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"The aftermath of the superstorm that wreaked havoc on the East Coast, causing power outages, flooding and property damage, will undoubtedly be dealt with for months to come. For now, though, one of the most significant challenges to arise affects how people can vote in the ever-important presidential election.  With several polling places in New York and New Jersey damaged by Hurricane Sandy&amp;#039;s ferocious winds, election officials were forced to choose alternative locations for over 250 spots, affecting more than a million voters. Thanks to an announcement by Governor Cuomo yesterday, voters in the hard-hit areas of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester counties are allowed to vote in any polling place in those regions, regardless of their assigned district, after they sign an affidavit. Voters aren&amp;#039;t required to show proof that they were affected by Hurricane Sandy. The catch: They can vote only in the presidential and US Senate elections if they vote outside of their home district. If they vote in their district, they can also cast ballots for state legislature and local officials. Despite these modifications, Doug Kellner, co-chairman of the New York State Board of Elections, assures they &amp;quot;will not have a significant impact on the return of results.&amp;quot; New York and New Jersey aren&amp;#039;t considered swing states, and their electoral votes are likely to go to President Obama. Tech-savvy solutions are also aiding Hurricane Sandy&amp;#039;s victims who want to vote. Texting &amp;quot;WHERE&amp;quot; to &amp;quot;877877&amp;quot; gives voters in New York and New Jersey the updated polling locations for their area. New Yorkers can also get this information by calling (855) NYS-SANDY. New Jersey residents have another option for making their voices heard: They can vote electronically for the first time, a privilege typically available to oversea voters. Although several services are available online, critics have warned against electronic voting due to the lack of a paper trail and the potential for hacking. Displaced voters can cast their absentee ballots via email or fax until 8 P.M. EST today.  As of now, President Obama has a small edge with 48.1% of the votes compared to Romney&amp;#039;s 46.7% in the latest results for the national popular vote. With the polls in the lower 48 states closing at 11 P.M., the projected winner of the 2012 presidential elections will likely be announced late tonight\u2014if all goes smoothly.  Will you be voting today? Why is voting important to you? Comment below! "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/news/a47419/hurricane-sandy-shakes-up-election-day/?src=syn&dom=yah_buzz&mag=wdy&ha=1&kw=ist>