It’s time to get out the vote Hudson County! The Primary Election that was originally scheduled for June 2 in New Jersey has been rescheduled to this Tuesday, July 7. Thanks to Coronavirus, voting will look very different this year and be conducted largely by mail-in ballot. Read on for answers to your pressing questions about the process and information on the candidates vying for your vote.
The Low-Down on Tuesday’s Vote
If you are a Hudson County resident who registered to vote by the June 16 deadline and requested a mail-in ballot by June 30, check your mailbox for your ballot. Visit here for more information on how to complete and mail your ballot.
Once you’ve made your voice heard, you must deliver your completed ballot to the Hudson County Board of Election by 8PM election night. According to nj.gov, if you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day. If you fax or email your ballot, it must be received by 8:00PM election night. Those who vote via fax or email must also airmail the original ballot materials to the board of election. The Hudson County Clerk has also set up drop-off locations for completed ballots. See the complete list here.
Read More: Voting in Hudson County During COVID-19: Timeline + FAQs Answered
A note to all unaffiliated and inactive registered voters: Thanks to Executive Order No. 144 signed by Governor Phil Murphy, the County Clerk was required to send all Unaffiliated and Inactive Democratic and Republican registered voters a vote-by-mail ballot for the July 7 election. According to The New Jersey Division of Elections, “Because New Jersey is a closed Primary Election state, in order to receive a ballot, an Unaffiliated voter must choose to be affiliated with the Democratic or Republican party to receive that Party’s Vote by Mail Ballot. You may return to an Unaffiliated status following the Primary Election by completing and returning a Party Declaration Form to your County Commissioner of Registration.”
As always, if you are not going to physically be in the location in which you are registered to vote, as always, you can request an absentee ballot.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday for those who wish to vote in person, however, according to nj.gov, if you choose to go to the polls you will receive a provisional paper ballot. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities. Visit Vote.org, to find your polling location.
The Races People Are Talking About
Some of the Election Day races in Hudson County are hotly contested and have plenty of people talking. This includes a full-court press by several progressive candidates running under Bernie Sander’s Not Me. Us Campaign who are taking on veteran incumbents. Among them are: Lawrence Hamm, taking on incumbent U.S. Senator Cory Booker; Hector Oseguera, facing off against incumbent Albio Sires, and Will Sheehan for a seat on the U.S. House of Representatives; and Ronald Bautista, challenging Hoboken Freeholder Anthony L. Romano’s re-election. Also, in the 10th legislative district, two Democrats square off for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives: John Flora and Gene Mazo. Both look to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. come November.
The Republican ballot features five candidates also looking to unseat Senator Booker (D): Rik Mehta, Hirsh Singh, Patricia Flanagan, Natalie Lynn Rivera, and Eugene Anagnos. Each of these candidates seeks to be the first Republican New Jersey voters have sent to the U.S. Senate in 48 years.
There is no candidate for Freeholder on either Jersey City or Hoboken’s Republican Primary ballot. However, William O’Dea is running uncontested for Freeholder on Jersey City’s Democratic ballot. Both Republican ballots see Jason Muschnick (also uncontested) running for a seat on the U.S. House of Representatives.
For a complete listing of all candidates in Tuesday’s Primary Election, including district delegates, visit the state website.
Ballot measures are not up for vote until November. In the meantime, Hudson County, if you want to see your chosen candidate on that November ballot, make your vote count now!
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