Murphy wants people to vote early – but will he do it himself?

Ever since he signed it into law last March, Gov. Phil Murphy has extolled the values of early voting. It will make voting in the state easier than it’s ever been, he’s said, and it will increase voter turnout and engagement like it has in other states.

He believes in early voting enough, in fact, to hold a rally with former President Barack Obama this Saturday promoting its launch.

But asked repeatedly how he himself plans to vote, Murphy has demurred, saying that he hasn’t decided yet and that he doesn’t see himself as having an “obligation” to vote early given his support for the policy.

“I wouldn’t call it an obligation, but you should assume we’re going to find a way to shine a very big spotlight on New Jersey’s first-ever ability to vote in-person [early],” he said today. “More details on our own voting will be forthcoming.”

Traditionally, campaigns have used pictures of their own candidates voting as an easy opportunity to gain publicity, and if Murphy were to vote early, it could have the added effect of promoting early voting itself as well as his own candidacy. Whether he’ll take advantage remains to be seen.