County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a contract award to the company ES&S to provide a new vote tabulation system for the Union County Board of Elections at its regular meeting on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

The ExpressVote XL combines a touch screen ballot marking device with a voter verified paper audit trail allowing the voter to review their voting choices to ensure their vote is accurately recorded. The verified audit trail also provides a paper record of the election which can be used for recounts and will be used for audits.

The ExpressVote XL will be used in a pilot program in Westfield for the November 6, 2018 General Election. The new system will be used throughout the county by the end of next year, ahead of the 2020 Presidential Election.

The initial contract award for $1.9 million will include 190 voting machines, two vote tabulators, hardened workstations, software licensing, training and hardware and software maintenance.  The balance of the contract will be included in the 2019 capital budget in the amount of $2.9 million for a total amount not to exceed $4.8 million.

This is the first time in 20 years that the county has taken steps to make a significant investment in its election infrastructure. The ExpressVote XL is federally certified by the Election Assistance Commission as well as the State of New Jersey. 

“While federal certification is not required for state certification, the Election Board felt the extra scrutiny of the system is warranted considering the national conversation relative to election security,” explained Nicole DiRado, Administrator at the Union County Board of Elections.

The Union County Board of Elections will be hosting demonstrations for Westfield voters at the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield on Saturdays, starting October 13, 2018 from 9:00am – 1:00pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting October 16, 2018 from 8:00am – 7:00pm.

Voters from throughout the county are also welcome to view the new machine, as this machine will be coming to all election districts next year.

Any Westfield community groups wishing to host a demonstration prior to Election Day should contact the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

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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, NJ – Have you received an unsolicited mailing that contains a Vote-by-Mail application in your name? If you have, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi has some guidance for you.

“These mailings come from various groups, as a way to encourage registered voters to use Vote-by-Mail ballots,” explained Ms. Rajoppi. “It’s a common practice and is not prohibited by law, though it does seem to have caused some confusion. Voters have been calling my office to ask why they received the mailing.”

The mailings have been going out to voters statewide. The two groups reported to be sending the mailings are the Voter Participation Center, based in Trenton, and the Center for Voter Information, based Washington, DC. 

Typically, the mailings include the name and address of the voter. Any organization can obtain this information through a public database maintained by the New Jersey Division of Elections.

“As long as the information in the mailing is correct, it can be used to apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “However, voters should know that these mailings do not come from my office. There is no obligation to use them.”

In New Jersey, any eligible voter can use a Vote-by-Mail ballot, for any reason.

Voting by mail is a process that begins when the voter sends an application form to the County Clerk’s office.

“The application forms are widely available through state, county, and local government offices as well as online,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “If you received an unsolicited application and discarded it, you can easily obtain another one if you wish to apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot.”

To obtain a Vote-by-Mail application form and get more details about the Vote-by-Mail process, visit the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, or download the free Union County Votes.

The next step in the process occurs when the County Clerk’s office reviews the application. The review includes comparing the voter signature on the application with the signature in their registration file.

When the application is approved, the County Clerk mails a personalized Vote-by-Mail ballot to the voter.

The voter then completes the process by filling in their Vote-by-Mail ballot and returning it the Board of Elections, using the envelope provided.

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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 history trading cards are available at Four Centuries In A Weekend sites

Union County, NJ — Langston Hughes lived in Westfield? Alexander Hamilton studied in Elizabeth? The cellphone has its origins in Murray Hill?

With Union County’s Four Centuries In A Weekend to return Oct. 20 & 21, historic sites across the county will all have history cards celebrating people, places and innovations that have connections to Union County, a county with a rich history, dating back to when the Lenape lived and hunted throughout the region long  before the arrival of the first Europeans.  

On Four Centuries, children of all ages—and adults– are invited to hunt down and collect Union County’s new History Trading Cards.

“Union County has an incredibly rich history—a history most residents are not aware of,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Union County has been home to celebrated authors, artists, actors, inventors—the list goes on.”

“When we rolled out the first four cards at the Deserted Village as a trial in the fall of 2016, we knew we had a hit,” Granados said. “The kids went searching all over the Village to collect the cards.”

The County’s Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs added another 25 cards this year  to the series, bringing the collection up to nearly 50 cards, with every historic site having a card unique to the community.

