I would vote in the primaries to make that choice. [It’s a] very interesting election this year. James Turrill, Mastic  Q: Will you vote in the primary? A: I’ve never voted in the primaries before but I want to. Q: Why? A: I’m fed up with politicians. Look what [U.S. President Barack] Obama has done to this country. He’s destroyed it. I want somebody not like him. |
By Giselle Barkley
The 2016 U.S. presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle made their way to New York to continue rallying support this week.
And by next Tuesday, New Yorkers can make a difference when they vote for their nominee in the closed primary.
Suffolk County Republican Chair John Jay LaValle said this is the first primary in three decades where New York State’s vote is this relevant.
“By the time the vote gets to New York, it’s usually over and it’s a functional exercise when the candidates run,” LaValle said.
When asked how running in New York differed from campaigning in other states, LaValle said, “New Yorkers like to hear it straight.” The Republican chair added that voters in this state are very engaged, intelligent and are more skeptical when it comes to casting a vote.
But Lillian Clayman, chair of Brookhaven’s Democratic Committee said “unless there’s this huge ideological chasm with the candidates,” running in New York isn’t much different than in other states.
The presidential primaries allow voters to help determine the presidential nominees for their respective parties. Of the nominees, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is doing well on Long Island, LaValle said. He added that people are getting tired of hearing the typical political rhetoric they hear from the other 2016 presidential candidates.
Although Clayman said she doesn’t know what’s to come for next week’s primaries, she said Democratic nominees, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) have energized residents, even those who usually don’t vote during the primaries.
Registered voters can choose their nominees on Tuesday, April 19.
Visit elections.ny.gov for more information on deadlines and where residents can vote.
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