By Sunayana Prabhu
MONMOUTH COUNTY – With the ease of mail-in and early in-person voting, Monmouth County residents made their voices heard in the 2022 election. According to Christine Giordano Hanlon, Monmouth County Clerk, “Monmouth County once again led the way with the highest early in person voting turnout out of all 21 counties in the State of New Jersey.”
Due to the new vote by mail law, the mail-in ballot count continues after Election Day. The new law allows mail-in ballots to be received by the Board of Elections up to six days after the polls close, provided the ballot is postmarked on Election Day. All race results remain unofficial until certified by the Monmouth County Clerk.
In Monmouth County’s 4th District for the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican incumbent Rep. Christopher H. Smith won with 61.42% of the votes.
In the 6th District, Democrat incumbent Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. also kept his seat, beating out Republican challenger and current Monmouth County Commissioner Susan M. Kiley by a smaller margin: 36,542 to 34,153 votes.
In county offices, Republicans once again held their own: Sheriff Shaun Golden retained his seat, beating out Democrat Larry Luttrell and Joshua Leinsdorf.
In the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners race, Thomas A. “Tom” Arnone and Dominick “Nick” Di Rocco held their seats over Democrat challengers Kristal Dias and Bonnie Kass-Viola.
Only two seats on the five-member commission were up for grabs in 2022 election. Monmouth County is governed by five commissioners elected at-large for three-year terms. Each January, the commissioners select one of their members to serve as the director and one as deputy director for the year to preside over the meetings and activities. Arnone is currently director; Kiley is deputy director.
For the most up-to-date results, visit monmouthcountyvotes.com.
The article originally appeared in the November 10 – 16, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