While the Founding Fathers are well represented, from David Brearley — a signer of the US Constitution on behalf of New Jersey — who can be found at the Nitschke House in Kenilworth, to Abraham Clark, in Roselle and Clark, there are cards involving lesser known, but important figures in Union County’s 400-year history.

“We live in a County that is so long in history — and I’m not talking just about the Revolution –I’m talking about a County whose residents played vital roles in every century since New Jersey was first settled in the 1600s,” said Freeholder Bruce Bergen.

“When babies are born and they want to check to see if they’re okay,” Bergen said, “they administer the Apgar test. Dr. Virginia Apgar, who invented that test, lived in Westfield.”

Visitors to Westfield will not only be able to collect the Apgar card at the Reeve House, but also added to the collection this year are cards for Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston, and just this month, Charles Addams. To see the cards now available, and where to find them, go to: ucnj.org/tradingcards.

Among other new cards this year are Lionel Trains, which had a major production plant in Hillside, Telstar, the first communications satellite developed at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, and John Shippen Jr., who changed the face of golf and worked for years at Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains.

 

The history card program is part of a larger initiative launched by the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs to raise awareness of local history. The Office was recognized earlier this year by the National Association of Counties (NACo) with an achievement award honoring innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. A group of projects was recognized that included the history trading cards, signage marking the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage area, and sponsorship of the National Parks passport program.

 

For more information on the trading cards, Four Centuries In A Weekend and all Cultural & Heritage Affairs programs and activities call 908-558-2550 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – There is still time to register for Union County’s second annual Lunch & Learn educational series for entrepreneurs, business owners and managers, featuring the popular Memory Switch workshop created by Matthew Goerke. The event takes place on Wednesday, October 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway.

The Memory Switch program enhances essential cognitive skills, including the ability to recall names, faces and key information. Participants will learn how to boost sales and networking skills as well as reduce stress and improve their confidence.

Pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/union-county-means-business/#memoryreg. The $10 registration fee includes a boxed lunch.

Lunch & Learn is sponsored through the Freeholder Board’s Union County Means Business initiative in support of local businesses.

For more information about Lunch & Learn, and more information about Union County Means Business, visit ucnj.org/ucmb or contact Deana Mesaros at 908-659-7412 or dmesaros@ucnj.org.

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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, NJ – With the upcoming General Election approaching on November 6, the Union County Board of Elections advises residents to be aware of important deadlines, changes in statewide regulations and other items of interest for Union County voters this year.

October 16 is the Deadline to Register to Vote (applies to unregistered voters only):

Union County residents who are eligible to participate in elections but have not registered to vote can obtain a registration form online from the Board of Elections, the County Clerk, or their municipal clerk’s offices.

Unregistered voters who need assistance can call the Board of Elections during regular business hours, 8am – 4pm, at 908-527-4123.  The office will be open until 9pm on October 16 to accommodate new registrations.

Polling place access (voters with disabilities):

Most of the polling places in Union County have a main entrance that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A number of polling places do not have an ADA-compliant main entrance, but they do provide an alternate entrance for persons who need one.

For the first time this year, the location of any alternate entrance will be listed on the Board of Elections website, along with the location of the main entrance, and the location of alternate entrances will also be provided on sample ballots. Sample ballots are mailed to each voter and made available online seven to ten days before an election.

Polling Place Changes (Elizabeth, Fanwood and Linden voters only):

Polling places in the following districts have changed.  The new polling place is noted below.  If voters are not sure what election district they live in, they should call the Board of Elections, 908-527-4123.

• Elizabeth: Ward 5 District 7: Portable Room, Door #12 (enter from Lafayette Street or Madison Avenue).
• Elizabeth: Ward 2 District 4: School 90, J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy, 600-648 Pulaski Street.
• Fanwood: Districts 4 & 5: La Grande Park Building, (enter from La Grand Avenue and 3^rd Street).
• Linden: Ward 5, Districts 3 & 4: School 4, Gymnasium (enter from Mildred Avenue).
• Linden: Ward 10 Districts 2 & 3: At School 9, move from front entrance on Deerfield Avenue to the Gymnasium Entrance, Door #8 (enter from the rear of the building off of Kent Place; please note that persons requiring an ADA-compliant entrance may continue to use the main entrance on Deerfield Avenue).

