Edison Primary Election Guide: Who's On The Ballot, How To Vote

EDISON, NJ — Edison will have a competitive Democratic election in the June 8 primary for mayor and council.

Who’s on the ballot:

The Middlesex County Democratic Organization (MCDO) has endorsed a whole slate of candidates, and they are challenged by candidates from Democratic of Middlesex County.

Edison Mayor

• Arthur A. Esposito, Democrat For Change
• Mahesh Bhagia, Democratic of Middlesex County
• Sam Joshi, MCDO

Edison Council

• Margot Harris, MCDO
• John Poyner, MCDO
• Nishith Patel, MCDO
• Tom McCann, Democratic of Middlesex County
• Shannon Peng, Democratic of Middlesex County
• Sparshil Patel, Democratic of Middlesex County

Republican candidates are running unopposed in the primary. On the ballot is also the 18th District election for New Jersey State Assembly and Senate.

NJ-18 includes East Brunswick, Edison, Helmetta, Highland Park, Metuchen, South Plainfield, and South River.

NJ-18 General Assembly (two seats)

• Robert Karabinchak, MCDO
• Sterley Stanley, MCDO
• Lisa Salem, Democratic of Middlesex County
• Maurice Alfaro Sr., Democratic of Middlesex County

NJ-18 General Senate (one seat)

• Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., MCDO
• Mohin K. Patel, Democratic of Middlesex County

How To Vote In The 2021 Primary Election:

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 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 New Brunswick up to 3 pm 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 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.

A list of dropbox locations in every municipality can be found here.

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 is June 1. The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot in person is June 7, by 3 pm

To view a list of instructions and a how-to video, visit the County’s website here.