NJ Election 2020 updates: GOP takes lead as more Monmouth County results come in

Editors' note: Click here for 2022 live election results.

Results are still coming in throughout Monmouth and Ocean County as the 2020 election count continues.

So far we've seen the Garden State vote overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana, unsurprisingly cast it's 14 electoral votes for presidential candidate Joe Biden, and re-elect Cory Booker to another term in the US Senate. On the local side, we've seen results start to trickle in after initial delays in Monmouth County, and incumbents in US Congressional districts appear successful in their re-election bids.

This is your guide to Election 2020 in Monmouth and Ocean counties and around New Jersey. Our team of reporters will be updating this article with all the latest updates and results. Local, statewide and national results can also be found here.

Republicans take lead as more Monmouth County results come in

Monmouth County GOP freeholder candidates pulled into the lead when the most recent round of election results was released this morning.

Long-time incumbent Freeholder Lillian Burry led in the race with 112,175, followed by her running mate Ross Licitra with 111,286. The Democratic freeholder candidates then followed with Michael Penna garnering 109,744 votes and Moira Nelson capturing 108,418 votes.

The Board of Election has counted 233,784 ballots, or roughly 66% of the ballots cast ahead of Tuesday’s election. This does not count any mail-in ballots cast on election day either by drop boxes or dropped off at polling locations, any late mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 3, ADA machines or provisional ballots.

Marijuana still illegal in NJ — for now — despite weed vote results

Even though over two-thirds of New Jerseyans voted to legalize marijuana during the 2020 election, the drug will remain illegal until legislators pass a bill decriminalizing the drug.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Wednesday that there would be no formal change to enforcement of the state's marijuana laws, upended by the legal weed ballot question, until the Legislature can pass enabling legislation that would decriminalize the drug.

"All of the State’s criminal laws relating to marijuana continue to apply, until, among other things, the Legislature enacts a law creating that regulatory framework," Grewal said in a statement. "It is important that residents accurately understand the current situation, so they do not inadvertently engage in criminal conduct relating to marijuana — conduct that may be legal in the future, once the Legislature acts, but is not presently legal based on yesterday’s vote."

— Mike Davis

Jersey Shore voters weigh in on presidential race

The worst fears of Election Day — voter intimidation, civil unrest — didn't materialize. But there is little doubt that the country remains deeply split.

"I think this was the toughest election that I’ve ever had to live through," Julene Lauro, 57, of Middletown, said stopping for coffee with her husband, Tom, at First Cup Coffee in Atlantic Highlands.

"Right now I’m at the point where it’s just, you know what, may the best man win, just do the best for our country. we just need everybody to come together now and be on the same page," Lauro, said.

Eva Krause, 20, of Red Bank, a Biden supporter, holed up in her bedroom Tuesday night with the television on, along with white noise that could drown out the sound.

"I can’t have my emotions be played with that much that I go, 'Oh I’m hopeful, oh no,' all these big roller coaster emotions. I don’t want to go through that. I don’t think anyone wants to go through that."

"No remorse," Tom Lauro, 71, a Trump supporter, said. "We got to believe in our system that everything is honest and truthful and we can’t be throwing people under the bus. We’re just hoping whoever wins congratulates the person who lost and whoever lost may there be a smooth transition."

"Really, we want peace at this time," Julene said.

Melanie Nestor, 38, took her 15-month-old son, Ignetius, to a playground on the Asbury Park beach. As she, like everyone else, waited for an outcome to the presidential race, she talked about one election winner: recreational marijuana.

“I think legalization of marijuana is a good thing. I just hope they don’t make it only about money, “ she said. “I hope people who are in jail or have criminal records because of marijuana are able to get the records erased and everybody starts with a clean slate.”

“If people are going to be able to enjoy it recreationally, if anybody has a criminal past to tied to it should be allowed to have their records erased," Nester said.

The race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joseph Biden trudged on Wednesday with neither candidate able to declare victory and New Jersey voters suddenly taking interest in, say, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, or Macomb County, Michigan.

— Michael Diamond

No, you can't legally smoke weed in NJ yet

Voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot question to legalize marijuana for recreational use, with over two-thirds of voters supporting the landmark measure, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press.

The ballot question was one of four marijuana legalization measures nationwide that passed Tuesday.

