Voters Have Until 8 PM To Cast Ballot In Race For Governor, State, County & Local Elections

Bernards Township voters are being presented Tuesday with a full slate of candidates for governor, along with Republicans, Democrats and a local Independent seeking a spot on the Bernards Township Committee. School board elections also are being held now in the general elections.

Longtime poll worker Vance Hodnett of Basking Ridge, signing in voters at the Liberty Corner Firehouse, in the afternoon that the number of voters was on track to lead to a final turnout of about 35-40 percent.

Linda Arnold of Liberty Corner was among the voters at about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Arnold said that she feels it is important to vote. She said she accompanied her husband, who is disabled, to vote at the Liberty Corner Firehouse even though she said it is difficult for him to get around. 

Polls will remain open until 8 p.m. Information on polling locations is online.

On the top of the ballot, township voters must choose between Republican Chris Christie and Democrat Barbara Buono — or one of six other candidates on the ballot — for state governor. 

There also are races for State Senate, 21st District (Incumbent Republican Tom Kean Jr. vs. Democrat Michael Komondy); 21st District Assembly representatives (Republican incumbents Jon Bramnick and Nancy Munoz vs. Democrats Norman W. Albert and Jill Ann Lazare); Somerset County Sheriff (Incumbent Republican Frank Provenzano vs. Democrat Richard E. Arline); and Somerset County freeholder (Republican Incumbent Patricia Walsh vs. Democrat Kelona R. Miller.)

There is a local race for one seat on the Bernards Township Committee (Incumbent Carol Bianchi, Democrat David Ferdinand and Independent Bill Connors).

Although four candidates are listed on the ballot for three seats on the Bernards Township Committee, candidate John Groot has said he no longer is seeking election.

That leaves incumbents Michael Byrne and Elaine Kusel and newcomer Christopher Viereck on the ballot uncontested for three available spots.

A sample ballot is online.