By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
Area voters can head to the polls Tuesday to help decide New Jersey’s Republican and Democratic candidates for the November presidential election.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed legislation in April 2007 changing the date of the 2008 presidential primary to Feb. 5, in order to give New Jersey a bigger role in the election process. In previous years, New Jersey held its presidential primary in June, too late in the national primary season to make an impact because the top Democrat and Republican candidates usually had won enough delegates by then to lock up their party’s nomination.
Polls in Allentown, Millstone, Plumsted, Robbinsville, and Upper Freehold will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling locations in Allentown include the lobby of Allentown High School on Route 539 and the Allentown United Methodist Church at 23 Church St.
In Upper Freehold, voting will take place at the municipal building on Route 539, the First Aid building on Route 526, and the Hope Fire Company on Route 526.
In Millstone, Districts 1 and 7 must vote at the Community Center on Stagecoach Road, District 2 at the municipal court on Millstone Road, and Districts 3 and 6 at the Millstone Primary School on Schoolhouse Road.
In Robbinsville, residents in Districts 1 and 8 vote at Robbinsville High School on Robbinsville-Edinburg Road and Districts 2 and 6 at the Robbinsville Senior Center next to the library off Route 526. District 3 will vote at the Robbinsville Firehouse on Route 130, District 4 at the Rose Hill Community Room on Washington Boulevard, and District 5 at the Mercer County Library on Robbinsville-Allentown Road. District 7 will vote at Pond Road Middle School on Pond Road and District 9 will vote at Sharbell Lofts Sales Center, a new location, on Route 33.
In Ocean County, Plumsted voters in District 1 will report to the New Egypt Firehouse on Main Street and District 2 will vote at the New Egypt First Aid building on Brynmore Road. District 3 will vote at Jensen’s Deep Run Community Center at Longview and Summit Streets and District 4 at the Plumsted Municipal Building on Evergreen Road.
In New Jersey primary elections, a voter must be a registered Republican or Democrat to vote in their party’s contest. Voters who are registered with no party affiliation must declare one at the polls in order to participate.
To determine your particular polling location, visit the Division of Elections on New Jersey’s Web site, https://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/jsp/PollPlace/PollPlaceSearch.jsp.
Twenty-four states are holding either primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5, which is deemed “Super Tuesday.” The last major candidate to make a stop in New Jersey was Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton on Jan. 23 in Bergen County.
Gov. Corzine has said New Jersey was previously viewed as just a source for campaign money, and hopes the new date will bring more campaigning to the state.
”New Jersey is now a prime-time player in the nomination process, and candidates will have to come here, speak to the voters and hear and respond to our concerns about various issues that impact our state,” Gov. Corzine said.
