patching...
Breaking: Chester Police Seeking 'Forced Entry' Burglars »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Alternative Voting Plans Eyed After Hurricane Sandy

Polling stations could change, a New Jersey county clerk said.

 

Power outages have state officials worried about voting on Election Day, and New Jersey officials are working on a contingency plan.

Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French on Wednesday confirmed that polling stations could change.

“As far as I know, we are going ahead with the election," said French, who has been in touch with the NJ Election Division in Trenton. "We have not been notified by any changes, no dates have been extended, no deadlines changed. We are planning on voting on Tuesday."

Each municipal clerk will make plans for location changes if necessary, she said.

According to a FoxNews.com story, a representative from the New Jersey Division of Elections said it’s too early to say what might happen, but postponing the election would be highly unlikely. Voting hours at various polling locations could be extended though.

Other states affected by Hurricane Sandy are also formulating back up plans.

“Due to hurricane Sandy, poll site information for the Nov. 6, 2012 election may change,” a message on the New York Board of Elections website reads. “Continue to visit this page for the latest changes in poll site information provided to us by the County Board of Elections," it says.

Connecticut and Massachusetts use paper ballots that are counted by electronic scanning equipment, so counting the ballots could be done where the power is on, the FoxNews.com story states. Voting equipment could operate on batter power or voters could use paper ballots that could be counted by hand.

Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill said the election would take place Nov. 6 as planned and voting registration has been extended to 8 p.m., according to FoxNews.com.

According to Brian McNiff, spokesman for Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William F. Galvin, Hurricane Sandy will not affect voting in Massachusetts on Election Day.

“There is no polling place that is without electricity, first of all,” McNiff said. “Secondly, the optical scanners we use can run on battery power. And third, we vote on paper ballots.”

Related Topics: Hurricane Sandy, Sandy, elections 2012, and participate 2012

B@B

4:57 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

It was bad enough before Sandy with both sides planning to accuse the other of stealing the election. Now it's going to be utter chaos.

Reply

Karla Wagner

2:20 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

Cory Booker posted on Facebook today that early voting for Essex County Residents started today. Hall of Records 465 MLK Blvd in Newark. Today until 5:30. Sat to Mon 8:30-4:30

Reply

Laraine Chaberski

8:14 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012

Between 6 and 8 pm I received 6 recorded calls telling me where to vote. The calls came from 201-837-1600.

Reply
Comment_arrow

Teaneck_Resident

8:28 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012

Only six calls? Lucky you I lost count of how many times the Township called.

Leave a comment