Berkeley Primary Election Guide: Who's On the Ballot, How To Vote

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley voters will head to the polls for the first time in 2021 on June 8 when they cast their ballots to fill one open council seat in each ward.

Who’s on the ballot:

In Wards 1, 3 and 4, each ticket features a Republican incumbent and a Democratic newcomer. Angelo Guadagno is running unopposed for re-election to represent Ward 2 on the council.

Here are the candidates:

Ward 1 (four-year term, vote for one)

• James J. Byrnes (Republican)
• Alexis K. Loftus (Democrat)

Ward 2 (four-year term, vote for one)

• Angelo Guadagno (Republican)

Ward 3 (four-year term, vote for one)

• Michael Signorile (Republican)
• Andrew Prudente (Democrat)

Ward 4 (four-year term, vote for one)

• Sophia Gingrich (Republican)
• Thomas White Jr. (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. To locate a polling location, click here.

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.

Berkeley 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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