Politics & Government

Election Day Manchester 2021: When, Where To Vote

The general election is Tuesday in New Jersey. Here's what you need to know.

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

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in New Jersey for those who did not take advantage of the early voting period. 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 or hand-deliver it to your local board of elections, by 8 p.m. Tuesday. If you mail it back, it must be postmarked by Nov. 2.

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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.

The Rundown

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. Read more: 2021 10th District Election: Who's Running, When, Where To Vote
  • 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 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

Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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.

Read their responses to Patch's candidate questionnaires here:

Manchester Township municipal races: There are contested elections for the unexpired terms for mayor and for one seat on the Manchester Township Council. Manchester's form of government is nonpartisan.

The mayoral race for a one-year term pits interim Mayor Robert Hudak against newcomer Rob Arace. Though the government is nonpartisan, both are registered Republicans, and the campaign has gotten heated up with accusations of morale issues and leaked executive session information in the final hours of the race.

There also are two seats up for election on the Manchester Township Board of Education. George J. Cervenak III is seeking election to his first full term. The others are newcomers.

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 Ocean County Library branch at 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester, next to town hall, and at the Whiting Reading Center/Library, 400 Lacey Road, Suite 5, Whiting.

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.

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