But a once-in-a-generation reform like this is complex. While the ballot measure amended the state Constitution to allow adults to possess, purchase and consume the drug, lawmakers must now pass the laws to actually stop marijuana arrests and set up the framework of what "legal weed" actually looks like in New Jersey. Here's what you need to know about legal weed and next steps.

— Mike Davis

Middletown Township Committee still on pace to stay all-Republican

Republicans continue to outpace Democrats for two seats on the Township Committee, according to the latest results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.

Incumbent Patricia A. Snell had has 12,144 votes and her running mate Ryan M. Clarke has 11,904, compared to Democrats Brian W. Penschow and Marguerite Stocker, who have 9,923 and 9,714 as of Wednesday morning.

Should the Republicans keep their lead through the final results they will maintain a total monopoly on committee seats, one that has been in place since 2010.

— Alex N. Gecan

 Why was NJ called so quickly for Biden, Booker?

For weeks we’ve heard that an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots could lead to a protracted Election Day fight, one that could stretch into the wee hours.

Then the Associated Press called New Jersey for Democrat Joe Biden at 8:01 p.m., 60 seconds after polls closed. The AP called the state’s U.S. Senate race in Sen. Cory Booker’s favor one minute later.

So what gives?

The AP says a combination of its own polling of American voters and its analysis of early voting statistics helped lead to its calls in favor of Biden and Booker.

New Jersey’s trend of supporting Democratic candidates for federal office are also helpful to confirm the findings of polls and early voting trends.

The last Republican presidential nominee to win New Jersey was George H.W. Bush in 1988 and the last time the GOP won a Senate seat in the Garden State was in 1972.

— Terrence McDonald

Voters remain anxious as they await the outcome of the presidential election

Voters rolled out of their homes Wednesday morning trying to come to grips not only with the anxiety they felt Tuesday night, but also the future of a divided country.

Eva Krause, 20, of Red Bank, a Biden supporter, holed up in her bedroom Tuesday night with the television on, along with white noise that could drown out the sound.

"I can’t have my emotions be played with that much that I go, 'Oh I’m hopeful, oh no,' all these big roller coaster emotions. I don’t want to go through that. I don’t think anyone wants to go through that."

Tom and Julene Lauro of Middletown stopped by First Cup Coffee in Atlantic Highlands and took a deep breath. "Right now I’m at the point where it’s just, you know what, may the best man win, just do the best for our country. we just need everybody to come together now and be on the same page," Julene Lauro, 57, said.

"No remorse," Tom Lauro, 71, a Trump supporter, said. "We got to believe in our system that everything is honest and truthful and we can’t be throwing people under the bus. We’re just hoping whoever wins congratulates the person who lost and whoever lost may there be a smooth transition."

"Really, we want peace at this time," Julene said.

— Michael Diamond

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R) near the brink of victory, but Amy Kennedy (D) vows to fight till the end for N.J.'s 2nd Congressional District

With around 75% of the votes in, party-switching Rep. Jeff Van Drew sounded confident Tuesday night that he believes he will once again represent New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District, a seat he won as a Democrat in 2018.

“This has been a long, hard, brutal election,” Van Drew said to a crowd of about 200 supporters late Tuesday night at a Republican celebration at a Sea Isle City pub. “A lot of money was spent to remove me from my seat.”

Van Drew is leading the race with 141,685 votes, or 51%, over his Democratic challenger, Amy Kennedy, who has 132,122 votes, or 47.5%, according to the latest election poll results.

— Charles Stile and Joshua Chung

NJ marijuana legalization measure could spark national push to legalize weed

Over two-thirds of New Jersey voters approved a question to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, a landmark bill activists see as a once-in-a-generation criminal justice reform opportunity and a chance for the state to beat its Northeast rivals to opening the region’s first legal cannabis industry.

Marijuana legalization questions passed in three other states as well, according to unofficial results reported by the Associated Press: Arizona, Montana and South Dakota. Mississippi voters also passed a question to legalize a robust medical marijuana program.

Voters in Oregon also approved a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of all drugs. The state already legalized marijuana in 2014.

