SARATOGA SPRINGS — As of mid-day, election officials say that voting is going smoothly in the city, with only a few hiccups.

A new location for some polls had seen a delayed opening, while voters in another district reported a problem with a machine.

At 10 a.m. at the Lincoln Baths, the new polling site for five voting districts moved from the City Center — 3, 4, 8, 9, and 25 — voting was going smoothly, although Deputy Commissioner of Accounts Michele Boxley said that the day had got off to a rough start. When poll workers arrived to set up voting machines before 6 this morning, they found the doors locked. Later, the doors opened, there was a shortage of extension cords, and the marble hall rang with echoes, but voters were able to cast their ballots without incident.

Some voters leaving the poll, however encountered a harsh reality related to the new site.

Judy Donovan, a resident of Broadway, called The Saratogian today to report she was ticketed for turning left onto Route 9 after voting. Even though she saw the no-left turn sign, it apparently confused her and she turned anyway.

Donovan said the state park police officer who ticketed her told her the sign was new and that she was one of many people ticketed for turning left in that location Tuesday.

However, Dispatcher Fran Lewis, a communications technician at the New York State Park Police said the sign has been there all eight years she has worked there.

“I don't know what they're talking about,” Lewis said, referring to Donovan's report that the officer said the sign is new. “I know my officers would never say anything like that.”

Lewis said turning left out of the Lincoln Baths is a safety issue for drivers. The best alternative is to leave the park via the Avenue of the Pines intersection or the National Museum of Dance.

“They have to leave in the proper way,” Lewis said. “If you miss that sign, you shouldn't be driving.”

Here’s a word of warning for voters in districts 3, 4, 8, 9 and 25 (and anyone else leaving the Spa State Park) via the Lincoln Baths: Don’t turn left onto Route 9. It's illegal and there’s a no left-turn sign located in the median.

Gerald Erchak, a voter in district 1, a downtown district west of Broadway which votes at the Wesley Community, said that he had gone to the polls specifically to support Stop Corruption candidate for Sheriff, Jason Longton, but found that the rows of voting switches had become misaligned with the paper marking ballots. The result was that Erchak said he was unable to vote in the Mayor’s race.

“It was pretty aggravating,” said Erchak, who brought the problem to the attention of poll officials, who invalidated the vote he cast on the machine, and allowed him to vote on a paper ballot.

Still, Erchak said he was voter number 80, and wondered how many of the 79 voter ahead of him had been confused and possibly voted for the wrong candidate.

“In my opinion, this invalidates the entire election,” he said.

Board of Election Commissioner Diane Wade said the problem was not dire enough to warrant invalidating the entire poll.

“The strip was slid over a little bit, but it was fixed,” she said, and added that no other votes were believed to be effected.

Polls close at 9 p.m., check back at www.saratogacitydesk.blogspot.com for up to the minute results and election coverage.

— Andrew J. Bernstein and Mareesa Nicosia