Voting In The Caldwells: Everything You Need To Know

CALDWELLS, NJ — Voters in the Caldwells will get a chance to decide among a long list of local candidates in this year’s historic election, which is being held mostly by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A limited number of polling places will be open on Nov. 3, the same day that mail-in ballots must be postmarked in order to be counted. READ MORE: NJ 2020 Election Guide: How To Vote, Who's On The Ballot

Here’s what’s at stake in Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell.

CALDWELL

Caldwell Borough Council - There are two, three-year terms on the Caldwell Borough Council available. Henderson Cole and Jonathan Lace, the Democratic Party nominees, will match up against the Republicans, Leonard Cohen and Sue Ann Penna.

NORTH CALDWELL

North Caldwell Borough Council –There are two, three-year terms available on the North Caldwell Borough Council. Cynthia Santomauro and John Chiaia, the Republican candidates, are running against Democratic candidates Anthony Floria-Callori and Matthew Atlas.

North Caldwell Board of Education – North Caldwell residents will vote for two, three-year terms on the North Caldwell Board of Education. Candidates include Jordan Shumofsky and Sapna Malige.

WEST CALDWELL

West Caldwell Township Council – Two, three-year terms on the West Caldwell Township Council are available. The Republican candidates, Michael Docteroff and Kathy Canale, will face Jessica Almeida and Christy Lazarow, who were endorsed as write-in candidates by the West Caldwell Democrats.

SCHOOL BOARD

Caldwell and West Caldwell residents will vote for a member of the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education. Incumbent John King will face challenger Chris Elko for a three-year term.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS/CLERK

Residents of the Caldwells will also get a chance to pick members of the newly named Essex County Board of County Commissioners, formerly known as the “freeholders.” All nine seats on the board are up for grabs this year. Each term lasts three years.

In another county-level race, incumbent Christopher Durkin, the Democratic Party nominee, will defend his position as Essex County clerk against Kristina Christoforou, who earned the Republican Party nomination in the July primary election.

• See related article: Essex County 2020 Election Guide (What You Need To Know)

NATIONAL, STATE

Here’s a quick rundown of the choices that voters will be asked to make on a national, state and county level:

• Presidential race: Residents can either cast a write-in vote or choose, among the major parties, between Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, or Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. Also running are: Don Blankenship/William Mohr (Constitution Party); Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (Green); Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (Libertarian); Gloria La Riva/Sunil Freeman (Party for Socialism and Liberation); Roque De La Fuente/Darcy Richardson (The Alliance Party) and Bill Hammons/Eric Bodenstab (Unity Party).
• US Congress/Senate: One U.S. Senate seat will be contested: Incumbent Democrat Cory Booker will face several Republican, Green Party and independent challengers. All 12 of the state's congressional seats will be decided. New Jersey's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives is split between 10 Democrats and two Republicans heading into Election Day. See congressional races on your local ballot here.
• Marijuana legalization/Ballot questions: Voters will decide whether to legalize the possession and use of marijuana. Voters will also decide whether to makes peacetime veterans eligible to receive the veterans' property tax deduction.

MORE ELECTION INFO

The last day to register to vote for the general election was Oct. 13. This year, every voter was mailed a ballot that they can fill out and mail back. Because of possible delays in U.S. Postal Service deliveries, election advocates advised people to send them back no later than Oct. 22. Mail-in ballots must bear a postmark on or before Nov. 3, or they won't be counted.

Essex County residents who are concerned about the security of their mail-in ballots may find some solace via a local "drop box" that has been put up for the 2020 general election. See a list of drop box locations in Essex County here.

A limited number of in-person polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. ADA-compliant machines will be available for those who need assistance. All other voters will be given a provisional ballot. Find your local polling place here.

For more coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here.

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