The historic night for drug policy could be the beginning of a national conversation — and national action — to reform drug laws on the federal level, said Steven Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a nonprofit that works to reform drug policies nationwide and has sponsored legal weed initiatives in numerous states."The conversation starts with the ballot initiatives tonight," Hawkins said. "That kind of sea change is going to be part of the pressure put on Congress.“Change doesn't come from Washington. It comes to Washington."— Mike Davis

Democrats hold lead in Monmouth County Freeholder race

Monmouth County Democrats' freeholder candidates are leading after the first day in the countywide race, according to Wednesday's latest election poll results.

Democrat Michael Penna is currently with 94,105 votes, followed by his running mate Moira Nelson who has 92,994 votes, according to the latest poll results. Republican incumbent Freeholder Lillian Burry sits at third with 88,991 votes and her running mate Ross Licitra has 88,135 votes, the latest polls show.

If this trend is to hold, Democrats could become county officials for the first time in more than a decade, breaking the GOP lock on the five-member board. The Freeholder board will be renamed county commissioners in January.

— Susanne Cervenka and Joshua Chung

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D) re-elected and will represent the 6th District House once again

After taking a commanding lead over Republican candidate Christian Onuoha last night, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., will represent the 6th District Congressional seat, according to the latest results from the Monmouth and Middlesex county election boards. 

With still over 50% reporting to go, Pallone was declared the winner by the Associated Press last night after receiving over 67% of the vote, with 115,505 ballots.

Pallone, 68, of Long Branch has served as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 6th Congressional District since 1993. Previously, he served as the representative for the 3rd District from 1988 to 1993.

— Dan Radel and Joshua Chung

Congressman Chris Smith (R) re-elected for his 21st term

Rep. Chris Smith is heading to a 21st straight term in Congress, easily handling Democratic challenger Stephanie Schmid in the 4th District House race Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

With 62.64% of the ballots counted, the Associated Press called the race for Smith with 147,466 votes, or 56.9%, to Schmid’s 107,870 votes, or 41.6%.

— Joe Strupp and Joshua Chung

U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, (D) re-elected for a second term

Shortly after midnight, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., won re-election for a second term to New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District after defeating Republican businessman David Richter, according to a race call by the Associated Press.

With 76% of the ballots counted, the Associated Press called the race overnight for Kim with 173,009 votes, or 55%, to Richter's 138,095 votes, or 44%.

— Joshua Chung

60% of voters favor redistricting delay if Census is late, results show

An amendment adding a Census deadline in the New Jersey Constitution, which could delay the political redistricting process for two years, appeared poised to pass late Tuesday.

Nearly 60% of voters supported the change, voting "yes" on ballot question three, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press.

With about 58% of votes counted shortly before 11 p.m., and 40% of voters opposed, it appeared the amendment was likely to pass.

Neptune school board race remains tight

Three members from three separate tickets had the lead in the vote reported so far for the Neptune Board of Education. But the vote is very close, with more ballots to be counted.

— Christian Spencer

Democrats lead in Eatontown race

The newly formed Eatontown Reform Democratic Club is leading in the vote so far, according to the preliminary results from the Monmouth County Board of Elections.

The reform club's two candidates — Mariel Hufnagel, 34, and Danielle Jones, 38 — combined to take 54% of the vote. Jones earned 1,757 votes and Hufnagel had with 1,741 votes as of shortly after 9 p.m.

Republican candidates Mark Regan Jr., 26, the lone incumbent in the race, and James Corcoran, 56, combined for 44% of the vote. Regan tallied 1,476 votes and Corcoran had 1,426.

— Dan Radel

Capone, Heffernan, Tobacco lead Middletown Board of Education race

In a 10-way scrum for three seats, a slate that has emphasized getting children physically back into schools is leading the Middletown Board of Election race, according to early results.

— Alex N. Gecan

In Asbury Park BOE race, the 'Moving Ahead' slate is...moving ahead

The Moving Ahead Together ticket, comprised of incumbent Giuseppe “Joe” Grillo and a pair of newcomers, Carritta Cook and Wendi Glassman had the early lead in the race for the Asbury Park school board. 

Based on preliminary vote totals, Cook had 1,435 votes, Grillo had 1,270 and Glassman had 1,125 in the race for the three open seats.

— Christian Spencer

Incumbents out in front of Long Branch BOE race

Three school board members up for re-election have the lead in the polls, according to the preliminary results from the Monmouth County Board of Elections.

