County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters that the New Jersey online ballot tracking system will move all ballots to “accepted” status on November 20, when she certifies the 2020 General Election results.

“My office has been receiving calls from voters who are concerned about the status of their ballots, so just to be clear, the tracking system will indicate ‘accepted’ for all ballots only after the final count and certification takes place, on November 20,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

“There is an extraordinarily high volume of ballots to be scanned for the General Election, so the tabulation process is longer than usual,” Ms. Rajoppi explained.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy mandated that the November 3 General Election be conducted primarily by Vote-by-Mail ballots, resulting in a historically high number of paper ballots to be scanned and tallied. The November 20 deadline was established to allow sufficient time before recording the final, certified results.

Vote-by-Mail ballots are still in the process of being tallied, as those postmarked before or on Election Day are eligible to be counted up to one week after Election Day.

To log into the New Jersey online ballot tracking system, visit the New Jersey Division of Elections at voter.svrs.nj.gov/auth/sign-in.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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Distribution is a joint effort with Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Produce will be distributed on a first come-first served basis.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Freeholder Board announced the County will hold an emergency drive-up food distribution for Union County residents to aid those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, November 7th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the eastern parking lot at the Kean University campus, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union Township. Participants should follow signs posted on Morris Avenue to enter the campus.  The food distribution will be first-come, first-served and no registration is required.

The food distribution is being sponsored and coordinated by the County of Union and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

“The Freeholder Board and the County will continue to schedule these drive-up food distributions,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Our residents continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and food insecurity remains a concern. We are proud to provide valuable service to those in need.”

“We thank our partner, Community FoodBank of New Jersey as well as the volunteer involved in coordinating this effort,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados who also serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “We will continue our work to ensure that residents receive the necessary resources to support them during this time.”

Residents who wish to pick up food must arrive in a car; walk-ups will not be accommodated.

Upon arrival, each driver will have to present identification with their name and address and indicate how many people reside in their household. Recipients will receive an emergency box of non-perishable items and fresh produce, with enough to sustain a family for several days. Please note that only one box of food will be provided per vehicle. This event will take place, rain or shine.

“The increase in need for food assistance among our New Jersey neighbors during this crisis has been staggering, presenting a greater challenge than anything that the FoodBank has faced throughout its 45-year history,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Partnerships like the one that we have with Union County are what allow the FoodBank to continue its unprecedented response, reaching more individuals and families in need than ever before.”  

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 orders, regarding social distancing and other protocols. All recipients must remain in their cars with windows rolled up at all times, otherwise masks are required. Food boxes will be placed in the trunk or truck bed of the vehicle by volunteers.

For a list of all future Food Distribution events, visit: https://ucnj.org/covid19/food-distribution-events/.

For questions and more information, residents may call the UCDHS Director’s Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288.

To learn more about the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, visit: https://cfbnj.org/.

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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Union County, NJ — Union County’s free recycling programs continue in November with two opportunities to drop off scrap metal, in Cranford and Kenilworth. These are countywide programs sponsored by the Freeholder Board, and all residents are invited to participate at any location.

“Every year, thousands of Union County residents pitch in to help the environment through our free recycling events, and on behalf of the Freeholder Board I would like to thank everyone for another successful season,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Union County’s scrap metal recycling program will be available on from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5 and Saturday, November 21, in Cranford at the Emergency Services building at 151 Kenilworth Boulevard, and in Rahway at the Park Service Yard in Rahway River Park.

Residents may bring a wide variety of metal goods for recycling including metal fencing, gutters, tire rims, cabinets, lawn furniture, bicycles, kitchen appliances (with doors removed), and much more. Please note that electronic goods are not accepted, and should be brought to a municipal electronics recycling program in the resident’s home town.

For everyone’s safety, be advised that all participants for all events must wear face coverings, keep their windows closed and remain in their vehicles at all times. Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed, easily accessible to staff, for safe no-contact removal from vehicle.

For more details about scrap metal recycling and other Union County recycling programs in November, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

November marks the end of the 2020 season for Union County’s regular schedule of free recycling events and programs. The schedule will resume in April 2021. Download the free Recycle Coach app for mobile devices to receive up-to-date information on both municipal and countywide recycling programs.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, https://ucnj.org/green-connection.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 and updates on statewide vaccine planning are available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Voters who need to replace their Vote-by-Mail ballot are advised to come early; visitors must wear masks and observe social distance.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises voters who have lost or damaged their Vote-by-Mail ballot that they can visit the County Clerk’s Elizabeth and Westfield offices to obtain a duplicate. Both offices are open for extra hours on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“The extra hours are intended to help ensure that assistance is available to all voters on Election Day. If you need a duplicate ballot, please remember to leave ample time to fill out and return your ballot before the polls close at 8:00 p.m.,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The County Clerk’s Elections Office in Elizabeth is located in the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street. The Annex Office in Westfield is located at the Colleen Frasier Building in the Union County Complex, at 300 North Avenue East.

