County of Union, New Jersey

Distribution is a joint effort with Village Super Market. 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, September 19^th, beginning at 10 a.m. at Cedar Brook Park, located in Plainfield. Residents should use the Park Avenue entrance. 

The food distribution is open to all Union County residents. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and no registration is required. The event will take place rain or shine.

The food distribution is being coordinated by the County of Union and Village Super Market.

Feeding America projects a 56% increase in food insecurity throughout New Jersey as a result of COVID-19–an additional 432,000 residents. This rate is higher than the national average of 46% and greater than any of New Jersey’s neighboring states.

In Union County, specifically, the projected food insecurity rate has risen from 8.2% to 12.9%.

“Despite the progress being made, food insecurity remains a major concern among many families,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “This distribution was planned for Plainfield in order to provide some assistance to residents in the western part of Union County that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“We continue to work to provide our residents with the necessary resources to support them during this time as they face unprecedented levels of unemployment, housing issues and food insecurity,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados who also serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “We thank the Village Super Market and volunteers involved in coordinating this effort.”

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 provide proof of New Jersey residency 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 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 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 Village Super Market, visit: https://www.myvillagesupermarket.com/.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for 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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Union County, NJ – The Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the popular “Wildlife Wednesdays” program is returning next Wednesday, September 23^rd with “NJ Natives” a program focusing on wildlife original to the garden state, such as the spotted turtle and garter snake.  New programs will continue to run each Wednesday through the end of October, with a new starting time of 2:00 PM.  

“Union County is striving to bring educational programs directly to our children that may not be accessible to everyone during these challenging times, and Wildlife Wednesdays is a great example of them,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage residents to register for any or all of these free programs and learn more about animals and the critical role they play in our environment.”

Participation is free and open to all county residents.   Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited to the first 100 families who sign up.  The programs will be held on Zoom so a valid email and Zoom access are necessary to participate.

Wildlife Wednesdays is sponsored by Union County’s Clean Communities Grant Program as educators will raise awareness on how litter can be harmful to wildlife.   Rizzo’s Wildlife World educators will bring the classroom to you and present a myriad of wildlife critters. These programs aim to discourage littering to protect the diverse wildlife found in County parks.

September 30^th’s program will feature Australian Animals such as the bearded dragon and white tree frog.  Stayed tuned for info on future programs.  Residents wishing to pre-register can do so by visiting www.ucnj.org/ww. Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation and Zoom login information via email.    

For more information on upcoming Wildlife Wednesday, please visit www.ucnj.org/recycling. 

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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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Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi explains the Vote-by-Mail Procedure in detail

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi has released a video with step-by- step instructions for voters wishing to vote-by-mail. The video can be accessed on the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, on the free Union County Votes mobile app and on the County of Union social media channels (Facebook).

The video was produced to address the requirement by the New Jersey State Legislature and the Governor that the November 3 General Election be conducted primarily through vote-by-mail and the fact that most voters are unfamiliar with the vote-by-mail process.

 “This video was produced in order to assist people when receiving their mail-in-ballots. We cannot stress how important it is for voters to become familiar with Vote-by-Mail,” added Ms. Rajoppi. “Vote-by-Mail is a reliable and safe way to make your voice heard in the upcoming general election.”

Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to all registered voters beginning on Tuesday, September 15. Ballots will be mailed in waves by municipality and on September 15, ballots will be mailed to six of the 21 municipalities: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Fanwood and Hillside with the remaining municipalities to follow. Mailing dates for each municipality can be found on unioncountyvotes.com or on local municipal websites. All ballots for registered voters will be in the mail by October 5.  If voters do not receive their ballots by October 13 (8 days from final mailing), they are asked to contact the Union County Clerk Election Division by calling 908-527-4996.

“A step by step graphic how-to brochure will be enclosed with every ballot to help voters with the process. Voters with questions or concerns are asked to call the office of the Union County Clerk Elections Division at 908-527-4996,” added Ms. Rajoppi.

 Ballots can be deposited in one of 22 ballot boxes placed around the county.  These boxes are under surveillance and picked up by authorized Board of Election personnel on a regular basis.  Locations of the boxes can be found by visiting unioncountyvotes.com or ucnj.org/ucboe.

Additionally, voters can drop off their ballots at:

Union County Clerk’s Office, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth

Union County Clerk’s Office, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield

Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth

Those wishing to register to vote can download a voter registration application from unioncountyvotes.com. Fill it out and mail it no later than October 13 in order to be eligible to vote in the General Election on November 3.

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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The Union County Freeholders are pleased to announce that Union County Paratransit is providing increased passenger transportation for its residents.

Union County residents who qualify for Paratransit services can now make reservations for the following kinds of trips:

• Route 22 Shuttle Bus
• Medical
• Shopping
• Employment
• Education or Training
• Prescription pick-ups
• Other Essential Services

“As Union County continues to face the changing realities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Freeholder Board is happy to see Union County Paratransit returning to its full range of services to our residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Please follow all safety regulations in order to ensure Paratransit employees can safely do their jobs and continue operating this invaluable program.”

