2022 Election In Toms River: How To Vote, Who's On The Ballot

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The 2022 general election is near. Here's a look at your options for voting this year, along with who's on the ballot in Toms River.

In Ocean County that includes voting at a polling location, either during the early voting period, which runs through Nov. 6, or on Election Day, Nov. 8.

If you're among the voters in Ocean County who receive vote-by-mail ballots, 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. 8.

There are about 400,000 voters in Ocean County, and the majority will be voting in person. Sample ballots are available online on the Ocean County Clerk's website.

Early voting began Saturday, Oct. 29, and ends Nov. 6, 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. 8
• 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?

• U.S. House of Representatives: Toms River will be part of the 4th District when the new Congress is sworn into office in January. The candidates seeking the 4th District seat are Chris Smith, a Republican seeking his 21st term; Democrat Matt Jenkins; Libertarian Jason Cullen; independents Pamela R. Daniels, David Schmidt, and Hank Schroeder.

Patch distributed candidate questionnaires to all six. Jenkins and Daniels responded by Oct. 14. Smith provided a reply on Oct. 31. Here are their profiles:

• NJ-4 Congressional District Election 2022: Matthew Jenkins
• NJ-4 Congressional District Election 2022: Pamela R. Daniels
• NJ-4 Congressional District Election 2022: Chris Smith

There was a candidates' forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County. All but Smith participated. You can read more and find a link to watch it here: 5 Takeaways From NJ 4th District Candidates' Forum

• Ballot questions: There are no statewide ballot questions in New Jersey in 2022.

LOCAL RACES

Ocean County Commissioners: There are two seats up for election; they are three-year terms. Voters have four candidates to choose from: Virginia "Ginny" Haines and John P. "Jack" Kelly, Republicans; Catherine Paura and Roxanne Barnes, Democrats.

Ocean County Sheriff: Michael Mastronardy, the Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Salvatore Fraschino. The sheriff serves for a three-year term.

The Toms River Regional Board of Education has three seats up for election in 2022: the seats representing Pine Beach and Beachwood, and one seat representing Toms River.

In Toms River, incumbent board member Kathleen Eagan is being challenged by Daynne Glover. Eagan is a former teacher and former president of the Toms River Education Association. Glover works for a nonprofit that supports early childhood education. Here are their candidate profiles:

• Toms River School Board Election 2022: Daynne Glover
• Toms River School Board Election 2022: Kathleen Eagan

In Beachwood, Melissa Morrison, Lisa Magovern and Reuven Hendler are seeking the seat; Alex Mizenko is not seeking re-election. Morrison is a teacher in another school district. Magovern just returned to teaching for the 2022-23 school year. Hendler, who ran against Andy Kim in the 3rd District Democratic primary in June, did not respond to the Patch questionnaire.

• Toms River School Board Election 2022: Lisa Magovern
• Toms River School Board Election 2022: Melissa Morrison

In Pine Beach, incumbent Kevin Kidney is being challenged by Arley Kuehl. Kidney is a teacher in the Brick Township Schools. Kuehl is an artist and art educator. He did not respond to the Patch questionnaire.

• Toms River School Board Election 2022: Kevin Kidney

A candidates forum was held Oct. 20 for the school board election. Eagan, Glover, Morrison and Magovern participated. You can watch the forum here.

Where Can I Vote?

Those looking for a drop box for vote-by-mail ballots can use any in Ocean County. They are 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