Election 2016: Hoboken Mayor Says Poll Worker Asked Her For I.D.

HOBOKEN, NJ — As America reels from a stunning Trump-over-Clinton victory, reports of long lines and polling issues are emerging in Hudson County, including Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s claim that a poll worker asked her to produce ID prior to voting.

On Tuesday morning, reports of “historically long” waits at polling stations in Hoboken and Jersey City emerged on social media, with one woman claiming to have spent more than three hours on line.

• See related article: Election Day Problems Plague Polling Sites In New Jersey [VIDEO, PHOTOS]

Later that day, Zimmer said that she was asked to present her identification when she went to vote on Tuesday in violation of New Jersey law.

“I just got asked for ID to vote in my polling location at Boys & Girls Club,” Zimmer wrote in a social media post. “This is not ok, Hudson County Board of Elections!"

Zimmer’s allegation set off a flurry of social media reactions, including a post from a local voter who said that he had a similar experience on Tuesday.

“Me too!” wrote @DavidBerman112.

“Working to address,” Zimmer responded. “Poll workers [are] not allowed to ID unless resident [is] listed in poll book for this due to being inactive voter.”

The conversation drew a reaction from @Harrington_Mac, who asked the pair: “Are [you] against #integrity in elections? [You’re] pathetic. All states should require ID's unless [you] want fraud.”

Some other comments on the thread included:

• “As a society we really need to begin to process of bringing the voting process into the 21st century.”
• “Whoa! In your own town? Not good.”
• “Maybe it was someone whose car was unfairly booted getting revenge?”
• “OMG, proving who you are is so oppressive!”
• “I got asked for my ID since I was able to vote in 2009 and I didn't go on social media to whine.”
• “Every time I voted in Hoboken I was asked for ID, and every time I told them that was not okay.”
• “It slowed things down in the morning, I think people weren't prepared for that.”

PROVISIONAL BALLOTS

Zimmer wasn’t the only Hoboken resident to reportedly run into issues on election day.

Hoboken resident Cristina Dulay reached out to Patch on Tuesday with the following story:

“I was at the Hoboken polling site at 700 1st Street this morning. I voted there last year provisionally and I was not in the signature book this year. I requested a provisional ballot, but the ballot did not have the local election choices. More importantly, it did not have the [school board of education] part.”

• Catch up on the Hoboken School Board of Education results for 2016 here

Dulay provided Patch with the below photo of the alleged ballot.

“I confirmed with the agents/reps there that the local election portion was not on there," Dulay said. "I asked if it would later be updated knowing this, and the person said no. I asked if I could write my vote in, and they said no.”

She concluded:

“My concern is that the downtown area is very pro-school board opposition over the incumbents which uptown area is very pro-incumbents. I did not submit my ballot and will go to another site tonight, but unknowing people will not have the full ballot form presented to them.”

Photo: City of Hoboken

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