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Cuomo allows storm victims to vote at any polling site

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to issue an executive order that will allow residents displace by superstorm Sandy to cast ballots by affidavit at any polling site in the state.

The order permits voters to vote for president and in the Senate race between Democrat incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand and Democrat challenger Wendy Long.

%22Go%20to%20any%20polling%20place%2C%20sign%20an%20affidavit%20and%20you%20can%20vote%20in%20that%20polling%20place%2C%22%20Cuomo%20said.

But voters won't be able to vote for state legislative candidates unless the polling place they go to is within their own legislative district, because there will be different local candidates on the ballot.

Cuomo admits that is a downside, but he says he believes the arrangement is fair, under the circumstances.

New Jersey is allowing voters to use provisional ballots at any polling site.

Common Cause New York and other election watchdog organizations urged the action earlier Monday.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.