Voter turnout in Suffolk County today has been higher than usual in a midterm election.
In the First Congressional District, voter turnout as of 5 p.m. had already exceeded total turnout in the last midterm election of 2014.
This year by 5 p.m., 39.22 percent of voters had already cast their ballots, according to data collected by the Suffolk County Board of Elections. In 2014, 39.02 percent voted in the election, which saw Republican Lee Zeldin unseat six-term Democratic incumbent Tim Bishop.
Countywide, voter turnout was 38.60 percent at 5 p.m. Turnout in Riverhead was 42.86 percent as of five o’clock, according to the board of elections data. Total voter turnout in midterm elections in Suffolk County since 2000 has ranged between 39 and 45 percent. Voter turnout in presidential election years is typically much higher. In 2016, for example, voter turnout in the First Congressional District reached 69 percent.
Turnout has been high across the country today, as well as in early voting in states that offer voters that option.
Polls in New York are open until 9 p.m. tonight.
Check RiverheadLOCAL for election results as they come in. We’ll be reporting from the parties’ election night headquarters in Patchogue and and Hauppauge.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