Masks and social distance are required during office visits in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Voters seeking a duplicate ballot must bring their New Jersey driver’s license or other state-issued identification. They may return their ballot by hand to the County Clerk after filling it out.

Voters may also return their Vote-by-Mail ballot to any of the 24 official ballot drop boxes located in each municipality throughout Union County, including Elizabeth and Westfield.

All 24 ballot drop boxes will close at 8:00 p.m. on November 3.

Voters may also bring their Vote-by-Mail ballot to their designated polling place on Election Day. Voters who arrive without their Vote-by-Mail ballot will be provided with a provisional paper ballot to use. Voting machines will be available for voters with disabilities that prevent them from using a paper ballot. All polling places will close at 8:00 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has mandated that the November 3 election will be conducted primarily by Vote-by-Mail ballots.

Voters with questions about using a Vote-by-Mail ballot can also visit the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, to view a  step-by-step Vote-by-Mail video and read a list of frequently asked questions.

For a list of official drop box locations and guidance on finding in-person polling places, visit unioncountyvotes.com.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com, or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

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Download the County Clerk’s free mobile elections app, UCVotes.

Union County Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded joined Union County Health Officer/Director Annie McNair at the Union County Flu Shot Drive at the County Public Safety Complex in Westfield. For additional updates visit the “Upcoming Flu Drives” page on the County website, at ucnj.org/flu. Please note that the Union County flu shot drive is for seasonal flu vaccines only. There is no vaccine available for the COVID-19 virus at this time. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – A group of students from the Center for Leadership and Service at Kean University participated in Union County’s Adopt-a-Park program and spent hours last week removing invasive plants, pruning vegetation, and picking up trash in and around the Warinanco shoreline restoration project at the lake in Warinanco Park.

The students wore masks and observed COVID-19 protocols while working, as required by statewide COVID-19 prevention rules.

“Warinanco Park is the community park for thousands of Union County residents and visitors every year, and it has become a centerpiece for habitat restoration, too. We truly appreciate the students’ hard work and dedication to civic service and nature conservation,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The Warinanco shoreline restoration project includes the reintroduction of pollinator-friendly native plants around the lake to support a habitat for birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficial species. A formerly buried stream in the park has also been restored.

Warinanco Park is located in Roselle and shares a border with Elizabeth and Linden.  As one of the oldest parks in the Union County park system, its design is rooted in the influence of Central Park creator Frederick Law Olmsted, including walking paths that meander through forested areas and broad open vistas, a picturesque driving route, and many recreational features.

More information about volunteering with Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail is available at ucnj.org/parks-recreation, or call 908-789-3683 or email bkelly@ucnj.org.

For quick links to all Union County parks and environmental programs visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection. Please note that in-person programs are limited at this time due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 and updates on statewide vaccine planning are available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Partial results available online after polls close on November 3; the final, official count will be certified and reported on November 20

Union County, NJ – Voters and other persons who are interested in following the reporting process for the results of the 2020 General Election in Union County can download the County Clerk’s free Union County Votes elections app or visit the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, to view results from voting machines and partial results from Vote-by-Mail ballots after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on November 3.

The counting of Vote-by-Mail ballots will continue after November 3 due to the Executive Order of Governor Phil Murphy, which requires the 2020 General Election to be conducted primarily through Vote-by-Mail ballots. Accordingly, the County Clerk will post running updates of the Vote-by-Mail tally on a daily basis beginning on November 4. The final, official results of the 2020 General Election, including provisional ballots, will be posted after certification on November 20.

 “As a reminder, each year my office reports the complete count from voting machines in the evening after the polls close on Election Day. However, we do not certify the final tally until the Vote-by-Mail and provisional ballots are counted,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. “Vote-by-Mail and provisional ballots are always included in the official results for every election cycle. Every vote counts, regardless of how you cast your ballot.”

The County Clerk’s office will update the Vote-by-Mail tally each day at noon beginning on November 4 as additional Vote-by-Mail ballots are processed. Ballots delivered by U.S. Postal Service and postmarked on or before November 3 will be counted if they arrive at the Board of Elections within seven days of Election Day. Ballots delivered by U.S. Postal Service without a postmark will be counted if they arrive within two days of Election Day.

Voters can cast their Vote-by-Mail ballot before or on Election Day by sending it through the mail (postage is prepaid), by bringing it to any of 24 official ballot drop-off boxes located in Union County, or by hand-delivering it to the offices of the Union County Clerk or Union County Board of Elections. Details on all three methods are available at unioncountyvotes.com.

Voters can also hand-deliver their Vote-by-Mail ballot to their designated polling place on Election Day. Voters who arrive without their Vote-by-Mail ballot will be provided with a provisional paper ballot to use. ADA accessible voting machines will be available at each polling place for voters with disabilities that prevent them from filling out a provisional ballot.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the free Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update. For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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