By Stephen Appezzato
This year’s early voting turnout has already broken state records, with no slowing in sight. In Monmouth County, tens of thousands of residents have already cast their vote.
In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, The Two River Times spoke with Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon for insight into the democratic process.
Anticipating the surge in early voting, Hanlon noted county election officials have been planning for a very long time.
“The voters are going out. They’re very energized,” she said.
“This is our first presidential election with early voting, so we’re seeing a tremendous number of people going out to the polls for early voting. We’ve done a lot of advertising for early voting, so it’s busy. We are very busy,” Hanlon said.
When early in-person voting opened last weekend, approximately 247,000 New Jerseyans cast their vote. According to Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, the record turnout was already more than the total early votes cast in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 elections.
According to the Associated Press’ election tracker, as of press time, 381,147 people had already voted in person and 637,478 mail-in ballots had already been cast in New Jersey. In Monmouth County, more than 40,000 votes had been cast as of Monday, more than in the entire early voting period in years past, Hanlon said.
She was expecting “at least another 14,000 ballots being cast in early voting” Tuesday and noted her office is “continuing to issue mail-in ballots for early voting – we consider that early voting, too. We have people all throughout the day coming into my office getting mail-in ballots,” she said.
Hanlon’s office is responsible for processing mail-in ballots and certifying the election, among other election duties. It is one of three bodies ensuring a smooth democratic process for Monmouth County voters. The Monmouth County Board of Elections oversees polling locations and poll workers and the Superintendent of Elections handles the voting machines, Hanlon explained. “We all work together to effectuate the process.”
“I’m not sure we expected quite as high a turnout for early voting, but we’ll see as the days go by,” she said. “We’re definitely keeping pace with prior days.”
To help meet the demand, the county’s three election of fices are holding extended hours Friday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., to allow voters extra time to apply for and submit their vote-by-mail ballots.
For residents who opt to vote by mail, there are two ways to electronically track a ballot, ensuring it is received and accepted. The New Jersey Division of Elections has a “Track My Ballot” portal where voters can sign up and check their ballot status online. In Monmouth County, the process is even easier through the BallotTrax system.
“It’s a system that notifies you. You don’t have to keep going online and checking,” Hanlon said. “You just go in, you give your information, and then when the ballot is received by the Board of Elections for counting, you will get a notification, either by text, by email, even a phone call. Most people do a text or email,” she said.
To be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls; submitted in person at the County Board of Elections, 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5; or deposited in one of 35 secure drop boxes in Monmouth County by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
The deadline for early in-person voting is Sunday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. Polls will be open for Election Day voting from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 5.
The article originally appeared in the October 31 – November 6, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
