OCEAN COUNTY – The June 6 Primary Election is upon us and Ocean County voters are being reminded they have several voting options including early voting, Election Day voting and in-person vote by mail to cast their ballots.
Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines said, “Ocean County voters will be casting their ballots on new voting machines purchased by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners earlier this year. We closely worked with the Board of Elections and the Ocean County Clerk in choosing a voting machine that will be easy to use while making certain the vote is safe and secure.”
“The new voting machines will be used during early voting which runs from Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4 and on Primary Election Day on June 6,” she added.
Ocean County Clerk Scott M. Colabella said instructions on how to use the new machines are included in the sample ballots sent out from his office to more than 400,000 Ocean County voters.
Colabella added, “voters should carefully review their sample ballots. There is a wealth of helpful information included. In addition, poll workers will be available at polling places to assist voters casting their ballot on the new Express XL voting machines.”
He also noted that the information on the sample ballots including poll locations, vote by mail drop box locations and early voting locations is also available on the Ocean County Clerk’s website at clerk.co.ocean.nj.us.
Hours for early voting are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on June 2 and 3, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 4.
The 10 early voting locations are: Berkeley Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville; Brick Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 301 Chambersbridge Road, Brick Township; Jackson Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson Township; Lacey Township Community Center Room C (formerly the Knights of Columbus Building) 15 East Lacey Road, Lacey Township; Lakewood Municipal Building, Courtroom, 231-3rd St., Lakewood; the Upper Shores Branch of the Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette; Little Egg Harbor Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor Township; Ocean County Southern Service Center, nutrition site, 179 South Main Street, Manahawkin; Manchester Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester; and the main branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River.
Colabella noted, “registered voters in Ocean County can cast a ballot at any of the early voting locations. For instance, if you live in Barnegat Township but work in Toms River, you can cast your vote at the main branch of the Ocean County Library during early voting.”
“The voting machines are programmed to provide you with the appropriate ballots for the town you live in,” he added.
On Election Day, voters must cast their votes at the poll location noted on their sample ballot. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Colabella said that voters can still apply for a vote by mail ballot but must do so in person at the Ocean County Clerk’s Office at 118 Washington St., Toms River. The deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot is 3 p.m., June 5.
“The office issued 43,079 vote by mail ballots for the June 6 Primary Election,” Colabella said. “As of May 31, a total of 13,393 ballots were returned to the Ocean County Board of Elections – 7,224 by Democrats and 6,169 by Republicans.”
Colabella noted that 2023 is a New Jersey state legislative election year with all seats in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly on the ballot.
The 2023 state Legislative contests are the first under the new redistricting map with several Ocean County towns moving from one legislative district to another. Under the new redistricting map, Lakehurst and Manchester Township are now part of the states 9th Legislative District moving from the 10th Legislative District; Point Pleasant moved from the 30th District to the 10th District, and Seaside Park and South Toms River are now part of the 10th Legislative District.
The sample ballots also illustrate to the voter which voting district they live in according to Colabella.
