Primary Election 2020: Where To Vote In Gloucester Township

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The primary election looks different this year as the coronavirus pandemic has pushed back the date, shuttered polls and made the contest scheduled for July 7 "primarily" vote-by-mail.

"Our goals are twofold," Gov. Phil Murphy said when he made the announcement in May. "To maximize our democracy while minimizing the risk of illness. We want everyone to participate in a safe, fully democratic process."

Murphy also said that there will be polling places open in every municipality to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote and at least 50 percent of the normal locations per county.

Murphy added that voters who have not been able to seamlessly transition to a mail-in process, like those with a disability, will be kept safe when they cast their vote.

"Social distancing protocols will be enforced within these polling locations including the sanitizing of every touch screen, voting machine in between voters," he said.

The Process

All registered Democratic and Republican voters will automatically receive a postage paid vote-by-mail ballot while all unaffiliated and inactive voters will automatically receive a postage paid vote-by-mail application. Those ballots can be sent back by mail or dropped in one of the boxes.

Vote-by-Mail Drop Boxes have been installed in five locations across Camden County, including Gloucester Township. In Gloucester Township, the drop box can be found at the municipal building, 1261 Chews Landing Road.

• The boxes were installed on or about June 15;
• They are all outside and under surveillance 24/7;
• They resemble a USPS Blue Mailbox, but are Red, White & Blue;
• The VBMs will be picked up on a daily basis and brought to the BOE.
• All security measures will be followed when collecting and transporting the VBMs.
• VBM Drop Boxes will be closed at 8 p.m., close of polls on Tuesday, July 7.

Another key change will be the voting deadline. While all the ballots must still be postmarked by the July 7 election day, Murphy said that the deadline which votes must be received by a county board of elections — to be counted as valid — will be extended from 48 hours after the polls close to seven days after the polls close.

"We expect a greater than normal vote-by-mail turnout the deadline," he said. "And we will ensure that every vote is counted."

Polling locations will also be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are as follows:

• District 1: Glendora Fire Company, 29 7th Avenue
• Districts 2 and 22: Chews United Methodist Church, 319 Black Horse Pike
• Districts 3, 15, 24, 37, 40: Senior Center, 1261 Chews Landing Road
• District 4: Blenheim Fire Company, 34 Almonesson Road
• District 5: The Palace, 109 North Black Horse Pike
• Districts 6 and 10: Camden County Emergency Training Center, 420 North Turnersville-Woodbury Road
• District 7: Gloucester Township Library, 15 South Black Horse Pike
• Districts 8, 32 and 39: Erial Fire Company, 1946 Williamstown Road
• Districts 9, 12, 13 and 25: The Municipal Building, 1261 Chews Landing Road
• Districts 11, 16, 21 and 26: Chews Landing Fire Company, 43 Somerdale Road
• Districts 14, 23, 27 and 28: Recreation Center, 80 Broadacres Drive, Clementon
• Districts 17 and 38: Charles W. Lewis School, 875 Erial Road
• Districts 18 and 33: Timber Creek Regional High School, 501 Jarvis Road
• Districts 19 and 34: Camden County Technical School, 343 Berlin-Cross Keys Road
• Districts 20 and 30: Point Ariel Community Center, 2900 Erial Road, Erial
• Districts 29 and 35: Ann Mullen Middle School, 1400 Sicklerville Road
• Districts 31 and 36: J.W. Lilley Elementary School, 1275 Williamstown Road

With reporting by Russ Crespolini, Patch Staff