Follow Live: Election 2018 In New Jersey

Voters took to the rainy streets of New Jersey on Tuesday morning, braving lines, traffic on the roads, and inclement weather to cast their votes in several races which could play a crucial role in the outcome of Election Day. Already, there have been problems.

One polling place didn’t even open for more than 70 minutes, turning a long line of voters away. Voters said they actually found themselves facing a polling place that was locked and bolted shut.

Follow along for updates on today’s vote including turnout reports, potential issues at the polling place, and results when they come in.

12 noon

In towns such as Wesfield, some waited 30 to 60 minutes to vote while others said they were in and out quickly.

The most varied time reported came from the polling location at Westfield Armory where some said they waited a few minutes while others said they were in line for over an hour. Read more: Long Lines Reported At Westfield Polls

Steve Gorelick posted on Twitter that he encountered significant lines Tuesday morning. “NEVER seen longer lines at the polls here in Westfield, NJ,” he wrote.

11 a.m.

A mistake was reportedly made in the printing of poll books that left out signatures for at least 7,000 newly-registered voters, accordng to the New Jersey Globe.

Sherine El-Abd, superintendent of elections and commissioner of registration in Passaic County, has asked the county clerk’s office to print an additional 21,000 provisional ballots as a result of the mishap.

6 a.m.

The Somerset County Board of Elections reported that the Quail Brook Senior Center in Franklin Township opened more than hour late for voters because it wasn’t staffed. Read more: Somerset County Polling Place Opens 1-Hour Late, Angering Voters

ELECTION DAY BASICS

Lines have formed at polling places thoughout the state – polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. – in what could easily become the most popular midterm election in recent New Jersey history. If you’re not sure where to go to vote, you can find your polling place here.

RELATED: 2018 Election Results: Vote A Referendum On ‘Trump’s GOP’

Follow the vote tallies on the video below, too, now that a Republican has a shot at becoming the first GOP senator in New Jersey in more than 40 years – a situation that could prove to be very damaging to the Democrats’ efforts to take control of the US Senate.

Here’s where you can find results of the US Senate race: US Senate Election In NJ, Menendez Vs. Hugin

But with hostility toward President Trump possibly serving as a drag on the GOP, polls have shown that Democrats could flip anywhere from 2 to 4 New Jersey congressional seats in the US House of Representatives that typically belong to Republicans.

Here’s where you can find the results of congressional races:

New Jersey has proven to be fertile ground for Democrats largely because of two issues: the passage of a federal tax reform act, which eliminated a local deduction that was particularly helpful to the Garden State; and attempts to repeal the popular Affordable Care Act.

Voters will have plenty to say on the local level, too, since New Jersey has a number of ballot questions and hotly contested municipal and school board races that could impact your local communities and school districts.

Indeed, voters will decide on a $500 million “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act” that’s supposed to boost school security and tackle a number of infrastructural projects.

Read more: REAL-TIME RESULTS: $500 Million NJ School Referendum

A number of high-profile municipal races could also have a significant impact on your community. Here are some:

Here is what to watch out for:

US Senate

Front-and center will be the surprisingly competitive US Senate race between incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez and his Republican challenger Bob Hugin, a former drug company executive.

Though Menendez has polled better recently, the Democrat been dogged by corruption accusations for years, and a federal trial that ended with a deadlocked jury last year has done little to change those perceptions. Indeed, Hugin has spent millions of dollars reminding voters about the trial.

Menendez was charged with conspiring with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, in an alleged bribery and corruption scandal that involved gifts and campaign contributions. Menendez, on the other hand, has attacked Hugin for running a company that allegedly gouged the public by charging exhorbitant prices for cancer drugs.

U.S. House of Representatives Races

New Jersey is historically a blue state but there are a few key Congressional races which could help determine the balance of power for the next two years.

New Jersey’s current delegation of 12 includes seven Democrats and five Republicans. In the US House, there are currently 235 Republicans and 193 Democrats, and seven vacancies.

District 11

One of the seats Democrats hope to flip is District 11, where Democrat Mikie Sherrill is running against Republican Jay Webber. District 11, which is largely in Morris and Essex counties, has long been considered a solidly Republican district, and this is the first time in decades that there is a competitive race there.

Current Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, has held the seat since 1995; the seat was last held by a Democrat in the mid 1980s.

District 2

Another seat that Democrats hope to flip is District 2, where Democrat Jeff Van Drew maintains his lead among voters, according to a recent poll.

Van Drew held steady with 55 percent of the respondents in a recent Stockton University poll voicing their preference for the current state senator. Republican Seth Grossman pulled in 38 percent of the vote. Five percent say they will vote for some other candidate and 2 percent are unsure or picking nobody.

The Second Congressional District includes Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Van Drew’s double-digit lead reflects the evolving political makeup of the congressional district that has sent a Republican to Congress – Frank LoBiondo — for the past 24 years. LoBiondo is retiring.

District 3

In the traditionally GOP 3rd District, Democrat Andy Kim is running a competitive race against inclumbent Republican Tom MacArthur.

In this district, which spans parts of Ocean and Burlington counties, MacArthur has been criticized for his efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and pass a tax cut that’s been viewed as harmful to New Jerseyans.

District 7

In District 7, Tom Malinowski, a Democrat, is running a competitive race against incumbent Leonard Lance, a Republican.

Malinowski has criticzed Lance for his positions on healthcare, immigration, gun control and taxes, even though Lance has mostly sided with Democrats on those issues over the past year.

$500 Million School Bond Referendum

Voters will decide on the $500 million “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act” that’s supposed to boost school security, improve water safety and and expand programs at community colleges and vocational schools. The referendum will be held on Election Day, Nov. 6.

Though lawmakers haven’t provided specifics on how the money will be spent, they did say the school security portion of the legislation was inspired by the mass shootings in Parkland, Fla. earlier this year.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our schoolchildren,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “The horror of school shootings from Newtown, Ct. in 2012 to Parkland, Fla. makes it clear that we need to do everything we can to make our schools safe, and that includes improving the security of our school buildings.”

Here are the vote tallies:

Photo: Some 30 million Americans have already cast their ballots in Tuesday’s midterm election. In this photo, voters in Cincinnati wait to cast their ballots Sunday at the Hamilton County Board of Elections (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Photo of New Providence by

Get the Point Pleasant newsletter

Subscribe