HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (WCBS 880) -- People were coming out of Long Island polling places on Tuesday morning with their cell phones and car keys in hand – but one thing they didn't have was the “I Voted” stickers on their jackets.
That’s because those who head the boards of elections in both Nassau and Suffolk counties did not order any stickers.
Nick Lalota, the Republican commissioner of the Suffolk County Board of Elections, told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall that the answer as to why is simple – it’s too expensive.
“We encourage people all throughout Suffolk County’s 10 towns to go out and use our 335 polling places,” Lalota said. “There’s plenty of ballots. The lines won’t be long. The parking will be adequate. It’s everybody’s God-given right to vote in this great country, but unfortunately it’s just not prudent to use taxpayer money to buy stickers for what we’re calling a participation trophy.”
Lalota says it would have cost $20,000 to buy stickers.
In both counties, however, there are still some stickers left. Lalota says they will hand those out to voters if possible.
“We have a few left over and we’re happy to give them out, but Suffolk County has more voters than 10 states, with nearly a million voters, and we probably only have a couple thousand stickers left from previous years,” Lalota said.