The township of Weehawken is planning to offer early voting ahead of the May 2022 municipal election. At its January meeting, the Township Council introduced an ordinance that would allow for the early voting.
“New Jersey has allowed early voting for municipal elections,” Mayor Richard Turner said at the Jan. 12 meeting.
While the state has authorized early voting for municipal elections, in order for the township to partake, it must first pass the ordinance, according to Turner.
“We have to pass an ordinance authorizing early voting, in addition to vote-by-mail and everything else,” Turner said.
There were nine days of early voting for the General Election in 2021, but there would only be three days this time around. The three days of voting would take place the weekend prior to the election.
“It’s Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Turner said.
There would be no voting the Monday before Election Day, and voting would resume on Tuesday. The move to allow early voting for the May 2022 municipal elections follows the success of the recent early voting implemented by the state and county in 2021.
“Again, this is a new law that the state passed,” Turner said. “We’re taking advantage of it along with neighboring towns that have upcoming elections.”
If the ordinance is approved, Weehawken will join Union City in allowing early voting for the upcoming municipal elections. A public hearing and vote on the ordinance is scheduled for the Weehawken council’s next meeting.
The Township Council will meet next at 7 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the Second Floor Council Chambers at Town Hall at 400 Park Avenue. The meetings are held in person but with a virtual option via Zoom. For more information, go to weehawken-nj.us.
Mayor Turner has not yet officially announced his reelection bid, but is likely to run to keep his position. He was first elected in 1990 and last reelected in 2018, and would be seeking his ninth term. Turner, who has overseen the Weehawken for decades, last faced a challenger 20 years ago in 2002.
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