PASCACK VALLEY AREA—This fall’s election features a gubernatorial challenge with incumbent Democrat Phil Murphy facing off against a Republican challenger to be determined in the June 8 primary.
For the Nov. 2 election, Bergen County elections officials told Pascack Press in April that early voting, recently approved by Murphy, will be conducted Oct. 23– 31, weekends included, in seven towns countywide.
This will require county election officials to purchase about 80 new voting machines with voter-verified paper ballots, officials told Pascack Press.
It was not clear what seven towns would host early voting, county officials said. Voters from any town would be able to cast an early ballot at voting locations in any of the seven towns.
As of April 1, the county had 675,475 registered voters, the most of any New Jersey county. This November, in addition to governor, voters statewide will vote on all 120 state Legislature seats, a Bergen County Clerk contest, and numerous local council and school board races.
Did changes apply to you?
Some polling locations for voters in Hillsdale, Washington Township and Westwood may have shifted to other sites for the June 8 Primary Election, while other Pascack Valley towns’ polling sites remain the same, according to our survey of eight municipalities.
Approximately 9,000 voters will be casting primary votes at two new locations in Hillsdale during the June 8 primary election—at an elementary school and the regional high school—that provide an overall safer environment and experience, said the borough clerk.
As opposed to last year’s elections, which Gov. Phil Murphy had ordered to be held via mail-in ballots and paper ballots due to the pandemic, this year’s elections including the primary and Nov. 2 general election will be held in-person on voting machines.
However, on June 8, face coverings will be required of voters. “Since polling locations are being held in the schools, masks will be required to be worn under Executive Order # 175,” Borough Clerk Denise Kohan told Pascack Press.
Kohan said the two locations, at Ann Blanche Smith School and Pascack Valley High School, were selected because both offered plenty of parking, had much better lighting, offered additional handicapped parking, and “just overall, safety concerns were better having voting there,” said Kohan.
Polling places have been permanently changed. Starting June 8, Primary Election Day, polling places in the Borough of Hillsdale will change. Those residents located in Districts 3 & 6 will vote at Ann Blanche Smith School located at 1000 Hillsdale Ave. Voting will take place in the gym as usual, Kohan told Pascack Press.
The two districts total 3,229 voters.
Residents in Districts 1,2,4 and 5 will now vote at Pascack Valley High School, 200 Piermont Ave., in the new gym. Parking will be in the staff parking area on the side of the building closest to the new gym and will be marked for your convenience. Entry to the polls will be through the side doors only, Kohan said.
The four districts total 5,337 voters.
As of last November’s election, Hillsdale had 8,566 registered voters, Kohan said.
Kohan said that the new voting locations were advertised via the town’s electronic bulletin board, and the borough website “What’s Happening?” page. The locations are also listed on sample ballots mailed to voters. She said any resident with questions about the June 8 election should consult the borough website or call her at (201) 497-1552.
Registered voters in neighboring Township of Washington districts 1, 3 and 5 will have a new voting location June 8 due to difficulty in finding a secure polling location at the public library, said Township Clerk Sue Witkowski on May 17.
She said the change was prompted by the library’s then-closure and staff unavailability, plus the room where voting machines were previously located then full of books.
All local voting will occur at the Municipal Building, at 350 Hudson Ave.
In Westwood, the 2021 Primary Election will be held in person for all districts on Tuesday, June 8 at the Community Center, 55 Jefferson Ave., from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Districts 1, 2, 4, and 6 will vote in the all-purpose room. Districts 3, 5, 7 and 8 will vote in the gym.
An official ballot drop box has been installed in front of the Westwood Community Center for voters’ convenience. Ballots are picked up daily by a Democrat and a Republican from the Board of Elections. The drop box will remain open until 8 p.m. on election night, when it will be locked by the Board of Elections.
This ballot drop box will be in service for subsequent elections as well.
Other towns’ polling locations
If residents of any Pascack Valley town have questions about their voting location, simply refer to your sample ballot, which lists accurate polling location information on the outside cover. Should a sample ballot be delayed or not arrive, call the local clerk’s office.
Printed sample ballots—sent out by the county clerk’s office—should be received by registered voters about a week before the election at their registered address.
In Emerson, three polling places are in use, including the senior center, Villano School and the high school art room. This has not changed recently, said a borough clerk’s office staffer.
In Montvale, districts 1, 2 and 3 use the Montvale Senior Community Center Activities Room at One Memorial Drive. However, District 4, which previously used St. Joseph High School, now votes at the Municipal Complex at 12 Mercedes Drive.
In River Vale, two voting sites are used currently, said Township Clerk Karen Campanelli. There is no voting at Holdrum School, which was used a couple years ago. Instead, Campanelli said all voters in Districts 2, 3, and 4 now use the Senior/Community Center at 628 Rivervale Road. She said, Districts 1 and 5 vote at the town hall.
In Park Ridge, Primary Election information is posted on the borough website and under the Borough Clerk link.
Park Ridge lists three polling places: Districts 1 and 4 vote in East Brook Elementary School; Districts 2 and 5 vote in Mancinelli Community Center at Borough Hall, across from the library; and Districts 3 and 6 vote at West Ridge Elementary School, Call the clerk’s office at (201) 573-1800 for information.
