PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—A week before Election Day, nearly 51% of registered Bergen County voters had returned mail-in ballots, said county elections officials, and officials were busy counting the unprecedented number of voters
As of Wednesday, Oct. 28, 51% of Bergen County’s 670,552 registered voters, or 341,443 voters, had returned mail-in ballots, according to town-by-town data supplied by the Board of Elections.
Based on the 72.5% voter turnout in the 2016 presidential election, that would mean approximately 144,407 votes remain to be cast between now and 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 3., Election Day.
If Bergen County’s registered voters match the 72.5% turnout in the 2016 presidential election, that would equal a final vote tally of about 486,150 total votes. If 75% of registered voters submit ballots, that would equal about 502,892 voters. If 80% of voters vote, that would mean about 536,417 ballots submitted.
Board of Elections Commissioner Jamie Sheehan-Willis declined to make any predictions about final mail-in vote totals. She said the election was historic with no precedent as no previous statewide election was like it.
Superintendent of Elections Patricia DiCostanzo said her office continues to get “angry calls” from voters who want to vote on a machine Nov. 3 because other states are doing it. She said many “have cursed at us because we are not allowing them to vote on a machine and I tell them to call the governor’s office.”
“There are a lot of angry people out there,” DiCostanzo told Pascack Press Oct. 29.
Gov. Phil Murphy issued Executive Order #177 in mid-August mandating a primarily vote-by-mail general election Nov. 3 to ensure voters’ right to vote while protecting public health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
DiCostanzo said she would prefer a vote by machine election but that is not her call.
She said a process similar to New York, where early voting is allowed starting a week before election and where voters may request an absentee (mail-in) ballot, appears to be one option that could be considered in the future.
DiCostanzo previously told Pascack Press that officials predicted up to 60,000 provisional (paper) ballots, triple the number cast in the July 7 primary.
Overall, even with a slight increase in vote by mail returns in the final voting week, and a doubling of provisional ballots (up to 40,000), the county’s voter turnout is likely to exceed 2016’s voter turnout percentage.
DiCostanzo said Oct. 29 that she estimated at least 30,000 provisional (paper) ballots will be cast Nov. 3 at polling places. She said an “unofficial tally” of provisionals should be available later on election night, though a final tally of such ballots will come a week or more later.
A final tally of provisionals, she said, follows “fact finding” that involves making sure the voter voted in the right district, if they’re registered, that they signed the ballot’s voter certificate, that their address matches the last address on file, plus other checks such as date of birth if necessary to verify the voter’s identification.
Mail-in voters should note that as long as their ballots are postmarked Nov. 3 and arrive by Nov. 10 to Board of Elections offices, they will be counted.
However, officials advised using one of 18 secure ballot drop boxes countywide before 8 p.m., Nov. 3 or to drop off the mail-in ballot off at a local polling place Nov. 3, to ensure timely arrival.
Moreover, officials noted dropping off a ballot at a polling place may require waiting in line, and signing a registration book before dropping off a ballot. Also, voters may only drop off their own ballot.
County officials also noted U.S. mail may be less reliable as Election Day approaches, so using a secure drop box, open 24/7 until 8 p.m. Nov. 3, remains the most convenient and secure voting option.
“We’re almost through it at this point,” said DiCostanzo. “I’m just hoping that with all the hard work being done, the election will come off with few issues. Look, people have a lot of opinions about this election, and are very interested, and that’s fine,” DiCostanzo said.
“But people have no clue what it takes to put this all (elections) together and get it all done. It will never be perfect but it will be fair,” she said.
