Akiko Matsuda, and Steve Lieberman

Ramapo residents%2C registered to vote or not%2C can cast ballots in the referendums.

RAMAPO – After 16 chaotic hours marked by confusion and allegations of fraud, polls for the referendums that could change the size and makeup of the Town Board closed Tuesday night but the outcome won't be available until at least Oct. 10.

Town Attorney Michael Klein said late Tuesday that state Supreme Court Justice Margaret Garvey ordered Ramapo to impound all the votes after the polls' closing at 10 p.m.

The order was issued as a result of petitions filed Tuesday afternoon by local activists Michael Parietti and Robert Romanowski, who challenged the town's decision to let unregistered voters vote in the referendums and to not count absentee ballots that arrived after election day.

Tuesday's election asked voters whether to increase the number of Town Board members from four to six, and whether to split the town into geographical districts — or wards — to elect a Town Board member from each district. Currently, four Town Board members are elected at large and don't represent specific areas of the town.

Opponents of Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence backed the proposed six-ward system as an opportunity to weaken the control of his all-Democratic administration. Others felt the measures would create a larger town government and cost taxpayers more money.

Logistics of the referendums came under scrutiny days before the election when Town Clerk Christian Sampson, who administered the election, told The Journal News that under New York municipal law, absentee ballots can be counted only when they were received in the Town Clerk's Office before 5 p.m. of the election day. In other elections, absentee ballots are counted even when they arrived after the election if they are postmarked by the day before the election.

And on Monday, it became apparent that the town would let people vote if they are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old and can prove residency, even though they are not registered voters.

Parietti said that to counter the town's last-minute announcements, he and Romanowski worked overnight Monday to prepare petitions to seek Garvey's intervention.

Klein said that in her order, Garvey told Ramapo to count the absentee ballots that arrived within seven days after the election if they are postmarked by the day before the election. She also ordered that after the polls' closing, all ballots, including affidavit ballots, be transferred to the Rockland County Board of Elections until she decides on the issues raised by the petitions, he said.

"Basically, she is impounding all election documents and results until she has a chance to review any arguments about fraud and impropriety of the election," Klein said.

Throughout Tuesday, voters flocked to the 27 polling locations in Ramapo. People on both sides of the issue reported confusion observed at polls or fraud allegations on social media.

At some polling places, people were turned away as Ramapo poll employees were unaware that all residents can vote. Sampson said affidavit ballots were made available for residents who are not registered to vote.

Reports on a ward opponent impersonating on the phone as being with the Rockland County Board of Elections also were widely circulated. According to the reports, voters were told to vote against the referendums.

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