NJ Election Results: Primary Night In New Jersey

Updated at 10 p.m.

New Jerseyans headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide who will run for state and local seats in November’s general elections (come back and check for the poll results on Tuesday night).

Polls in New Jersey’s primary races were open until 8 p.m. Tuesday night across the state. Patch has results for contested primaries across the state (see below).

Turnout figures weren't immediately available but reports show that primary voting tends to be low in New Jersey.

New Jersey was struggling to find poll workers in some communities on Tuesday.

Masks were not required for in-person voting unless your counties determines otherwise.

While Gov. Phil Murphy is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, four Republicans were vying for the opportunity to run against him. Read more here: 2021 NJ Governor Primary Election Results

The platform for the winner, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, was centered on relaxing pandemic-related restrictions and reinvigorating the New Jersey economy in the wake of the health crisis.

Former Somerset freeholder and Franklin Township mayor Brian D. Levine described himself as a fiscal conservative, but more liberal when it comes to social matters.

Businessman Hirsh V. Singh was trying to paint himself as the more pro-Trump Republican and Ciattarelli as too moderate.

Philip Rizzo, a pastor in North Bergen, is an avowed supporter of former President Trump, takes a pro-life stance and has never run for political office.

Here’s a look at some of the other top contested races across the state. Check back with Patch and click on the links for full results.

• In Legislative District 2, Seth Grossman faced Vincent Polistina in the State Senate Republican Primary.
• In Legislative District 10, incumbents Gregory McGuckin and John Catalano, faced challenges for their State Assembly seats from Geraldine Ambrosio and Brian M. Quinn in the Republican Primary.
• In Legislative District 13, incumbents Serena DiMaso and Gerry Scharfenberger were being challenged for the State Assembly seats by Vicky Flynn.
• In Legislative District 18, State Senator Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. faced a challenge from Mohin K. Patel in the Democratic Primary. Assembly members Robert Karabinchak and Sterley Stanley faced challenges from Lisa Salem and Maurice Alfaro Sr. in the Democratic Primary.
• In Legislative District 30, incumbents Sean Kean and Ned Thomson were being challenged for the State Assembly seats by Alter Eliezer Richter in the Republican Primary.
• There were two slates of candidates vying for the Republican nominations to pursue four open seats on Toms River Council.
• Seven Republicans were seeking six nominations to run for Stafford Township Council. Four Democrats are running in their primary.
• Five candidates filed for a spot for two seats on the Hazlet Township Committee this year. Incumbent committee members James "Skip" McKay and Tara Corcoran-Clark were seeking re-election while newcomers Carrie Virgilio, David Personette and Scott Feirstein are looking to unseat them.
• Woodbridge Councilwoman Nancy Bader, who has represented the First Ward there for eight years, faced a Democratic Primary challenge from Ken Gardner.
• In Holmdel, Rocco Impreveduto faced Ronald E. Emma in the Republican Primary to determine who will face Democrat Rahul Diddi for the seat that belongs to outgoing Committeeman Tom Critelli.
• In Ocean County, Commissioner Director Gary Quinn and Barbara "Bobbi" Jo Crea, a newcomer to statewide politics who served as mayor in Little Egg Harbor, faced a challenge from Kenneth Seda and Michael Thulen Sr. in the Republican Primary.
• Edison also had a hotly contested race.

In-person voting:

In-person voting is available to all registered voters. Voters may vote in person at their assigned polling place. To locate a polling location, click here.

Polling locations will use new voting machines. The Express Vote XL voting machine is designed to be easy to use by all voters, said the county.

It utilizes touch screen voting, offers several languages, and is fully ADA accessible.

Those who receive a Vote by Mail ballot but do not return their ballot may still vote in person with a provisional ballot at their assigned polling place.

Vote by mail:

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 had to 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.

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 Middlesex County Board of Elections drop box before 8 pm June 8.
• Take it directly to the Board of Elections' Office, 11 Kennedy Boulevard, East Brunswick before 8 p.m. June 8.
• Drop boxes are maintained by the Middlesex 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 was June 1. The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot in person was June 7, by 3 p.m.