ALBANY, N.Y.

New York could have extra day

New York state law allows for an extra day of voting if turnout is drastically suppressed because of a natural disaster such as Superstorm Sandy. That could potentially postpone state, congressional and even presidential election results beyond Tuesday’s Election Day.

State Board of Elections spokesman John Conklin confirmed the law permits election commissioners to create a second day of voting if the turnout in any county is less than 25 percent of the total number of registered voters.

The commissioners, two Democrats and two Republicans, would make that decision after Election Day. Any second day would have to be scheduled within 20 days.

TRENTON, N.J.

New Jersey residents get options

New Jersey residents whose communities were hard-hit by this week’s storm are being given extraordinary options to vote in Tuesday’s election: They can drop by their county clerk’s office all weekend to vote in person and they can text a special number to find out if and where their usual polling location has been moved.

Gov. Chris Christie said Friday that his administration is making sure residents have opportunities to vote, even if their polling station is without power or has been washed away.

“We need to make sure we give everybody a transparent, accessible, open voting process on Tuesday,” Christie said after greeting FEMA staffers at a newly opened storm center in Ocean County.

Christie said utility crews are working overtime to restore power to voting locations. But some residents will find National Guard trucks at their polling stations, which will serve as makeshift voting booths. Residents will vote there on paper ballots — “old school,” as Christie put it.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who oversees elections, urged storm-ravaged residents to visit their county clerk’s office between now and Election Day to cast their ballots in person.

The clerks’ offices will be staffed during business hours Saturday and Sunday to accommodate storm victims.

She said residents can text 877877 or log onto www.elections.nj.gov to find out where they can vote Tuesday.