Primary Election 2020: Where To Vote In Scotch Plains, Fanwood

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — The primary election looks different this year as the COVID-19 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.

Where To Vote: In-Person

Scotch Plains

• Park Middle School, 580 Park Ave., Back Gym - Districts 1-5
• Green Forest Clubhouse, 554 Westfield Rd., Meeting Center - District 8
• Evergreen School, 2280 Evergreen Ave., Gym, Enter from Cedar - Districts 6,7,9-11
• William McGinn School, 1100 Roosevelt Ave., Gym - Districts 12-16
• Coles School, 16 Kevin Rd., Gym - Districts 17-21,23
• Southwyck Village, 21 Maddaket-clubhouse, Clubhouse - District 22

Fanwood

• Municipal Building, 75 N Martine Ave., Rear Entrance - Districts 1,2,6,7
• LaGrande Park Building, 3rd St. Entrance, Main Space - Districts 3-5

Vote-By-Mail Drop Boxes

Vote-by-Mail Drop Boxes have not been installed in Scotch Plains or Fanwood, but there are four installed throughout the county:

• Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave., Cranford
• Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth
• Plainfield City Hall Parking Lot, 515 Watching Way, Plainfield
• Union Township Municipal Building, 1976 Morris Ave., Union - Rear Entrance

A fifth box will be installed later this week at a location to be determined.

Simply place your ballot in the secured drop box, open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

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."

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