Primary Election Turnout Reportedly Very Light, Polls Open Until 8 p.m. on Tuesday

Primary election turnout at the polls on Tuesday was reportedly "very light" at districts voting at the Liberty Corner Firehouse and The Hills clubhouse, as voters were presented with a ballot that offered no contested races for either party. The polls are scheduled to remain open until 8 p.m.

A poll worker at the Liberty Corner firehouse said that only 31 of district 12's 870 registered voters had showed up to cast a vote as of 6:40 p.m.

The one candidate whose inclusion on the November ballot is at stake in the primary is Michael Komondy, a Komondy is seeking at least 25 write-in votes to be listed on the November ballot.

For the Republicans, Township Committee incumbents Mary Pavlini and John Carpenter are running unopposed in seeking their party's endorsement for two available three-year terms.

Local Democrat Bonnie Diehl is be the only representative of her party to be listed on the ballot in the primary, unless and until a second Democrat achieves enough write-in votes to be listed alongside her in November.

However, there will still be some new names listed since the state's redistricting plan, which goes into effect in 2012, shifts Bernards Township from the state's 16th district to the 21st district.

In the state Senate race for 21st district, Republican voters can endorse incumbent Thomas H. Kean, Jr., while Democrats can cast a vote of approval for candidate Paul Swanicke. Both of those candidates are unopposed, although voters can add a write-in.

For the N.J. Assembly's 21st district, the ballot lists incumbent Republicans Jon Bramnick and Nancy F. Munoz, and Democratic candidates Bruce H. Bergen and Norman W. Albert.

Somerset County Freeholder incumbents Peter Palmer of Bernardsville and Bob Zaborowski are listed on the primary ballot, along with Democratic candidates Wes Ifan and Christian Mastrondea.

Voting locations are as follows: 

• Ridge Oak Senior Housing—District 3
• Bernards Township Library—Districts 1 and 6
• Basking Ridge Firehouse—Districts 2 and 7
• Liberty Corner Firehouse—Districts 12 and 14
• Fellowship Village—Districts 16 and 20
• Hills Recreation Center—Districts 4, 21, 22, 23 and 24
• Bernards Township Community Center—Districts 9, 10 and 17
• Society Hill at Bernards II Clubhouse—Districts 13 and 18
• Somerset Hills Lutheran Church—Districts 5 and 8 
• Spring Ridge Clubhouse—Districts 11, 15 and 19
•  Note: The new District 4 votes at the Hills Recreation Center.