Good morning, New Jersey. It’s 6 AM, and the polls are now open for the 2023 New Jersey Primary Election – and will be until 8 PM.
Saying the polls are open comes with a big asterisk. In reality, people have been voting since April 22, when county clerks began mailing vote-by-mail ballots. Click HERE to find the location of your polling place.
As of Monday morning, 244,411 New Jerseyans have already voted, either through vote-by-mail ballots or during three days of early voting over the weekend.
If you haven’t returned your vote-by-mail ballot, using secure ballot drop boxes is highly recommended. Ballots sent through the U.S. Postal Service will be counted if they arrive before the close of business on June 12, but if the post office is delayed, your vote will not count. Click HERE for a list of secure ballot box locations.
You can use the state’s Track My Ballot tool to confirm that your VBM ballot was received. Click HERE. If it wasn’t, you may go to your regular polling place and cast a provisional ballot.
If you get to your polling place and you’re not listed on the voter rolls, do not leave. You may ask to appear before a judge remotely by telephone or video. Superior Court judges across the state will be available today to conduct remote hearings if New Jerseyans believe they were improperly rejected from early voting.
Voters should not leave their polling location just because an election worker says they don’t appear on their rolls. Instead, they should contact election officials to determine the status of their registration. A provisional ballot can be requested, but that won’t fix the problem; if a name does not show up on the voter list, and the issue is not addressed, election officials will likely reject the ballot.
Instead, voters who believe a mistake was made can request to appear before a judge. This can be done remotely by video or telephone; it’s not necessary to go to the courthouse, although that is an option.
Election officials will arrange for a judge to hear election-related issues on the same day.
Click HERE to check your voter registration.
Anyone who believes their vote has been interfered with, or seeks to report voting-related issues, can call the New Jersey Voter Information and Assistance line toll-free at 1-877-NJVOTER.
Voters can also call the Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for help from the American Civil Liberties Union and the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice hotline or the New Jersey Republican State Committee Election Integrity hotline at 609-288-2925. The New Jersey League of Women Voters hotline may be reached at 800-792-VOTE. The Institute for Social Justice will also monitor social media: tag you post as #HELPMEVOTE.
Any voter who needs to appear before a judge on Election Day may call 609-984-5523 or 609-209-6904.
Attorney General Matt Platkin’s office has created a new webpage — https://www.njoag.gov/electionprotection/ — that will help voters report challenges they face while attempting to vote.
Voters who feel they have faced discrimination or harassment in pursuit of their right to vote can also file a report with the Division on Civil Rights through the NJ BIAS online portal — https://bias.njcivilrights.gov — or may call 1-800-277-BIAS (1-800-277-2427). Urgent complaints concerning allegations of discrimination or harassment filed with the Division on Civil Rights may be addressed during the election or after the election.
What’s at stake today?
All 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature are up this year, and control of the State Senate and General Assembly is up for grabs in Gov. Phil Murphy’s mid-term elections. Twenty-seven legislators are not seeking re-election to their current posts; six members of the State Assembly are running for the Senate. Click HERE for a full list of contested legislative races.
This is the first election using a new map approved last year by the Legislative Apportionment Commission. While Republicans have a path to majorities in both houses, it’s a narrow one, and they will need to run the table to win.
Two veteran senators, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) and Nia Gill (D-Montclair), are facing off in the first incumbent vs. incumbent Senate race in New Jersey history after redistricting put the two lawmakers in the same district. Codey, a former governor and Senate President, was elected to the Assembly in 1973 and to the Senate in 1981; Gill was elected to the Assembly in 1993 and to the Senate in 2001.
Two Republican senators face serious primary challengers: freshman Edward Durr (R-Logan), who upset Senate President Steve Sweeney in the 3rd district two years ago, faces a primary challenge from his former running mate, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer (R-Woolwich), and Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville), a five-term incumbent and one of the most conservative members of the Senate, is opposed by Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo (R-Montville) in the 26th district.
Also in the 26th, incumbents Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) and Brian Bergen (R-Denville) face two candidates running with Mastrangelo: former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and former Parsippany Councilman Robert Peluso.
In the 4th district, where State Sen. Fred Madden (D-Washington Township) is retiring after 20 years in office, Gloucester County Commissioner Nick DeSilvio and former Washington Township Councilman Christopher DelBorrello are facing off in a vicious, burn-the-house-down campaign for the GOP nomination.
The winner will face nine-term Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Township).
In the Republican Assembly primary, DeSilvio’s running mates, Michael Clark and Denise Gonzalez, face two candidates running with DelBorrello, former Buena Council President and Operating Engineers Local 825 board member Matt Walker, and teacher Amanda Esposito.
The other hot primary in the State is in the 24th district, which includes Sussex County, part of western Morris, and two municipalities in Warren. State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Franklin) and Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R-Wantage) are retiring, and Assemblyman Parker Space (R-Wantage) is unopposed for the GOP State Senate nomination.
Five candidates are competing for the two open Assembly seats: one ticket has Lafayette Board of Education President Josh Aikens and Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski; the other is Sussex County Commissioner Dawn Fantasia and Chester Mayor Mike Inganamort.
In the 28th district, where Mila Jasey (D-South Orange) is stepping down after sixteen as an assemblywoman, three candidates are seeking the two seats: incumbent Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) and her running mate, Deputy Essex County Clerk Garnet Hall; and former Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee.
The top county race in the state is in Hudson, where Tom DeGise is retiring after 21 years as county executive. His chief of staff, Craig Guy, is the heavy favorite against progressive Eleana Little.
