Election Day In Clark-Garwood: Who's On The Ballot, How To Vote

CLARK/GARWOOD, NJ — As Election Day approaches, here is a look at who is on the ballot, where to vote and how to vote in Clark and Garwood.

The Rundown

• Election date: Nov. 3
• 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?
• Postmarked by deadline: Nov. 3
• Received by deadline: Nov. 10

On The Ballot:

In Garwood, there is a contested race on the municipal level with has four candidates running for two open three-year seats on the Borough Council.

Candidates include (click on their names for a profile):

• Democrat Russ Graham (Incumbent)
• Democrat Vincent Kearney
• Republican Jesse Wilson
• Republican Joseph Nicastro

Garwood School Board has an uncontested race with two candidates vying for three seats unopposed. Candidates include Albert Del Conte and Christine Guerriero.

In Clark, there is an uncontested Mayoral race with Republican incumbent Salvatore F. Bonaccorso running unopposed.

There is also a contested race with six candidates vying for the two, three-year township council seats.

Candidates include (click on their names for a profile):

• Democrat Charles Bassinski
• Democrat Natalie Bassinski
• Democrat John Victor Jacobson
• Republican Angel Albanese (Incumbent)
• Republican Jimmy Minniti
• Republican Bill Smith (Incumbent)

Clark School Board has an uncontested race with three candidates vying for three seats unopposed. Candidates include Robert Brede, Steven Donkersloot, and Megan Harrison.

In Union County, there are a few races. Democratic incumbent Peter Corvelli is running for Sheriff against Republican Dorothy Burger.

Democratic incumbent Joanne Rajoppi is running for County Clerk against Republican Peter B. Lijoi.

There are also six candidates vying for the three seats on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Democratic candidates Christopher Hudak, Angela R. Garretson, and Lourdes Leon are running against Republicans Joseph R. Sarno III, Mark Shore, and Paul M. Verzosa.

Voters will also weigh in on the race for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, currently represented by Democrat Tom Malinowski. Malinowski faces Tom Kean Jr. on the Republican ballot.

• President: Representing the nation's two major parties are sitting Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris are challenging. Also on the ballot 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).
• U.S. Congress: One US Senate seat will be contested: Incumbent Democrat Cory Booker will face Republican Rik Mehta. 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 and other 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. (For more on marijuana legalization, click here.)

You can see the sample ballots here.

How And Where To Vote:

There are three ways to vote either before or on Election Day on Nov. 3.

1. Ballots can be mailed through the US Postal Service.

2. Ballots can be dropped in the designated Drop Boxes throughout Union County.

Mail-in ballot drop boxes were placed at the Clark Recreation Center at 430 Westfield Ave. and Garwood Public Library at 411 Third Ave. The dropbox will be emptied each day by employees of Union County.

Ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by the close of polls on Election Day at 8 p.m. Ballots that are postmarked by Nov. 3 can be counted if they are received no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 9. In addition, for this election, ballots received from the United States Postal Service within 48 hours after Nov. 3rd without a postmark can also be counted.

Here are the locations of other dropboxes in Union County (All boxes will be under video surveillance at all times):

• Berkeley Heights – Snyder Avenue Park, 240 Snyder Ave.
• Clark – Clark Recreation Center, 430 Westfield Ave.
• Cranford – Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave.
• Elizabeth – Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza
• Fanwood – Fanwood Memorial Library, 5 Forest Road
• Garwood – Garwood Public Library, 411 Third Ave.
• Hillside – Hillside Senior Center, 265 Hollywood Ave.
• Kenilworth – Kenilworth Recreation Center, 575 Blvd.
• Linden – Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade, 400 North Wood Ave.
• Mountainside – Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road
• New Providence – New Providence Memorial Library, 377 Elkwood Ave.
• Plainfield – Plainfield Municipal Building Parking Lot, 515 Watchung Ave.
• Rahway – Rahway Recreation Center, 275 East Milton Ave.
• Roselle – Roselle Public Library, 104 West Fourth Ave.
• Roselle Park – Union County EMS Building, 535 Laurel Ave.
• Scotch Plains – Scotch Plains Public Library, 1927 Bartle Ave.
• Springfield – Chisholm Recreation Center, 100 South Springfield Ave.
• Summit – Chestnut Street Parking Lot (Adjacent to Fire Department) 406 Broad St.; Corner of Morris Avenue and Broad Street
• Union – Union Township Municipal Building Rear Entrance, 1976 Morris Ave.
• Westfield – Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East
• Winfield – Winfield Park Mutual Housing Building, Wavecrest Ave.
• Union County Board of Elections – 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth

3. Ballots can be dropped off in-person on Election Day. Completed/voted mail-in ballots can be delivered to your respective polling location and handed in there. (There will be no machine voting in NJ)

Polls will be open from 6 a.m.to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

• Clark Ward 1 District 1-4: Frank K Henley School, 590 Raritan Rd. Gym
• Clark Ward 2 District 1-4: Municipal Center 430 Westfield Ave. Cafeteria
• Clark Ward 3 District 1-4: Valley Road School 150 Valley Rd. Gym
• Clark Ward 4 District 1-4: Carl H Kumpf School 59 Mildred Terr. Cafeteria
• Garwood District 1-4: Lincoln School 400 Second Ave. Cafeteria

For questions and concerns, may visit the Union County Board of Elections website.

Voters can also track their ballots to ensure it was received. To track your mail-in ballot click here.

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

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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