(10/20/06) WOODBURY - Hofstra University released a poll Friday that shows Long Island voters are raring to cast their ballots come November.

According to the poll, about 78 percent of Long Island voters intend to vote in the general election on November 7. Fueled by controversy surrounding the Iraq war and Republican and Democratic scandals in Washington, Hofstra's findings seem to predict a major increase in voter turnout.

Political expert Michael Dawidziak contends, though, it is easier to tell a pollster that you plan to vote than to actually go to the ballot box on Election Day. Dawidziak says 78 percent of Long Island residents may think they will vote in November, but far fewer actually will. Other experts believe the sensitivity of this year's issues will indeed drive more people to get out the vote.