By Allison Perrine
NEW JERSEY – Things will be different this year when state residents vote in the primary election, with more people likely voting by mail rather than in-person amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, Gov. Phil Murphy ordered in April that the election be postponed to July 7 to prepare for voting changes during the pandemic. On May 15, he took it a step further and ordered that all registered Democratic and Republican voters be sent mail-in ballots and that all registered unaffiliated voters receive applications to vote by mail.
“No one should have to choose between their health and exercising their right to vote,” said Murphy May 15. “By providing vote-by-mail ballots and applications, New Jersey voters will be able to safely participate in our democracy as the pandemic continues to threaten our public health.”
The mail-in ballots will be sent to registered and affiliated Monmouth County voters’ homes “automatically,” said Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon in a May 28 press conference. However, the order does allow for some regional polling locations to open. They will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with provisional ballots only, and machines for disabled voters.
And the polling locations that do open will be required to follow strict public health standards, according to the governor. Individuals must remain 6 feet apart and poll workers will be required to wear face coverings and gloves. High-touch areas will be sanitized frequently throughout the day and sanitization materials will be available for all in-person voters.
“As a state at the center of the COVID-19 crisis, New Jersey has to modify to our primary to ensure that our voters have access to free, fair and safe elections,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “By providing every voter access to a vote by mail ballot, we are protecting our residents and democracy. As our state embarks on the road to recovery, voters will have the opportunity to choose our leaders without risking their health.”
Each municipality will be required to open at least one polling location, said Hanlon. If there are enough poll workers available, each county will have at least 50 percent of its typical polling locations open.
Hanlon has issued some tips for those who might be voting by mail for the first time, or for people who just need a reminder. When voting by mail, use black or blue pens no markers to shade in the oval to the right of the candidate you are voting for. To make a write-in choice, fill in the appropriate oval and print the person’s name clearly. Any voters who make a mistake on their ballot may request a new one from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.
Once ballots are properly filled out, voters must place the ballot in an envelope and seal it. To be sure the vote counts, residents are reminded to complete and sign the Certificate of Mail-In Voter information. The materials should then be placed inside the pre-addressed envelope from the clerk’s office and must be postmarked on or before July 7.
“We will continue to update our elections website as more information becomes available,” said Hanlon. Any Monmouth County residents with questions can call the county elections office at 732-431-7790
The article originally appeared in the June 11 – 17, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
