VBM ballots from Democrats still outpacing GOP by more than 2-1 margin

Of the 1,293,833 New Jerseyans whose vote-by-mail ballots have been recorded as received by county election officials, 52.3% of them have come from Democrats and 23.7% from registered Republicans, according to an analysis of data from the state Division of Elections.

Democrats make up 39.3% of the total registered voters in New Jersey, while Republican registration statewide is at 22.4%.

Unaffiliated voters – sometimes referred to as independents – make up 23.7% of the total ballots received and 37.1% of the statewide electorate.

For Republicans, the returned ballot numbers have improved over the last week, Democrats were outpacing the GOP by a 57%-21% margin.

Democrats have a clear advantage among mail-in ballots already cast in the state’s most closely-watched congressional races.

In the 2nd district, where party-switching Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) faces Democrat Amy Kennedy, the total number of ballots already returned favors Democrats by a 44.5%-33.2% margin.

In District 3, where freshman Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) is seeking re-election against Republican David Richter, ballots already marked as received favor Democrats by a 44.3%-31.2% margin.

For the 7th district battle between freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) and Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield), Democrats make up 46.4% of the votes so far, and Republicans are at 29.7%.

In all three districts, the numbers represent the vote-by-mail ballots returned and recorded as received as of close of business on Thursday – the most recent information available from the Division of Elections.