Election Day Point Pleasant/Point Beach 2021: Where, When To Vote

POINT PLEASANT, 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 Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach.

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 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 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.

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.

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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: Point Pleasant Beach is part of the 10th District. 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
• Point Pleasant is part of the 30th District. In the Senate race, Republican Robert Singer, the incumbent, is seeking another term in the Senate, where he has served since 1993. Democrat Dan Stinger is challenging him. The Assembly race pits Republicans Sean Kean and Edward "Ned" Thompson, the incumbents, against Democratic challengers Matthew Filosa and Stephen Dobbins.
• 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

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:

• Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Barry Bendar
• Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Robert Canfield
• Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Gary Quinn
• Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Barbara 'Bobbi' Jo Crea
• Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Philip Nufrio
• Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Catherine Paura

Point Pleasant Beach has two seats up for election on the Borough Council, and four candidates. Incumbent councilman Andy Cortes, an independent, is being challenged by Republicans Michael Ramos and Rosa Crowley. Ernest "EJ" Geiger, a Democrat, is running a write-in campaign.

The Point Pleasant Beach Board of Education has two, three-year terms up for election. Stacey McGlinchy and James Ireland are seeking re-election to the board, and John Durante and Elizabeth Boyle are newcomers seeking election. School boards are nonpartisan and board members do not get paid to serve.

Point Pleasant Borough has two full terms and one two-year unexpired term up for election. Republicans William Borowsky and Antoinette DePaola, the incumbents, are being challenged by Wayne Martiak and Derek Reichenbecher. For the unexpired term, Valerie Coulson, who is currently serving, is running unopposed.

The Point Pleasant Borough Board of Education has three, three-year terms; school board members do not get paid to serve. There are nine candidates: William Munn, John Florio, and Larry Williams are the incumbents. Dawn Coughlan, Emily Seim, Katharine Vaccarella, Christine Newitts, Kenneth Polakowski, and Peter Hetzel all are hoping to take one of the seats.

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 Point Pleasant Borough Library, 834 Beaver Dam Road, Point Pleasant; at the rear of the Brick Township municipal building, 401 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick; and at the Upper Shores branch of the Ocean County Library in Lavallette at 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette.

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

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