Kingston business owner Efren Williams was not pleased voters in this school district were given just a six-hour window to cast ballots at one of three local schools in Tuesday's school budget and board elections.

Williams, a food truck owner and operator who works a separate job, is not surprised turnout in this year's election did not come close to turnout in the May 2018 election.

"I got my business I run here all day and I go to work for the municipality at night," Williams said between orders. "I don't have time to vote. It has to be there so I can vote and I can get to my job. That's what I look at. If you don't have the proper time to vote, that's not right. It's just not right."

Tuesday's election brought out 1,681 voters in six hours at three locations, and last May's election brought out 2,120 voters in a 15-hour window at seven locations, according to figures from the Board of Education and Ulster County Board of Elections.

Kingston Schools administrators told Spectrum News on Wednesday that in a meeting to discuss voting procedures, the Board of Elections offered up the use of just six voting machines — enough for three polling places at three schools.

Kingston Board of Education Trustees felt since the consolidation could lead to more congestion and possibly safety issues at schools during the day, they should hold Tuesday's election after school, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"I'm just hoping after what happened this year, next year [the Board of Elections] will see it fit to restore all of the polling places for us," said Board Trustee Suzanne Jordan, when reached by phone Wednesday afternoon.

Ulster County BOE Democratic Commissioner Ashley Dittus said on Wednesday her counterpart — Republican BOE Commissioner Thomas Turco — made time and location recommendations to local school districts to make better use of the county's limited voter resources.

"I think they took our recommendations during those meetings to heart," Dittus said, "and then made decisions based off of that."

Dittus said she would like for the New York legislature to consider moving school budget elections to November. She said that would increase voter participation and put less strain on resources.

Spectrum News has reached out to Turco several times seeking further comment about the recommendations. He has not yet responded to our requests.