Pinkin returning to U.S. on Thursday, will make ballot draw if flight isn’t delayed

Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin will return to the United States on Thursday, giving her a narrow window to do her job as the county’s top election officer and run the ballot draw to determine where candidates appear on the June 7 primary ballot.

Pinkin has been in Ireland as part of a junket for state legislators – she served in the State Assembly for seven years before winning the county clerk post in 2020 – causing her to miss a key week for elections between the filing deadline and the ballot draw.

But Pinkin will need some luck to make the timing work.

Her flight is scheduled to arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport at 11:55 AM tomorrow.

Unless the plane is delayed, Pinkin should be able to get her luggage, make it through customs, and drive to New Brunswick in time for the 3 PM draw.

It does mean that she will be out of communication for the seven-hour flight across the Atlantic and will be unable to participate in any last-minute issues that arise regarding the ballot draw.

Pinkin is already dealing with one potential lawsuit: a slate of off-the-line Piscataway Democrats running for township council have bracketed with two county commissioner candidates and are seeking a face-off draw with the Middlesex County Democratic organization.

Middlesex County has a backup plan: the deputy county clerk will conduct the draw if Pinkin’s plane is late.

Pinkin did not respond to a text message asking if she might today to obviate the need for a mad dash from the airport.

The same flight took off ten minutes early from Dublin this morning and is estimated to arrive in Newark 39 minutes ahead of schedule.