Politics & Government

Anxious Voters Finding Their Way to Polls

Despite shifts in voting locations, early voters cast ballots without issue.

Watchung resident Sharon Peterson pulled into the parking lot at the borough's Firemen's Exempt Hall ready to vote at a few minutes past 6 a.m.

She was among the first voters in Tuesday's general election, and like most in the area, wasn't troubled by either the confusion that followed in the wake of Hurricane Sandy or the questions about how voting would proceed in New Jersey.

In fact, most voters in Watchung and Green Brook took any changes in polling locations in stride, with most noting they received information from their municipality that assured them of where they needed to go.

Find out what's happening in Watchung-Green Brookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I got a letter in my mailbox," Peterson said.

Most reported receiving messages clarifying the changes—residents in Green Brook's third district were moved to Green Brook Middle School, while Watchung districts 2 and 4 were shifted the town's courthouse and district 3 moved to the Firemen's Exempt Hall. All of the changes were forced by the lack of power at the usual voting locations, although all of the secondary locations were only powered by generators.

Find out what's happening in Watchung-Green Brookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Turnout started heavy and appears to have continued steadily through the day.

The polls are open until 8 p.m., and results of today's voting will be posted as soon as released—but won't include votes cast at the county clerk's office over the weekend or voters ballots who chose to take advantage of the state's e-mail or fax voting programs launched after the hurricane.


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