By TALIA WIENER
wiener@montclairlocal.news
Corrections are being issued for incorrect poll location information on sample ballots sent to residents in 11 of Montclair’s 35 voting districts.
Montclair voters will head to polls tomorrow to elect two candidates to the Montclair Board of Education, in the township’s first-ever school board election.
Community members have reached out to the township regarding incorrect polling location information on sample ballots, Township Communications Director Katya Wowk said Monday.
The Essex County Board of Elections handles polling site assignments and has re-mailed poll assignments with the corrections noted, Wowk said.
A representative at the Board of Elections asked that questions be sent by email Monday; Montclair Local is awaiting a response from board Clerk Linda Von Nessi.
- Ward 1, District 2 was listed at the fire house at 588 Valley Road. The accurate location is Bradford School, 87 Mount Hebron Road.
- Ward 1, Districts 1, 3 and 6 were listed at Mt. Hebron Middle School, 173 Lorraine Ave. The accurate location is Buzz Aldrin Middle School, 173 Bellevue Ave.
- Ward 2, District 2 was listed at Montclair High School, 100 Chestnut St. The accurate location is the George Innes Annes, 141 Park St.
- Ward 2, District 7 was listed at Renaissance at Rand School, 176 North Fullerton Ave. The accurate location is the George Innes Annes of Montclair High School, 141 Park St.
- Ward 3, Districts 2, 3 and 5 were listed at the United Way Building, 60 South Fullerton Ave. The accurate location is the Charles H. Bullock School, 55 Washington St.
- Ward 3, District 4 was listed at the Cedar Avenue fire house, 151 Harrison Ave. The accurate location is Nishuane School, 36 Cedar Ave.
- Ward 3, District 6 was listed at the Walnut Street fire house, 95 Walnut St. The accurate location is the Montclair Township Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Ave.
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A community email from Montclair Township acknowledged the incorrect polling information.
“Some of the polling places on paper sample ballot are incorrect,” the email says. “The County Board of Elections handles the polling site assignments and has re-mailed poll assignments with the corrections.”
Residents can also search for and verify their polling places at the state Department of Elections website.
Yvonne Bouknight and Jeannette Williams, two of the candidates, told Montclair Local late last week they’d spoken to voters who hadn’t yet received sample ballots, though they didn’t know if some of the ballots may have arrived since those conversations.
Community members have also reached out to the township about missing mail-in ballots, Wowk said. Residents should contact the Essex County Clerk’s Office if they have not received requested vote-by-mail ballots, she said. The clerk’s office can be reached at (973) 621-4921.
Polling sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 8. Polling locations are searchable at the New Jersey Division of Elections website. Contact the municipal clerk’s office for polling location questions at 973-509-4900.
March 1 was the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the special election via mail. Monday, March 7 at 3 p.m. is the deadline to apply for vote-by-mail ballot in person or by an authorized messenger.
A ballot box located at the Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Avenue will be open on until 8 p.m. on Tuesday for those who wish to drop vote-by-mail ballots there.
At Tuesday’s special election, voters will choose from among nine candidates for two newly created seats on the school board. The board is growing from seven to nine members as part of Montclair’s conversion to a Type II school district with an elected board, from a Type I district with a mayor-appointed board, approved by voters last November.
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