Based on party registration, VBM returns getting closer

Party affiliation of returned vote-by-mail ballots are tightening in some of the state’s most closely-watched legislative races.

One exception appears to be in the 21st district, where Democrats have a 48%-34% registration edge on returned mail-in ballots in their bid to unseat Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Minority Whip Nancy Munoz (R-Summit).

Vote-by-mail ballots are almost dead even in the 1st district, where Republicans are trying to flip a State Senate seat and two Assembly seats.

Democrats have returned 2,885 ballots (42.1%) and Republicans have sent back 2,847 (41.6%).

In the 8th district, where two GOP Assembly seats are up for grabs, Democrats have a 44.8%-41.4% edge.  And in the 25th, where State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-Boonton) is seeking re-election to a seat he has no plans to occupy, Democratic VBMs outnumber Republicans by a little more than six percentage points, 44.7%-38.5%.

District 39 vote-by-mail ballots have a slight Democratic edge, 41.6%-37.4%.

Noteworthy: not all votes are cast along party lines.