Montclair Local Voter Guide: 2020 Election

Eric Kiefer
·4 min read

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Many voters in Montclair have been focused on the looming showdown between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. But there’s also a long list of local candidates who will rise – or fall – in this year’s historic election, which is being held mostly by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A limited number of polling places will be open on Nov. 3, the same day that mail-in ballots must be postmarked in order to be counted. READ MORE: NJ 2020 Election Guide: How To Vote, Who's On The Ballot

Montclair residents will get a chance to vote for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The township is split between two congressional districts:

  • 10th District – Incumbent U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who won the Democratic Party nomination in the primary election, and Jennifer Zinone, who captured the Republican Party nomination, are facing John Mirrione of the Libertarian Party and independent candidates Akil Khalfani and Khaliah Fitchette.

  • 11th District – Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, and challenger Rosemary Becchi, a Republican, recently matched up in a series of debates. Catch up with some of Patch’s coverage here.

Montclair residents will also get a chance to pick members of the newly named Essex County Board of County Commissioners, formerly known as the “freeholders.” All nine seats on the board are up for grabs this year. Each term lasts three years.

Montclair residents can also vote for the next Essex County clerk. Incumbent Christopher Durkin, the Democratic Party nominee, is defending his seat against Kristina Christoforou, who earned the Republican Party nomination in the primary election. The victor will serve a five-year term.

READ MORE: Essex County 2020 Election Guide (What You Need To Know)

Here’s a quick rundown of the choices that voters will be asked to make on a national, state and county level:

  • Presidential race: Residents can either cast a write-in vote or choose, among the major parties, between Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, or Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. Also running are: Don Blankenship/William Mohr (Constitution Party); Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (Green); Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (Libertarian); Gloria La Riva/Sunil Freeman (Party for Socialism and Liberation); Roque De La Fuente/Darcy Richardson (The Alliance Party) and Bill Hammons/Eric Bodenstab (Unity Party).

  • US Congress/Senate: One U.S. Senate seat will be contested: Incumbent Democrat Cory Booker will face several Republican, Green Party and independent challengers. All 12 of the state's congressional seats will be decided. New Jersey's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives is split between 10 Democrats and two Republicans heading into Election Day. See congressional races on your local ballot here.

  • Marijuana legalization/Ballot questions: Voters will decide whether to legalize the possession and use of marijuana. Voters will also decide whether to makes peacetime veterans eligible to receive the veterans' property tax deduction.

MORE ELECTION INFO

The last day to register to vote for the general election was Oct. 13. This year, every voter was mailed a ballot that they can fill out and mail back. Because of possible delays in U.S. Postal Service deliveries, election advocates advised people to send them back no later than Oct. 22. Mail-in ballots must bear a postmark on or before Election Day or they won't be counted. They must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 10.

Essex County residents who are concerned about the security of their mail-in ballots may find some solace via a local "drop box" that has been put up for the 2020 general election. See a list of drop box locations in Essex County here.

A limited number of polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. But voting machines will only be ADA-compliant machines for those who need assistance. All other voters will be given a provisional ballot. Find your local polling place here.

For more coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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This article originally appeared on the Montclair Patch