Tasha Youngblood Brown, 46, Lucille Perez, 71, and Armand R. Zambrano Jr., 70, combined to tally roughly 70% of the vote. Perez gained the most votes with 2,435. Zambrano earned 2,184 votes and Brown had 2,163.

The incumbents have over 40 combined years of experience on the board and are looking to retain their three-year term seats.

— Dan Radel

Incumbent has lead for Belmar council seat

Democratic incumbent Thomas Brennan is leading the race for a three-year borough council seat, outpolling Republican Jodi Kinney and independent Gerald Buccafusco.

The tally as of 10 p.m. was Brennan, 947 votes; Kinney, 701; and Buccafusco, 349.

— Ken Serrano

Asbury Park City Council incumbents hold lead

In Asbury Park, Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton and Councilwoman Eileen Chapman had the early lead to remain members of the city council. As of 10 p.m., Quinn had received 1,551 votes, Clayton had 1,503 and Chapman had 1,382. Their nearest rivals had fewer than 700 votes.

— Christian Spencer

More NJ veterans can get help with property taxes

More than 57,000 veterans will soon be eligible for help paying their property taxes. Voters approved a measure Tuesday that gives them each a $250 deduction on their property taxes.

The previous deduction applied only to veterans who served in times of war or other emergencies, as defined in state law.

— Stacey Barchenger

Red Bank newcomer takes early lead in school board race

Red Bank newcomer Stephanie Albanese took an early lead over longtime school board member John Garofalo for a seat on the Red Bank Regional High School District's Board of Education.

As of 10 p.m., Albanese, 34, who serves on the Red Bank Zoning Board of Adjustment, had 1,171 votes, or 67.7%. Garofalo, 70, the board's president, had 557 votes, or 32.2%.

— Michael L. Diamond

NJ voters overwhelmingly vote to legalize marijuana

New Jersey voters are on their way to legalizing marijuana, supporting by a wide margin Tuesday a ballot question permitting the possession, sale and use of cannabis for adults 21 and over.

The Associated Press called the race just after 9:30 p.m., with just about 67% of New Jerseyans voting "yes" and 32% voting against legalization, with 57% of votes counted.

"This is what we've been working for. I think the results speak for themselves," said Axel Owen, campaign manager for NJ CAN 2020, the "vote yes" campaign. "This was a mandate from the people of New Jersey that they want to see a legalized cannabis market in New Jersey. We're very encouraged and excited."

— Mike Davis

Democrats could flip Howell's Republican majority

Democrats Theresa Berger and Andre de Garmeaux are ahead in the township's mayoral and council races respectively, according to early results. If their leads hold the council would flip from Republican majority to Democratic.

If the Democrats' leads hold, the balance of the council could switch for the first time in 18 years.

— Alex N. Gecan

In Atlantic Highlands, Democratic incumbents hold the lead

Two Atlantic Highlands Democratic incumbents led in early results in the four-candidate borough council race Tuesday night.

With about 2,700 votes counted, Councilman Jon Crowley and Councilwoman Lori Hohenleitner were ahead of their Republican challengers by a little more than 300 votes, according to preliminary results.

All election results are preliminary.

— Jerry Carino

Holmdel incumbents lead in Township Committee race

Mayor Greg Buontempo and fellow GOP challenger Dominico “DJ” Luccarelli were leading Democrats Mike Jenkins and Joseph Romano in the races for two seats on the Township Committee.

With 39% of the votes tallied Tuesday night, Buontempo and Lucarelli were leading with 3,107 and 2,976 votes, respectively, while Romano followed with 2,365 and Jenkins 2,217.

— Joe Strupp

Jackson Orthodox Jewish candidate leading against write-in candidates; incumbents leading in other races

Tzvi Herman holds a lead in his race to become the first Orthodox Jew to serve in elected office in Jackson, a one-year unexpired term on the school board.

Herman, 31, has 8,676 votes, about 52% of the vote total. The two write-in campaigns against him have 7,857 votes total, about 47.5%.

It's unclear how many votes each write-in candidate, Allison Barocas and Mike Braun, have, as the county has grouped them together.

In the race for a full, three-year seat on the school board, incumbents Tara Rivera and Scott Sargent are leading newcomer Anthony Mero. Rivera and Sargent have about 33% and 36% of the vote, respectively, while Mero has 28%.

