U.S. election poses new challenge to storm-hit Northeast

Already faced with a massive cleanup and nightmarish commutes to work, thousands of U.S. voters in storm-struck New York and New Jersey may have a tough time voting on Tuesday in a cliffhanger presidential election.Elections officials face unprecedented challenges across the U.S. Northeast, where polling stations were among the thousands of buildings damaged by superstorm Sandy eight days ago.New York and New Jersey took measures to ease the way for residents already coping with devastating flood damage, power outages and widespread fuel shortages.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said New Yorkers would be able to vote at any polling place by presenting an affidavit. In New Jersey, those affected by Sandy will be designated as overseas voters, allowing them to cast ballots by fax or email.“We want everyone to vote. Just because you are displaced doesn’t mean you should be disenfranchised,” Cuomo said.The New York City Police Department said police academy probationary officers would be called in to help the force secure the city’s 1,199 polling stations - 57 fewer than for the last election.Sandy roared ashore on the Jersey coast on October 29 as a rare hybrid superstorm after killing 69 people in the Caribbean and then merging with a strong North Atlantic system.It killed at least 113 in the United States and knocked out power to millions of people while swamping seaside towns and inundating New York City’s streets and subway tunnels.