Voting In Essex County: Everything You Need To Know – Montclair, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Many voters in Essex County have been focused on the looming showdown between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. But there’s also a long list of local candidates in this year’s historic election, which is being held mostly by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A limited number of polling places will be open on Nov. 3, the same day that mail-in ballots must be postmarked in order to be counted. READ MORE: NJ 2020 Election Guide: How To Vote, Who’s On The Ballot

In addition to national and state races, Essex County residents will vote in several town council and school board elections. Voters will also decide among candidates for the county board of commissioners and county clerk.

Here’s what is at stake in Essex County this year.

COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Essex County voters will get a chance to pick members of the renamed Board of County Commissioners, formerly known as the “freeholders.”

According to local advocacy group SOMA Action, there are several reasons why Essex County residents should care who represents them on the board, which has key influence over local infrastructure projects, budget decisions and facilities such as the county prison. READ MORE: 7 Reasons Why You Should Vote In Essex Freeholder Election

All nine seats on the board are up for grabs this year. Each term lasts three years.

The following four incumbent Democrats will try to defend their at-large seats: Brendan Gill, Romaine Graham, Rufus Johnson and Patricia Sebold. They face Republican challengers Alexandra Campisi, Gynise Gotto, Monique Headen and Bernarda Quezada.

There are also five district seats on the board up for election, each currently occupied by Democrats: Robert Mercado (District 1), Wayne Richardson (District 2), Tyshammie Cooper (District 3), Leonard Luciano (District 4) and Carlos Pomares (District 5). The only challenger to make the ballot is Adam Kraemer, who is running as a Republican against Luciano in District 4.

COUNTY CLERK

Incumbent Christopher Durkin, the Democratic Party nominee, will defend his position as Essex County clerk against Kristina Christoforou, who earned the Republican Party nomination in the primary election.

The victor will serve a five-year term.

MUNICIPAL RACES

In Essex County, there are local races for:

SCHOOL BOARD RACES

Several school districts in Essex County will hold elections for their boards of education. The list includes:

NATIONAL, STATE RACES

Here’s a quick rundown of the choices that Essex County voters will be asked to make on a national and state level:

  • President: Residents can either cast a write-in vote or choose, among the major parties, between Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, or Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. Also running are: Don Blankenship/William Mohr (Constitution Party); Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (Green); Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (Libertarian); Gloria La Riva/Sunil Freeman (Party for Socialism and Liberation); Roque De La Fuente/Darcy Richardson (The Alliance Party) and Bill Hammons/Eric Bodenstab (Unity Party).
  • US Congress/Senate: One U.S. Senate seat will be contested. Incumbent Democrat Cory Booker will face several Republican, Green Party and independent challengers. All 12 of the state’s congressional seats will be decided. See congressional races on your local ballot here.
  • Marijuana Legalization/Ballot Questions: Voters will decide whether to legalize the possession and use of marijuana. Voters will also decide whether to makes peacetime veterans eligible to receive the veterans’ property tax deduction.

MORE ELECTION INFO

The last day to register to vote for the general election was Oct. 13. This year, every voter was mailed a ballot that they can fill out and mail back. Because of possible delays in U.S. Postal Service deliveries, election advocates advised people to send them back no later than Oct. 22. Mail-in ballots must bear a postmark on or before Election Day or they won’t be counted. They must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 10.

Essex County residents who are concerned about the security of their mail-in ballots can leave them in one of 22 local “drop boxes” that have been put up for the 2020 general election. See a list of drop box locations here.

A limited number of polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. But voting machines will only be ADA-compliant machines for those who need assistance. All other voters will be given a provisional ballot. Find your local polling place here.

For more coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here.

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