All reservations are limited to availability on a first-come, first-served basis. Transportation will be provided with limited passengers on each vehicle.

Please call 908-241-8300 (Option 1) to make your reservation and schedule your trip. All reservations may be taken up to three (3) weeks in advance. In accordance with the State of New Jersey’s COVID-19 guidelines, residents will be required to wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth.

For more information about the Union County Paratransit System, please visit ucnj.org/departments/human-services/paratransit-system/. 

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi Dispels Misinformation about Mail-in-Ballots

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is providing voters with answers to frequently asked questions regarding Vote-by-Mail procedures in advance of the November 3 General Election.

“Inaccurate information can easily travel across social media, which makes it all the more important for voters to become familiar with Vote-by-Mail,” added Ms. Rajoppi. “Vote-by-Mail is a reliable and accurate way to vote.”

To help voters learn about voting in the General Election, Ms. Rajoppi has posted FAQs on the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, and on the free Union County Votes mobile app.

Among the most frequently asked questions are:

Why are we voting by mail this year

The Governor and New Jersey State Legislature mandated a primarily Vote-by Mail election due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Vote-by-Mail is not new. It’s been around since the Civil War and currently, 9 states and the District of Columbia conduct elections exclusively with Vote-by-Mail is currently being used in 9 states and the District of Columbia.  Five of those states have a long history of reliable Vote-by-Mail elections. The Vote-by-Mail system does not favor any political party over the other. 

 When are the ballots being mailed?                  

The ballots will be mailed in waves beginning the week of September 15th.  Please check unioncountyvotes.com for the dates for each municipality. Your local municipal website will also list the ballot mailing dates for your town.

What is ballot harvesting?

“Ballot harvesting” is a phrase used to describe the real and legitimate practice of designating someone to drop off your ballot. This ballot return option is important for the elderly, individuals with disabilities and those forced to quarantine. A person can carry up to 3 ballots.

To prevent fraud and protect privacy, voters must first sign and seal their ballots in the certified envelope and the person carrying the ballot must then include their name, address and signature on the envelope.  Tampering with a ballot or not submitting a ballot is a crime.

Can you print a ballot from the internet?

All legitimate Vote-by-Mail ballots are assigned a unique barcode associated to each specific registered voter and are sent through the U.S. Postal Service. The Vote-by-Mail envelope clearly states “Official Mail in Ballot.” Any attempt to copy or reproduce a ballot for any purpose is a crime.

Does Vote-by–Mail promote voter fraud?

National statistics and studies show that voter fraud through Vote-by-Mail is almost non-existent.  A recent Washington Post analysis looked at 3 states with all Vote-by-Mail elections (Colorado, Oregon and Washington) and found just 372 potential irregularities among 14.6 million voters, translating to a margin of irregularity of 0.0025%.

The election system has safeguards also to prevent fraud.  First only active voters will receive a vote by mail ballot.  The ballot will have a barcode associated with a specific voter.  After filling out the ballot the voter must sign the Certificate envelope before returning it. 

Voters can then track their ballot to ensure that the Board of Elections receives and accepts it.  The BOE scans the barcode on each ballot to confirm the voter has not already cast a ballot and reviews the signature on the Certificate Envelope to confirm that it matches the signature in the voter registration database.

It is against the law to vote twice.

Who can assist me with filling out a vote by mail ballot?

A relative or friend can assist you with filling out a Vote-by-Mail ballot.  The person assisting must print and sign their name of the Certificate envelope.  They can also mail your ballot by filling out the front of the envelope. No one can deliver more than three ballots on behalf of voters.  Candidates running for any elected office cannot assist with filling out a Vote-by-Mail ballot and cannot carry ballots for anyone.

I’ve never voted by mail before and don’t know the procedure?

A step by step how-to brochure is enclosed with every ballot to help voters with the process.  Voters with questions or concerns are asked to call the office of the Union County Clerk Elections Division at 908-527-4996.

What if I do not receive my ballot?

All ballots for registered voters will be in the mail by October 5.  If voters do not receive their ballots by October 13 (8 days from final mailing), they are asked to contact the Union County Clerk Election Division by calling 908-527-4996.

Do I have to mail my completed ballot?

Mailing the ballot is just one option. Ballots can be deposited in one of 21 ballot boxes placed around the county.  These boxes are under surveillance and picked up by authorized Board of Election personnel on a regular basis.  Locations of the boxes can be found by visiting unioncountyvotes.com or ucnj.org/ucboe.

Additionally, voters can drop off their ballots at:

Union County Clerk’s Office, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth

Union County Clerk’s Office, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield

Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth

How do I register to vote for the November 3rd election?

Those wishing to register to vote can download a voter registration application from unioncountyvotes.com. Fill it out and mail it no later than October 13 in order to be eligible to vote in the General Election on November 3.

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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Connect with Union County on social media.