2021 Election In Manchester: How To Vote, Who's On The Ballot

MANCHESTER, NJ — The 2021 general election is near. Here's a look at your options for voting this year, along with who's on the ballot in Manchester.

In Ocean County that includes voting at a polling location, either during the early voting period or on Nov. 2.

If you're among the 54,000 voters in Ocean County who received vote-by-mail ballots — they were sent to anyone who voted by mail in 2016, 2017, 2018 or 2019 — you can turn in your ballot at a secure drop box, mail your ballot back or hand-deliver it to your local board of elections. If you mail it back, it must be postmarked by Nov. 2.

There are about 400,000 voters in Ocean County, and the majority will be voting in person. Sample ballots for those voting in person were expected to go out by Oct. 20. They are available online on the Ocean County Clerk's website.

Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 23, and ends Oct. 31, and will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

The Rundown

• Election date: Nov. 2
• Where can I drop off my ballot?
• Track my mail-in ballot.
• Where can I vote in person?

What And Who Are On The Ballot?

• Gubernatorial race: Residents can either cast a write-in vote or choose among the major parties for governor and lieutenant governor: Jack Ciattarelli/Diane Allen, Republican; Phil Murphy/Sheila Oliver, Democrat; Gregg Mele/Eveline Brownstein, Libertarian; Joanne Kuniansky/Vivian M. Sahner, Socialist Workers Party; Madelyn Hoffman/Heather Warburton, Green Party.
• NJ Legislature: The 10th District includes state Senate and Assembly races. In the Senate race, Republican Jim Holzapfel is being challenged by Democrat Emma Mammano. In the Assembly, the Republican candidates are Gregory McGuckin and John Catalano; the Democrats are Garrit "Tony" Kono and Mary "Sharon" Quilter.
• Ballot questions: Voters will decide whether to legalize betting on college sports. Currently, the State Constitution prohibits wagering on college sports or athletic events taking place in New Jersey, and events that include a New Jersey college team.Wagering would be permitted only through casinos and current or former horse racetracks. Voters also will decide whether groups that raise funds through bingo or raffles can use the funds raised as general support for their groups, instead of limiting them to using the money "for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses."

LOCAL RACES

Ocean County Commissioners: There are two seats up for election. Voters have seven candidates to choose from: Gary Quinn and Bobbi Jo Crea, Republicans; Philip Nufrio and Catherine Paura, Democrats; Dan Valentine and Rob Canfield, Libertarian Party; and Barry Bender, Green Party.

Manchester Township municipal races: There are elections for mayor and council this year, both for one-year unfinished terms. Robert Hudak and Robert Arace are seeking the one-year unfinished mayoral term, and Michele Zolezi and Joseph Hankins are seeking the one-year unfinished term on the township council

Manchester Township voters also are being asked to choose two members for the Board of Education. The candidates are George J. Cervenak III, Sasiya O.Omilanowicz, Mike Kelliher, and Nicole Sahlin.

Where Can I Vote?

Those looking for a drop box for vote-by-mail ballots can use any in Ocean County. There are drop boxes at the Brick Township Municipal Building at 401 Chambers Bridge Road. The box is located at the rear of the building near the police department entrance and is under surveillance 24/7.

The vote-by-mail ballots will be picked up daily and brought to the Board of Elections. All security measures will be followed when collecting and transporting the vote-by-mail ballots, officials said.

Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.

• How Are Election Signatures Verified In NJ? Patch Found Out
• What's A NJ Provisional Ballot? How Does It Work? Patch Found Out
• How To Register, Track Your General Election Vote Online In NJ

NOTE: This article has been updated to correct that early voting begins Saturday.