Stafford Primary Election Guide: Who's On The Ballot, How To Vote

STAFFORD, NJ — Stafford voters will head to the polls for the first time in 2021 on June 8 when they cast their ballots for mayor and six open council seats.

Who’s on the ballot:

Mayor Gregory Myhre is running for re-election against Democratic challenger Joanne Sitek and eleven candidates are running for six seats on the council.

Here are the candidates:

Mayor (three-year term, vote for one)

• Gregory E. Myhre (Republican)
• Joanne Sitek (Democrat)

Council (three-year term, vote for six)

• Anthony R. Guariglia (Republican)
• Robert Henken (Republican)
• Paul Krier (Republican)
• Lisa Mower (Republican)
• Amy Otta (Republican)
• Thomas N. Steadman (Republican)
• George Williams (Republican)
• Helen S. Cocuzza (Democrat)
• Denise Pobicki (Democrat)
• Ellyn Hill (Democrat)
• Reagan White (Democrat)

How To Vote In The 2021 Primary Election:

In-person voting is available to all registered voters. Voters may vote in person at their assigned polling place.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The list of polling locations in Stafford can be found below:

• Districts 1, 3, 4, 15, 18: Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company, 133 Stafford Ave
• Districts 2, 17, 21: St Mary's Parish Center, 100 Bishop Ln
• Districts 6, 8, 9, 12: Ocean Acres Community Center, 489 Nautilus Dr
• Districts 7,10,11,19, 20: Ocean Acres Elementary School, 489 Nautilus Dr
• District 13: Jennings Road Recreation Center, 385 Jennings Rd
• District 14: Atlantic Hills Clubhouse, 98 Atlantic Hills Blvd
• District 16: Perry's Lake Clubhouse, 4 Princeton Dr
• District 5: Fawn Lakes Community Center, 6 Sycamore Rd

Those who wish to vote from home can use the Vote by Mail option. To receive a mail-in ballot, voters must request one in writing by filling out a Mail-in Ballot Application. A personal signature is required. The County Clerk's office must receive Mail-in Ballot applications by mail no later than June 1 for the Primary Election.

Voters may apply for a mail-in ballot in person or by authorized messenger at the County Clerk's Office in Toms River up to 3 p.m. on June 7.

Voters can choose one of the following options to return their ballot:

• Mail the ballot through the United States Postal Service. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 8.
• Drop the ballot in a designated Ocean County Board of Elections drop box before 8 p.m. June 8.
• Take it directly to the Board of Elections’ Office, 129 Hooper Ave, Toms River, before 8 p.m. June 8.

A list of drop box locations in every municipality can be found here.

Drop boxes are maintained by the Ocean County Board of Elections, are secure, and monitored by video surveillance. Ballots are collected from drop boxes regularly.

Deadlines:

The deadline to register for the Primary Election has passed (May 18). The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by mail is June 1. The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot in person is June 7, by 3 p.m.

Stafford voters will go back to the polls in November to vote in local school board elections, as well as the governor's race, statehouse races and county races.

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