HACKENSACK, N.J.—Nearly 2,000 registered Bergen County voters took advantage of early Primary Election voting at nine countywide locations on Tuesday, June 3, marking the highest-ever first-day turnouts for early voting, said the county superintendent of elections.
“Day 1 of Primary Early Voting, 1,829 people voted at nine polling sites, which is a record for Day One for Primary Early Voting in Bergen County,” said Debra Francica, county superintendent of elections.
Early in-person voting continues through Sunday, June 8, and Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 10, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters should check their sample ballots for early voting locations or go to bergencountyclerk.gov for a full list.
Registered Democratic and Republican voters will select among six Democratic candidates and five Republican candidates vying to be their party’s gubernatorial nominee to replace two-term Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Also, voters will select candidates in contested state General Assembly and Bergen County Commissioner primary races.
Pascack Valley offers two early voting sites: River Vale Community Center, 628 Rivervale Road, and Tice Senior Center, 411 Chestnut Ridge Road, Woodcliff Lake. However, voters can vote early at any Bergen County site, including Fort Lee, Garfield, Hackensack, Paramus, Teaneck, Wood-Ridge, and Wyckoff.
Asked about the record-breaking Day One turnout, Francica said the 1,829 early voters were a pleasant surprise. “That’s a lot more for a first day than we’ve ever had before. Maybe the nine days we had (for 2024’s presidential election) did enlighten people as to early voting,” she said.
During last year’s 2024 Primary Election in Pascack Valley, only River Vale (slightly over 3% early voter turnout) and Woodcliff Lake (slightly over 5% early voter turnout) topped the eight towns, with most Pascack Valley towns averaging 1–2% in early voting turnout.
Francica told Pascack Press that over 112,000 county voters voted early in last year’s presidential election. “So the public is much more aware of early voting than in the past,” she added.
She urged voters to vote—whether by mail, early, or on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 10, at their local polling place. As of June 4, she said the county totaled 662,578 registered voters, among the most in the state.
Francica said her office sent fliers promoting early voting to the county’s 70 towns to post on municipal websites and social media, noting the fliers also were posted on the county Superintendent of Elections’ Facebook page, as well as other county websites. She noted Bergen County Clerk John Hogan and his county webpage offer information on early voting, the new block office-style ballots, and a how-to video on in-person voting.
Residents can also reach out to their municipal clerks for voting questions and information on the Primary Election.