Polling place corrections (may impact some voters in various municipalities): 

As part of an upgrade to the State Voter Registration System, the New Jersey Division of Elections has been correcting instances in which an address has been located in the wrong district, ward or municipality. These voters were notified of the error by letter and provided with the correct information, including the location of the correct polling place.

All voters can find their correct polling place information listed on their sample ballots.

New Voting Machines (Westfield voters only): 

Voters in Westfield will be using new voting machines that provide a paper audit trail. As with all voting machines, the new machines are not connected to the Internet.

The new machine also features a touch screen that mirrors the layout of the sample ballots.

Westfield residents can familiarize themselves with the new machines by visiting the Board of Elections website.  A new voting machine is also on display at the Colleen Fraser Building in the Union County complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. It may be viewed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Board of Elections will be attending the upcoming Westfield council meeting on October 23 to demonstrate the machine, which is streamed live on Facebook.

Additional municipalities will receive the new machines in upcoming elections.

In addition to these advisories, the Board of Elections reminds voters that all eligible Vote-by-Mail and provisional ballots are always counted, and are included in the final, certified results for each election. Any Vote by Mail ballot that is mailed and post-marked on Election Day, and received within 48 hours of the close of the polls, will be counted. The Board of Elections office will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on November 7 and November 8 in order to receive all mail delivered within 48 hours. Vote by Mail ballots cannot be hand delivered during this time.

All Vote-by-Mail ballots will be counted on Friday, November 9. All provisional ballots will also be counted on Friday, November 9.

The deadline for final, official certification of the election results is normally set for the Monday following an election. However, due to the expanded 48-hour window to receive Vote by Mail ballots, state elections officials have set Wednesday, November 14 as the deadline.

For more details about voter registration, polling places, and other election information visit the Board of Elections at ucnj.org/board-of-elections, call 908-527-4123, email ucboe@ucnj.org or visit unioncountyvotes.com.

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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, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds Union County residents who are not registered to vote that they have until Tuesday, October 16 to register in time for the upcoming General Election and School Board Election on November 6.

“Voters who would like to request a registration form can call my office or visit us during our regular business hours, and my staff will be happy to provide assistance with any question or concern,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The Union County Board of Elections will be open on Tuesday, October 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for any voter who would like to register to vote in person. The office is located at 271 North Broad Street in Elizabeth.

Voters also can request a registration form through the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, or through the free Union County Votes mobile app.

Voters can call the Union County Board of Elections at 908-527-4123 to request a registration form or to get assistance with any other question about voting. Each municipal clerk’s office also has voter registration forms available.

To register, a voter must be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years old by Election Day, not serving a sentence, probation, or parole because of a felony conviction, and a resident of New Jersey and Union County for at least 30 days.

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Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters to be aware of changes they may encounter when participating in the upcoming General Election. Election Day 2018 is Tuesday, November 6.

Under a recent state law, voters who used a Vote-by-Mail ballot in the 2016 General Election will automatically receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the 2018 election, unless they opted out.

“State elections officers have reached out to these voters to inform them of the change, and give them the opportunity to opt out if they wish,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “However, in case the message was not received by some voters, it is important to know that every eligible voter has the right to come to their polling place and fill out a provisional ballot.”

Ms. Rajoppi emphasized that all eligible ballots – whether provisional, Vote-by-Mail or cast in person at the polling place – are included in the final, official election results.

“The results for machine voting at the polls can be viewed on unioncountyvotes.com within a matter of hours after the polls close on Election Night. However, the election results are not certified until the provisional and Vote-by-Mail ballots are reviewed and included in the voting totals,” Ms. Rajoppi explained. “This can take up to a week.”

Voters who plan to vote at the polls are advised to check the location of their polling place on the sample ballot they will receive at the end of October. Recently, the state made changes to some polling places.

The format for school board elections has also changed this year. School board candidates may now be bracketed along with other candidates of their choosing.

All up-to-date elections information for Union County voters is available online through the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, and through the Union County Votes mobile app.

“If you can’t find the answers online, professional staff at my office is always happy to help with any questions or concerns,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Please don’t hesitate to call, email or walk in to receive informed, reliable guidance.”

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located in Room 113 at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, in Elizabeth. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The County Clerk’s Westfield Annex is located in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The County Clerk’s Elections Division may be reached by phone at 908-527-4996 or by email at ucvote@ucnj.org.

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

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