The slate of Councilmen Martin Flemming and Steve Chisolm, Jr. and newcomer Nino Borrelli appear to have won election to a full three-year term on the board. They were unopposed on the ballot but faced a write-in campaign by Robert Skinner.

A ballot question to raise the town's open space tax to 3 cents is currently headed for approval, with 57% of Jackson voters casting "yes" ballots. The measure would raise taxes an average of $33.

— Mike Davis

Who's in the lead in Toms River's school board race?

Incumbent Michele Williams and newcomers Lisa Contessa and Ashley Palmiere are leading in early results in a tight race for three seats on the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

Contessa is the top vote-getter with 13,040 votes; her runningmate on the Toms River 1st slate, Palmiere, has 10,712. Williams, who is seeking her second three-year term on the board, has 10,749 votes. Nine candidates are competing for three seats representing Toms River on the nine-member regional board.

— Jean Mikle

Republican incumbents in the lead in Ocean County

Republican incumbents Ocean County Clerk Scott M. Colabella and Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari appear headed for re-election. Both captured more than 60% of the vote in early results. If current results hold, Vicari would be sworn in as a county commissioner for a 14th term in January.

— Andrew Goudsward and Erik Larsen

For mail-in ballots, Trump holds lead in Ocean County

President Donald Trump holds a lead over former Vice President Joe Biden in mail-in votes in Ocean County at 166,501 to 99,692.

Mail-in voters in Ocean County also favored Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rikin “Rik” Mehta (160,141) over Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat (96,301).

No in-person votes have yet been counted.

— Amanda Oglesby

Brick school board newcomers take slight lead

With more than 50,000 mail-in votes counted in the Brick Board of Education race, newcomers Melissa "Missy" Parker and Michael Blandina have slight leads over incumbent board member Jessica Clayton and candidates Micah Bender and Melissa Lozada. The five are vying for two positions on the school board.

Parker, 44, is running for office for the first time and is a mother of four children in the district.

Blandina, 56, has previously chaired the organizing committee for the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and served as a volunteer for the Brick Municipal Anti-Drug Coalition, known as BMAC.

No polling stations have yet reported their counts.

— Amanda Oglesby

Biden expected to win New Jersey in presidential race

Former Vice President Joe Biden has won New Jersey in his bid to become the 46th president, and Sen. Cory Booker easily won another six-year term to the U.S. Senate, according to the Associated Press.

The victories by the two Democrats come as little surprise: New Jersey has not voted for a Republican presidential nominee since 1988 or elected a candidate for U.S. Senate since 1972. And neither Biden nor Booker trailed in public polling.

— Dustin Racioppi

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker expected to win re-election

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is expected to win re-election, according to a race call by the Associated Press.

Nearly 3/4 of all mail-in ballots returned in Ocean County

More than 70% of all mail-in ballots in Ocean County had been returned to the Board of Elections as of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday — what county election officials are calling unprecedented voter turnout in the county's modern history.

— Erik Larsen

Ocean County's Clerk offers help to voters

Ocean County Clerk Scott M. Colabella discussed the voting process at Mancini Hall in the Ocean County Library. Board of Election workers helped residents who had never received ballots, or who had problems with ballots mailed to them.

Courts continue to hear requests from people who want to vote

Citizens were still coming into the Ocean County Courthouse in Toms River in person late afternoon on Tuesday seeking decisions from judges allowing them to vote.

Those denied a ballot were brought in individually before judges to make their cases why they should be allowed to vote.

One man who appeared before Ocean County Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford said he was purged from the voter rolls after being convicted of a crime.

Despite that, Enrico Younger of Brick pleaded with Ford to allow him to vote.

“The little freedom I do have, I want to exercise it,’’ Younger said to Ford. “I’m asking, please, from the kindness of your heart.’’

Ford noted that state law requiring those convicted of indictable offenses be removed from voter rolls changed in March, allowing convicted criminals who received probationary sentences the right to vote.

Younger completed his probationary term Oct. 23, past the Oct. 13 deadline to register to vote.

Ford said that because Younger had previously been registered to vote before his conviction, she would err on the side of a broad interpretation of the law intending those with probationary sentences to be allowed to vote.

Another woman, Martha DiAntonio, told Ford she moved to Lavallette at the end of September from Monmouth County and sent in her change of address, but never received a ballot.

