480k ballots have been cast ahead of Election Day

New Jerseyans have cast 480,856 early votes in this year’s primary elections, according to analysis from Associated Press elections researcher Ryan Dubicki. 

As of the close of business Monday, election officials in the state report 344,907 Democrats and 135,547 Republicans have voted absentee or in early, in-person voting. The Democratic turnout rate now sits at 14%, while GOP voters have turned out at an 8.3% clip.

The Democratic return rate for mail-in ballots sits at 49.4%, a slight improvement on the GOP’s 44.0% return rate. There are still 261,287 outstanding VBM ballots for Democrats and 97,593 for Republicans.

Democrats in Middlesex County lead the state with 39,472 early ballots cast; Camden County is just behind with 37,555 ballots from Democrats.

For Republicans, 17,969 ballots have been cast in Ocean County, home to one of the few county parties to endorse Bill Spadea for governor. Behind is Monmouth County with 14,323 GOP ballots cast.

The most prolific legislative district so far is the Camden/Burlington County 6th LD, with 23,493 ballots cast.

Another prolific district has been South Jersey’s 4th LD, with 19,451 ballots cast. That district is experiencing not just the two gubernatorial primaries, but also a pair of primaries in Assembly races.

For Democrats with high-profile legislative primaries: 6,844 have voted in the 28th, 6,100 in the 31st, 7,272 in the 32nd, and 12,129 in the 33rd.

Republicans have cast 3,761 ballots in the competitive 39th legislative district Assembly primary.

The six days of in-person early voting attracted 89,951 Democrats and 58,728 Republicans.