Workers: Voter Turnout 'Lousy'

Turnout for today's primary election has been very slow, according to poll workers in the borough and township.

As of 4:30 p.m., about 50 of 701 registered voters in the borough's District 2 had voted at the borough firehouse, according to poll workers. Less than 50 registerd voters out of 608 in township Districts 8 and 9 had voted by then.

"It's been relatively slow," said Bernadette Jusinski, who was working the polls at the borough firehouse.

Township workers had similar things to say about the turnout. "Lousy," said poll worker Don Schmidt, who was working at the township firehouse on River Road.

New Jersey's June primary gets a historically low turnout, and there aren't any contested primaries in either municipality this year. Borough Council President James Collander and newcomer Victoria Fife are running on the Republican ticket for two open Borough Council seats, while Anna Tivade and Brian Perez are running for the seats on the Democrats' side.

Incumbent township Mayor Nicole Hagner and Committee Member Robert Gallop are running unopposed for their two Township Committee seats, and there are no challengers from the Democratic party.

"There's no fight here in Chatham Township," said poll worker Marilyn Harlem as she stood inside the township firehouse.

Jusinski said it also seems as if the primaries are somewhat of an afterthought.

"Not that many people seem to be aware that there ... is an election today," she said.

There are three contested races at the congressional and county level. Eleven Republicans are vying for three spots in the general election for the Morris County Freeholders race.

Incumbents Douglas Cabana, Jack Schrier and James Murray are running and are being challenged by Ann Grossi, John Krickus, Tom Mastrangelo, Gary Steele, Jason Cullen, Joseph Sirvent Jr., Christine Myers and Charles Germershausen. Democrats Susan Buttros, Steven Reichenstein and Avery Hart are running uncontested.

In the county sheriff election, incumbent Edward Rochford is being challenged by Steven Olimpio for the Republican nomination. Democrat Mark Dombrowski is running uncontested.

Richard Luzzi is challenging incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen in a Republican primary in New Jersey's 11th congressional district.  Chatham Borough resident Douglas Herbert faces James Kelly in the district's Democratic primary.

Polls remain open today until 8 p.m., and we will have results up later tonight. To see where your polling place is, click here.