She said she wasn’t eligible to vote in Monmouth County because she had already been deleted from the rolls there.

Ford granted DiAntonio’s request to vote in Ocean County.

Melissa Ridenaur, who moved to Toms River at the end of August, told Ford she thought her voter registration had gone through in September.

“I was waiting for my ballot in the mail,’’ she said. “All my friends got their ballot.’’

The judge said Ridenaur could vote, since she had attempted to register around Sept. 20.

By about 1:30 p.m., 30 hearings already had been held in Ocean County. Judges are on hand until 8 p.m. to hear challenges.

— Kathleen Hopkins

Jersey Shore towns reporting no issues at polling places

Officials in Manalapan, Marlboro, Freehold Township and Holmdel said there were no problems at polling places in those communities.

Despite worries of civil unrest, police departments in Berkeley Township, Jackson and Brick said there were no problems reported at polling stations in their municipalities.

— Joe Strupp and Amanda Oglesby

Trump gets support in Toms River

Chris and Caitlin Madden, a husband and wife team who moved to Toms River from Brick three years ago, cast their ballots at the First United Methodist Church and said they support President Donald Trump's reelection.

“We were (Donald) Trump all the way,” said Chris Madden, 57, who runs a heating and cooling company. “He’s like one of us — if one of us got into the White House. The status quo, they really try to keep him down... Even Fox News was like, ‘This COVID’s going to get you.’ It’s nobody’s fault. (Joe) Biden’s trying to say it’s the Trump virus.”

He predicted “a landslide” win for Trump.

— Jerry Carino

Polls quieter in this Democrat-leaning district 

The difference between polling places in Toms River and Freehold were stark.

In Toms River, a Republican stronghold, the stream of in-person voters at First United Methodist Church was slower than usual when compared to the past couple of years —but still fairly steady over the course of a mid-morning hour.

“I just want to make sure my actual vote gets to a polling place and nothing can happen with the mail or with a drop box,” said Judy Schmall, who has lived in Toms River for 19 years. “It was a no-brainer. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

In Freehold, more of a Democratic area, the story was different. During the lunch hour at the Elks Lodge — a bustling scene on Election Day in each of the past few years — only two voters showed up.

— Jerry Carino

Voters seek courts' help to cast their ballots

A steady stream of citizens are appearing before judges in Monmouth and Ocean counties today seeking orders allowing them to vote.

By 1:30 p.m., 30 hearings had been held in Ocean County, said MaryAnn Spoto, spokeswoman for the state judiciary.

Virtual hearings were ongoing in Monmouth County since 6:30 a.m., with 10 completed by about 1 p.m., officials said.

Superior Court Judge Angela White Dalton conducted five of the hearings in Monmouth County. In three cases, she granted the applicants’ request to vote, and denied the other two for failing to register to vote by the deadline.

Taso Stefanidis went before Superior Court Judge Katie A. Gummer about 1:30 p.m. in the eleventh hearing of the day in Monmouth County.

Appearing on a large television screen in the courtroom via Zoom, Stefanidis told the judge that he and his wife moved to Manalapan from South Brunswick in Middlesex County late last year. Earlier this year, he said he and his wife went on the Division of Motor Vehicles website to change their address, and while on the website, they were asked if they wanted to change their voter registration address. Both did, but Stefanidis said his wife received a mail-in ballot and he did not.

Stefanidis held up his smartphone to the television screen to show he had sent his wife a link to the website for a change of address on Feb. 1, showing his intention to update his voter registration address long before the Oct. 13 registration deadline.

“How do I know you did not vote in Middlesex County?’’ Gummer asked him.

“I did not vote there,’’ Stefanidis responded.

He told the judge he and his wife have their mail forwarded from the previous address to their current address, but that no mail-in ballot from Middlesex County was forwarded to him.

Gummer said she found Stefanidis to be credible and she granted his application to vote.

— Kathleen Hopkins

Religious leaders in NJ to preach healing in days following election

After months of rancorous debate, Americans are likely to finish off Election Day without a conclusive winner to the presidential race, and with a resulting jumble of anxieties.

In the days to follow, faith leaders across New Jersey are hoping to offer a dose of calm in the pews after the contentious election season.

