Less than 14,000 votes cast in first two days of N.J. early voting

Early voting for the 2022 New Jersey primary election continues to be light, with just 13,676 votes cast on Friday and Saturday.

Democrats have cast 7,706 early votes, while 5,936 votes have come from Republicans during the first two days, according to an analysis by the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.

Just 6,153 early votes were cast on Saturday, the second day of a three-day voting period.

Republicans in the 4th district, where Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) is seeking re-election to a 22nd term, have produced the highest total number of early votes (933) on either side so far.  Smith faces a primary challenge from podcaster Mike Crispi and retired FBI agent Steve Gray; a third candidate, Michael Blasi, dropped out of the race last month but his name remains on the ballot.

“The 4th district Republican race really jumps out,” Micah Rasmussen, the Rebovich Institute director, said on Twitter on Sunday.  “Whether it’s Smith or Crispi votes, we’ll know in 54 hours or so.”

Total early votes from Friday and Saturday by congressional district:

NJ-1: 689 early votes cast; Democrats 473, Republicans 216
NJ-2: 1,297 early votes cast; Democrats 574, Republicans 723
NJ-3: 1,498 early votes cast; Democrats 837, Republicans 661
NJ-4: 1,727 early votes cast; Democrats 397, Republicans 1,727
NJ-5: 808 early votes cast; Democrats 407, Republicans 401
NJ-6: 1,105 early votes cast; Democrats 600, Republicans 505
NJ-7: 1,841 early votes cast; Democrats 908, Republicans 933
NJ-8: 1,106 early votes cast; Democrats 1,019, Republicans 87
NJ-9: 490 early votes cast; Democrats 342, Republicans 148
NJ-10: 885 early votes cast; Democrats 791, Republicans 94
NJ-11: 1,187 early votes cast; Democrats 645, Republicans 542
NJ-12: 1,010 early votes cast; Democrats 713, Republicans 297