NJ voters encounter long lines, technical issues at polls

Some polling stations had technical problems to start the day

Turnout appeared to be high in some places

Officials emphasized that everyone in line at 20.00 can vote

New Jersey voters encountered some problems and long lines at polling places Tuesday afternoon for what election officials say could be a record turnout.

Burlington County voters on social media and callers to the New Jersey 101.5 newsroom are reporting long lines at polling places in Burlington, Eastampton, Florence, Marlton and Mount Laurel.

The State Attorney General’s Office reportedly sought a judge’s order to keep polls open in Burlington County after 6 p.m. 8 p.m. to accommodate the long lines, New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein reported.

After nearly 1.2 million votes were cast in the nine-day period between Oct. 26 and Nov. 3, in-person voters got their chance to vote on Tuesday. Turnout appears to be very heavy, creating some long lines, although specific numbers have yet to be reported.

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“People are excited. People are eager to make their voices heard. It can take voters some time on unfamiliar equipment. It’s quite possible you haven’t been to a polling booth since 2016. Every New Jersey county have upgraded their machines since then,” Alicia D’Alessandro, spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office told New Jersey 101.5.

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New voters encounter problems

County spokesman David Levinsky said there were technical issues in some places when the polls first opened, slowing the process, but they were resolved. Persistent problems were the result of the large attendance.

“We’re still just very interested in participation and turnout. It could possibly be a record turnout year. We’re asking people to be patient. We want everyone to know that if you’re online at eight o’clock, you’ll be allowed to vote,” Levinsky said.

About a dozen newly registered voters at Claremont Avenue School in the Colonia section of Woodbridge told New Jersey 101.5 their names were in the system, but poll workers couldn’t complete the process to give them a ballot. A spokeswoman for The Middlesex County Board of Elections said in a statement that increased polling book loading times are to blame.

“If applicable, voters were issued a provisional ballot and Board of Elections staff have been on site throughout the day to ensure voters are able to log in and cast their ballots,” the spokeswoman told New Jersey 101.5 in an email -mail.

Ten people barred from voting in Monmouth County went before a judge who rejected all their appeals, according to Asbury Park Press. Allan Roth, attorney for the Monmouth County Democratic Organization, told the press they were rejected because they missed the deadline to register or were registered out of state.

D’Alessandro urged voters not to take their frustrations out on long lines at poll workers, adding that many of them work 18-hour days.

“We encourage everyone to be patient. These are people who are taking time out of their lives to make sure democracy happens,” D’Alessandro said.

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