Maplewood Election Primary Is July 7, General In November

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Primary elections for statewide, countywide, and local elections will be held July 7, with the general election in November.

For the July primary, this year, you can either vote by mail or vote in person by provisional ballot — but there will be no machine voting this July. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before July 7 and received by 8 p.m. on July 14.

For Maplewood's Township Committee, two Democrats are running unopposed for two open seats: incumbent Deputy Mayor Dean Dafis and Committeeman and former Mayor Victor De Luca.

No petitions were filed by Republicans by the deadline, but more candidates can run in November as independents.

In Maplewood's form of government, candidates run for Township Committee, and are elected by the public. Then, the committee members choose a mayor and deputy mayor each year from among themselves.

Committee members serve staggered three-year terms. The township committee elects the mayor for a one-year term.

In the primary, voters registered for a particular party can choose candidates to represent their party in November.

The following voter information comes from town clerk Elizabeth Fritzen:

Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 144 ordering the July 7 Primary Election to be conducted primarily by vote-by-mail.

Each municipality is required to provide limited polling sites where voters will be able to vote in person by provisional ballot only – no machines, except disabled voters have access to an ADA accessible voting machine at each location.

Vote-by-mail ballots may not be returned to polling locations.

Vote-by-mail ballots may not be returned to Maplewood’s Municipal Building /Town Hall.

If not mailed in time, vote-by-mail ballots may be dropped off at any one of the following locations in Essex County:

• East Orange Town Hall
• Newark City Hall
• Montclair Town Hall
• West Caldwell Municipal Building
• South Mountain Recreation Park & Ride

Polling locations for Maplewood Township (3) – find your voting district here:

Voter.svrs.nj.gov

DeHart Community Center – 120 Burnett Ave.

Voting Districts 01 – 08

Maplewood Municipal Building / Town Hall – 574 Valley St.

Voting Districts 09 – 11; 16 - 19

The Woodland – 60 Woodland Rd

Voting Districts 12 – 15; 20 - 22

Social Distancing / Capacity Restrictions/Face Coverings

6 feet distance between voters as well as between voters and poll workers by demarcation of 6 feet of spacing in voter lines and poll workers stations will be enforced.

Frequent sanitization of high touch areas in polling places consistent with CDC guidelines;
Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes will be available to poll workers, voters and those accompanying voters.

Voters encouraged to adhere to CDC guidelines regarding face coverings while in the polling place, however, entry into the polling location cannot be denied for not wearing a face covering.

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