Primary Election Day 2021 In Chatham: When, Where To Vote

NORTH JERSEY — The New Jersey Primary Election for 2021 is set for June 8 and although it will be primarily a vote in-person, there are still several options to make sure your vote is counted.

In our area that includes voting at a polling location, using a secure drop box, mailing your ballot back or hand delivering it to your local board of elections.

“We want to be sure voters know the resources available to them as well as the key deadlines ahead of the upcoming elections,” said New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “From information on how to vote in person, where to find secure ballot drop box locations or how to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot, we’re making it as easy as possible for voters to exercise their right to participate in this important process.”

The Rundown

• Election date: June 8
• Check if you are registered to vote.
• 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?

• Gubernatorial Race: Current Governor Phil Murphy is running unopposed for the nomination of the Democratic Party.

Here's who is on the Republican ballot:

• Jack Ciattarelli, a former 16th Legislative District Assemblyman from 2011 to 2018 and Hillsborough resident. He previously ran for governor in 2017, coming in second in the primaries behind then-Republican nominee Kim Guadagno. Ciattarelli's platform is centered on relaxing pandemic-related restrictions and reinvigorating the New Jersey economy in the wake of the health crisis. He's already gained backing from U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew as well as multiple county chairs (including those in Bergen, Atlantic, Somerset, Essex, Salem and more) and has pivoted his focus to attacking Murphy. Read more: NJ Gov Candidate Calls For Gathering Limit, Face Mask Lift By May

• Brian D. Levine, a former Somerset freeholder and Franklin Township mayor. He held the mayoral post for 10 years until 2014, when he then ran for freeholder. He lost his bid for a third term in 2020. According to NJ 101.5, he's self-described as fiscally conservative but not ideologically, maintaining that his occupational background as a CPA would benefit New Jersey's economic compass.

• Hirsh V. Singh, a perennial candidate who has announced bids to run for governor in 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 and the U.S. Senate in 2020. He is a businessman with a background in engineering who runs his family's security firm. Born in Atlantic City, Singh lives in Linwood and graduated from NJIT. He is trying to paint himself as the more pro-Trump Republican and Ciattarelli as too moderate.

• Philip Rizzo, a Harding Township resident, real estate developer and pastor of the conservative City Baptist church in North Bergen. He's an avowed supporter of former President Trump, takes a pro-life stance and has never run for political office.

Ciattarelli and Murphy are the only candidates to qualify for public funds, which caps candidates at spending $7.3 million during the primary election

• Senate Races in Chatham Borough: New Jersey State Senator and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr., announced at the start of 2021, he planned to finish out his term and not run again. Republican Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, who serves with Kean in Legislative Dist. 21, has instead put his name on the Republican ballot and is running for Kean's seat in the primary. In November's General Election, he'll square off with Joseph Signorello III, who is a Democrat running uncontested on the ballot in the primary.
• Senate Races in Chatham Township: Democrat New Jersey State Sen. Richard Codey, of the 27th Legislative Dist., runs uncontested in the primary, but will face Republican Adam Kraemer in the General Election, who is uncontested on the Republican ballot.
• Assembly Races in Chatham Borough: With Assemblyman Jon Bramnick leaving his seat open to run for Kean's Senate seat, either Michele Matsikoudis or Jennifer A. Makar, will join incumbent Republican Legislative Dist. 21 Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz on the ticket for the General Election, with the two seats up for grabs at the end of 2021. On the Democratic ticket, voters will see Elizabeth A. Graner and Anjali Mehrotra, who will run against the two Republican nominees who take the primary.
• Assembly Races in Chatham Township: Incumbent Democrat Assembly members for Legislative Dist. 27, John McKeon and Mila Jasey, run uncontested for the nominations in the primary. In the General Election, they will run against Republicans Jonathan Sym and Kevin Ryan, running uncontested for the two seats on the Republican ballot.
• Locally in Chatham Borough: Incumbent Democrat Chatham Borough Councilwomen Jocelyn Mathiasen and Carolyn Dempsey, whose seats are up at the end of 2021, are uncontested in the Democrat primary. Dempsey is currently Chatham Borough's Council President. In the General Election, they'll face Republicans Freddie Bicknese and Patrick Grady.
• Locally in Chatham Township: Democrat Mayor Tracy Ness announced she would not run again, but instead gave her blessing to fellow Democrat, Katherine R. Abbott, who is running uncontested on the Democrat ticket. Abbott will face Republican Daniel R. Bevere in November's election.

Where Can I Vote?

Registered voters can vote in person at their local polling place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 8.
Voters should know to:

• Find their current polling location using Vote.NJ.Gov’s polling location tool and decide whether they will vote in person or request a vote-by-mail ballot.

Returning a vote-by-mail ballot is once again as easy as VOTE, SIGN, SEAL, RETURN. Return options include:

• Go to the Vote By Mail page on Vote.NJ.Gov to download and print an application for vote-by-mail ballot. Then, mail or deliver the completed application to the appropriate local County Clerk. To be sent a ballot by mail for the June 8 primary election, the application must be received by June 1.

• Apply in person at a voter’s local County Clerk by 3 p.m. on June 7 for the June 8 primary election. Find the contact details at Vote.NJ.Gov.

Returning a vote-by-mail ballot is once again as easy as VOTE, SIGN, SEAL, RETURN. Return options include:

• Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. on June 8 and received by June 14.

• Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of their county’s secure ballot drop boxes in use by 8 p.m. June 8 for the primary election. Drop box locations can be found at Vote.NJ.Gov.

• Board of Elections Office: Deliver in person to the county Board of Elections by 8:00 p.m. June 8 for the primary election.
• NOTE: Vote-by-mail ballots CANNOT be returned to polling places for this election.

For more details on the June 8 primary election, visit Vote.NJ.Gov.