What's the News on the New Jersey Turnout?

[LonghornJack]

Anyone know what the turnout has been so far in Jersey?

NJ is an early bellweather as to how well Kerry does in the returns tonight.

Thanks.

LHJ

[Lavender Brown]

1. My NJ coworkers are reporting insanely long lines

:)

[Mister K]

7. Columbus, NJ (Burlington County)

I was at the polls at 6:00 AM and there were about 20 people in front of me. My wife went at about 10:30 and said it was a half hour wait. Probably about 60 people ahead of her.

[NJmaverick]

2. My polling place was a ghost town

Quiet Essex county suburban town in New Jersey. The voters are split roughly 50/50 Dems/repubs. No line to vote, when I left 2 or 3 people behind me (not sure if the kid was 18 or not). I asked the poll workers about a lack of a line, they said it had been that way all day.

[Mandate My Ass]

3. High

Ted Bradley, chairman of the Gloucester County Board of Elections reported no trouble with challenges this morning, but did note that a few dozen people around the county did not seem to be properly registered. Those people however, were "willing to to go a judge and tell their story on why they think they're registered when we don't have their registration."

He said there was a handful of complaints about electioneering around polling places and that his office was fielding calls from voters who wanted to know where to vote.

Based on long lines at the polls this morning and a high number of returned absentee ballots, Bradley predicted a record-breaking 75 percent voter turnout in Gloucester County.

Even at the shore, in a polling place a block from the ocean, turnout was much heavier than usual. "They're flying in here a mile a minute," said Duke Loadenthal, a pollworker manning one of four district voting booths at the Ventnor Community Center this morning

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/10078327.htm

[Kahuna]

4. In my neck of densely populated Essex County, higher than usual...

I voted in East Orange, and my mom voted in Newark. Both sites were experiencing heavy and pumped turnout.

[luzdeluna]

5. rutherford

I voted at 10:30 and there were no lines at all.

I could have walked right up to the sign in table but some tense old man almost knocked me over to get there first. He even forgot to give back the pen.

After he walked away I said "he's a Bushie" and everyone laughed...even the two poll checker guys. It made me feel a little less worried.

LDL

[July]

6. Higher than I've ever seen in my Somerset Co. town.

Pollworkers said people were lined up at 5:45 (usually there are about 3 people in the "line").

I've always been able to get a spot in the tiny parking lot of the firehall where I vote -- not this time. Cops directing traffic, cars lined up down the street and around the corner, line out the door, which broke into 2 lines inside. Very good organization, so the lines moved fast. Pollworker said he's never seen it so high, usually brings a book to read during lulls, but didn't need one this time.

[ALago1]

8. I was there at 6:45 a.m in a Repug district

It was a ghost town.

[rocktivity]

9. About a dozen was there when I showed up at 7AM in Irvington NJ

About two dozen when I left fifteen minutes later. I consider it a good sign, though the place had only two voting machines!

:headbang:
rocknation

[tilsammans]

10. I've seen it busier during other elections

Then again, I was at the polls at 6:15 a.m. I waited only about 10 minutes.

Drove by later, and there were even fewer cars in the lot.

This is a heavily Repug area, with a lot of seniors who vote in EVERY election. It surprised me that it seemed so slow today.

[amerikat]

11. I voted in central nj at 10:30 no lines, but the turnout was heavier

than usual.

[schmalvern]

12. Wasn't busy in Monmouth County...

but that's ok--it's a pretty Republican area so low turnout in my neighborhood probably isn't a bad thing :-)

Everyone that I've talked to at work, though, has already voted, so NJ is very anxious to get to the polls.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi schmalvern!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LonghornJack]

13. Fantastic News!

Looks an outstanding turnout in Jersey.

Warms my heart.

Thanks so much for the responses, everyone. Keep 'em coming! More is better!

LHJ