Politics & Government

New Polling Places for Some as Sandy Shuts Down Sites

There's still an election Tuesday. Check here for changes in where you can vote.

Believe it or not, there’s an election on Tuesday, and it’s not just any election. It’s a big one.

Despite the turmoil of the past week, voters will still head to the polls Tuesday and select a new president, as well as new members of the Township Council, school board, and a person to serve as mayor.

For now, most polling places will remain the same, but because of Hurricane Sandy, there are a few changes.

Find out what's happening in East Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Right now, voters in Districts 12 and 17  who usually vote at Frost School will instead vote at Hammarskjold School on Rues Lane.

Voters in District 37 and 40 who usually vote at Society Hill East I and II will instead vote at the Cultural Arts Center on Cranbury Road.

Find out what's happening in East Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Voters in District 39 who usually vote at the Club House at Kingswood Station will also be voting at the Cultural Arts Center.

These changes will apply even if power is restored.

In addition, the New Jersey Department of State issued a directive on Saturday ordering county elections officials to permit New Jersey registered voters displaced by Hurricane Sandy to vote electronically.

The directive also is intended to assist displaced first responders, whose emergency recovery efforts away from home would otherwise make voting a challenge, according to a Saturday afternoon press release.

To vote electronically, displaced voters may submit a mail-in ballot application either by e-mail or fax to their county clerk. Once an application is approved, the clerk will electronically send a ballot to the voter by either fax or e-mail in accordance to the voter’s preference. Voters must return their electronic ballot either by fax or email no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Voters can download a mail-in ballot application for their county by visiting http://nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information-vote-by-mail.html. A list of county clerk websites, phone numbers and fax numbers are available by visiting http://nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html.

Displaced voters and first responders also can vote by provisional ballot at a polling place in a county other than the voter’s county of registration. The deadline for county clerks to receive mail-in ballots has been extended to Nov. 19 for any ballot postmarked on or before Nov. 5, 2012. Mail-in ballots post marked later than Nov. 5 will not be accepted.

County elections officials have also been directed to print a sufficient number of provisional and emergency ballots to accommodate voters.

Voters are encouraged to take advantage of extended office hours at county elections offices to cast their vote early and in-person. Registered voters can obtain and cast their ballot in-person at their county elections office up until 3 p.m. on Tuesday. County election offices are to remain open, at a minimum, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the weekend, until Nov. 5. 

Voters who have a mail-in ballot and choose to deliver their ballot to the county elections office in person must present their completed ballot to their county elections office no later than the close of polls on Tuesday.

Information is also available by calling 1-877-NJVOTER.

Middlesex County, early voting is available at the Middlesex County Clerk's Office in the County Administration Building, 75 Bayard St., New Brunswick. The hours of operation are as follows:

  • Saturday, Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
  • Monday, Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the following Middlesex County officials:

  • County Clerk - 732-745-3827
  • Commissioner of Registration - 732-745-3471
  • Board of Elections - 732-745-3471

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