Some Jersey City voters given wrong polling places for tomorrow's school election

Published: Monday, April 16, 2012, 11:13 AM Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012, 11:19 AM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

The Hudson County Board of Elections clerk is urging some Downtown voters to ignore their sample ballots and vote at their normal polling places.

The Hudson County Board of Elections clerk is urging some Downtown voters to vote in tomorrow?s school election at their normal polling place, even if their sample ballot said otherwise.

Voters in two Ward F districts that were until recently in Ward E were given incorrect polling places because of confusion related to recent redistricting, according to Clerk Michael Harper.

If voters were told to go to new polling places that are much farther than the usual voting locations, they should go to their usual polling spot, Harper said.

?And if they are not in the book ? fill out a provisional ballot,? he said.

Some voters believe provisional ballots are only counted in close elections, Harper said, but that?s not the case.

?It?s a good vote by a registered voter. It?s counted no matter what,? he said.

Boundaries on the city?s six wards were redrawn recently because of new U.S. Census figures, and some voters in the new Ward F, District 2 and Ward F, District 28 were given the incorrect polling information, according to Harper.

The two wards are on the eastern edge of Ward F, near the Jersey City Museum.

Voters in F2 should vote in Montgomery Gardens, at Montgomery and Florence streets, though some were told to vote at School 16, 96 Sussex St. Meanwhile, voters in F28 should vote at School 9, 222 Mercer St., and not at School 11, 111 Tures Ave.

According to Harper, sample ballots for the next election will be printed with the correct polling places for all voters.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... ey_city_voters_given.html