There are also contested primaries for county and municipal office. Click HERE for a full list of races for county office. Click HERE for a full list of local races.
Attorney General Matt Platkin’s office has created a new webpage — https://www.njoag.gov/electionprotection/ — that will help voters report challenges they face while attempting to vote.
Voters who feel they have faced discrimination or harassment in pursuit of their right to vote can also file a report with the Division on Civil Rights through the NJ BIAS online portal — https://bias.njcivilrights.gov — or may call 1-800-277-BIAS (1-800-277-2427). Urgent complaints concerning allegations of discrimination or harassment filed with the Division on Civil Rights may be addressed during the election or after the election.
In his Voter Protection Initiative, Attorney General Matt Platkin has reminded the public that it is a criminal offense to solicit or electioneer voters within a “protective zone” as they enter or exit a polling location. The “protective zone” extends 100 feet from the outside entrance of any polling site. Interference with voters within that zone is typically handled by law enforcement officers from the appropriate agency.
The Attorney General’s Division of Law will deploy a team of dedicated attorneys around the clock to address any inquiries from county elections officials. “This proactive measure aims to facilitate swift, unhindered, and equitable access to voting for all eligible individuals, in accordance with New Jersey’s election laws,” the attorney general’s office said.
Any person who believes his or her right to vote has been interfered with, or who wishes to report other voting-related problems or concerns, can also call the State’s Voter Information and Assistance line toll-free at 1-877-NJVOTER(1-877-658-6837).
Superior Court judges across the state will be available today to conduct remote hearings if New Jerseyans believe they were improperly rejected from early voting.
Voters should not leave their polling location just because an election worker says they don’t appear on their rolls. Instead, they should contact election officials to determine the status of their registration. A provisional ballot can be requested, but that won’t fix the problem; if a name does not show up on the voter list, and the issue is not addressed, election officials will likely reject the ballot.
Instead, voters who believe a mistake was made can request to appear before a judge. This can be done remotely by video or telephone; it’s not necessary to go to the courthouse, although that is an option.
Election officials will arrange for a judge to hear election-related issues on the same day.
Voters should begin with their county election officials:
Atlantic County:Atlantic County Clerk’s Office – 609-625-4011, press 6
Atlantic County Board of Elections – 609-345-6700 (Atlantic City), 609-645-5888 (Mays Landing)
Bergen County:
Bergen County Clerk’s Office
One Bergen County Plaza, room 130, Hackensack
201-336-7061
Bergen County Board of Elections
One Bergen County Plaza, room 880, Hackensack
201-336-6112
Burlington County:
Burlington County Clerk’s Elections Office – 609-265-5229
https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/593/Election-Voter-Services
Burlington County Board of Elections – 609-265-5062 /5161
https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/297/Election-Board
Burlington County Superintendent of Elections – 609-265-5111
https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/301/Superintendent-of-Elections
Camden County:
Camden County Clerk’s Office – 856-225-5300
Camden County Board of Elections – 856-401-VOTE (8683)
Cape May County:Cape May County Clerk’s Office – 609-465-1018
Cape May County Board of Elections – www.capemaycountyvotes.com
Cumberland County:Cumberland County Clerk’s Office – 856-453-4860
Cumberland County Board of Elections – 856-453-5801https://cumberlandcountyvotes.com/Essex County:
Essex County Superintendent of Elections/Commissioner of Registration
465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., room 109, Newark
973-621-5061
Essex County Clerk’s Office
465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., room 130, Newark
973-621-4922
Gloucester County:Gloucester County Clerk’s Office – 856-853-3237
Gloucester County Board of Elections – 856-384-4500
https://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/774/Board-of-Elections
Hudson County:
Hudson County Clerk’s Office – 201-369-3470, option 6
Hudson County Board of Elections – 201-369-3435
Hudson County Superintendent of Elections – 201-369-7740
https://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/2023-election-information/
Hunterdon County:
Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office – 908-788-1221
Hunterdon County Board of Elections – 908-788-1190
Mercer County:
Mercer County Superintendent of Elections – 609-989-6764, 609-989-6769, or 609-989-6750 to set up a same day hearing before the court.
Mercer County Voting Hotline at 609-278-2719
Middlesex County:
Middlesex County Clerk’s Office – 732-745-4202
Middlesex County Board of Elections – 732-745-3471
Monmouth County:
Monmouth County Board of Elections – 732-431-7780
Morris County:Morris County Clerk’s Office – 973-285-6066
Morris County Board of Elections – 973-285-6715https://elections.morriscountynj.go
Ocean County:
Ocean County Board of Elections – 732-929-2167
Ocean County Clerk’s Office – 732-929-2018
Passaic County:
Passaic County Clerk’s Office – 973-881-4127, ext. 2235
Passaic County Board of Elections – 973-569-2181
Election and Voting Information | Passaic County, NJ (passaiccountynj.org)
Salem County:
Salem County Clerk’s Office – 856-935-7510
Salem County Board of Elections – 856-935-7510
https://elections.salemcountynj.gov/
Sussex County:Sussex County Clerk’s Office – 973-579-0900
Sussex County Board of Elections – 973-579-0950
Somerset County:
Somerset County Clerk’s Office – 908-231-7013
Somerset County Board of Elections – 908-231-7084
Union County:
Union County Clerk’s Office – 908-527-4996 unioncountyvotes.com
Union County Board of Elections – 908-527-4123 ucnj.org/boe
Warren County:
Warren County Clerk’s Office – 908-475-6211
Warren County Board of Elections – 908-475-6313
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