Redistricting leads to 'strangers' on ballot for some in Sussex, Warren counties

NEWTON — Voters in southern Sussex County and northern Warren County are seeing some new names on their ballots this year as new Congressional district boundaries take effect.

As required by the U.S. Constitution, every 10 years following the census, Congressional districts are adjusted with the intent of keeping all districts as close to the same population as possible. As a result, the Fifth District, which previously extended through southern Sussex and into northern Warren, now just includes the northern 14 municipalities of Sussex County.

The southeastern part of Sussex County, which had formerly been part of the 11th district, is now joined with the central and western municipalities of Sussex County along with the northern tier of towns in Warren County to become part of the 7th District.

The shifts could play a major role in who wins Tuesday's contests − and even the balance of power in Washington D.C. Redistricting this year largely benefitted incumbents who gained more Democratic voters. The one exception is the 7th, where U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski is one of the most endangered Democrats in the country, considered an underdog to Republican Tom Kean Jr.

"We've had a few, maybe a handful, of people calling because they thought they got the wrong ballot," said Ellen Griffiths, Chief Clerk Administrator of the Sussex County Board of Elections. "They didn't recognize the names on their ballots."

More:Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallotta to have U.S. House rematch next week. Here's what to know

With less than a week to go before voting closes on Election Day, there has also been concerns from residents who claim they have received calls giving them incorrect polling location information.

Sussex County Clerk Jeff Parrott said his office, which by voting, received reports that the callers claimed to be from “Future Voting,” and are giving the incorrect location information, a problem that is not confined just to Sussex County, with other county clerks also reporting similar incidents.

"The spreading of incorrect information can lead to chaos on Election Day by misdirecting voters to polling places where they will not be able to vote," he said. The messages appear to come in unsolicited text messages.

Parrott said anyone who gets such a text or e-mail message to disregard it. Voters can confirm their polling place information through his office, the County Board of Elections, and the NJ Division of Elections by using the Polling Place Search app.

In New Jersey, all registered voters should have received an official Sample Ballot which lists their assigned Election Day polling location and hours. Those Sample Ballots were mailed by the County Clerk’s Office the week of Oct. 24.

Parrott said anyone who receives a text from “Future Voting” or other unofficial source directing them to a new or unfamiliar polling place, to immediately report the incident to his office.

More politics:New Jersey Latinos say politicians snub them — until election season begins

Of interest'I prayed I would not wake up': NJ human trafficking survivor advocates for education

In Sussex County, the Fifth Congressional District now includes Andover Township, Branchville, Frankford, Franklin Borough, Hamburg Borough, Hampton, Hardyston, Lafayette, Montague, Newton, Sandyston, Sussex Borough, Vernon and Wantage.

In the Fifth District, candidates are the incumbent Democrat, Josh Gottheimer, facing Republican Frank T. Pallotta, Louis Vellucci, running under the party label of American Values, Libertarian Party candidate Jeremy Marcus and Trevor James Ferrigno, running under the Together We Stand party label.

The remainder of Sussex County falls in the extended District Seven and includes Andover Borough, Byram, Fredon, Green, Hopatcong Borough, Ogdensburg Borough, Sparta, Stanhope Borough, Stillwater and Walpack.

None of Sussex County is left in the 11th Congressional District, where incumbent Democrat Mikie Sherrill is facing Republican Paul DeGroot.

New Jersey state elections are held in odd-numbered years when there will also be new Legislative District lines.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Redistricting in NJ leads to unknown names on ballot for some