From a healing service in Tenafly to a post-election Quiet Day at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Ewing and other gatherings, clergy see an unprecedented need to soothe the acrimony that Trump vs. Biden has foisted on the nation.

"People are anxious now," said the Rev. Megan Thomas of St. Luke's, who will hold her event Wednesday. "They are worried about the future, and they're worried about potential violence. Everything they are hearing on the news and on social media just makes things worse."

"This will be a space for reflection away from the news," said Thomas, who will also lead a morning prayer service for the welfare of the United States and the world. "We will have to attend to each other and the needs of our neighbors."

— Deena Yellin

NJ law enforcement is preparing for the potential of election unrest

Election 2020 appears ripe for conflict, with a volatile political climate, a pandemic, disinformation and online incitement converging at a time when the president himself has stirred doubts about the voting process.

“We don’t have a specific known or credible threat, but we are certainly on guard," said Jared Maples, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in an interview Monday.

"There is a lot of rhetoric out there — including online forums, whisper campaigns, text messages — that is causing chaos and panic. That’s what we’re trying to target, making sure it does not lead to more panic and discontent and any acts of violence."

In Barnegat, Police Chief Keith Germain believes New Jersey authorities are benefitting from years of good relationships and trust-building with local communities and organizations.

“Law enforcement has had a lot of experience this year dealing with civil unrest and mass protest and striking the balance between protecting constitutional rights and making sure we maintain peace and order,” he said. “But given the direction of 2020 so far, we certainly want to want to anticipate the unexpected. Preparation is the key.”

— Hannan Adley 

Latest mail-in-ballot totals for Monmouth and Ocean counties

Here is the latest breakdown for the total amount of mail-in-ballots that have been received by the election offices throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.

In Monmouth County: 

• 103,897 or 32% of voters registered with the Democratic Party have sent in their mail-in-ballots and have been received by election officials.

• 101,659 or 32% of voters registered with the Republican Party have sent in their mail-in-ballots and have been received by election officials.

• 115,177 or 36% of voters registered under no party affiliation or independents have sent in their mail-in-ballots and have been received by election officials.

The top towns in the county with the highest total of mail-in-ballots received by election officials are Middletown with 36,819 ballots received, Howell with 27,045 ballots, and Marlboro with 22,264 ballots.

Middletown has the second-highest number of mail-in-ballots that have been sent in across both counties. Election officials have received 10,576 or 29% of mail-in-ballots from Democratic voters, 12,582 or 34% of ballots from Republican voters, and 13,661 or 37% of ballots from independent voters.

      APP.com is your No. 1 resource for all Monmouth and Ocean County election news. Make sure to download our mobile app for alerts on the latest election results. 

In Howell, there has been 7,437 or 27% of mail-in-ballots received by election officials from Democratic voters, 9,240 or 34% of ballots from Republican voters, and 10,368 or 38% of ballots from independent voters.

Over in Marlboro, election officials have received 7,433 or 33% of mail-in-ballots from Democratic voters, 5,768 or 26% from Republican voters, and 9,063 or 41% of ballots from independent voters.

In Ocean County: 

• 74,892 or 26% of mail-in-ballots from registered Democratic voters have been received by election officials.

• 118,311 or 41% of voters registered with the Republican Party have sent in their mail-in-ballots and have been received by election officials.

• 93,659 or 33% of voters under no party affiliation or independent voters have sent in their mail-in-ballots and have been received by election officials.

The top towns in the county with the highest total of mail-in-ballots received by election officials are Toms River with 44,719 ballots, Brick with 38,095 ballots, and Jackson with 26,805 ballots.

Toms River has the highest number of mail-in-ballots that have been sent in across both counties. Election officials have received 11,686 or 26% of mail-in-ballots from registered Democratic voters, 17,903 or 40% of ballots from Republican voters, and 15,130 or 34% of ballots from voters registered as an independent.

In Brick, there have been 10,315 or 27% of mail-in-ballots received by election officials from Democratic voters, 14,220 or 37% of ballots from Republican voters, and 13,560 or 36% of ballots received from independent voters.

And in Jackson, election officials have received 7,473 or 28% of mail-in-ballots from Democratic voters, 9,744 or 36% of ballots from Republican voters, and 9,588 or 36% of ballots from independent voters.

— Joshua Chung

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This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Election Day 2020 live updates: The latest news, results