New York

To check if you are Registered to Vote, including your Election District Information, Party Affiliation and Voting Location, Click Here.

Primary Day is June 22, 2021. Remember that New York State has a closed primary. Only enrolled members of a party can vote in that party’s primary elections.

Nassau County

Only voters who are enrolled in the Democratic Party and reside in the City of Glen Cove or the City of Long Beach are eligible to vote in the June 22 Primary Election. All registered voters may vote in the November General Election.

Registration Deadlines

May 28, 2021 Last day to postmark voter registration form.
Must be received by the Board of Elections no later than June 2nd, 2021.
May 28, 2021 Last day to submit voter registration form in person at Board of Elections

You may vote:

• By requesting an absentee ballot, More specifics from Nassau County Website
  In person at an early voting polling place between June 12 and June 20, or
• In person at your assigned polling place on June 22.

City of Glen Cove

Seven Democratic candidates are running for six Council seats. Six incumbents are running; Marsha Silverman, Gaitley Stevensn-Mathews, Rocco A. Totino, Dr. Eve Lupenko Ferrante, John Perrone, and Danielle Fugazy Scagliola. Former Glen Cove City Councilman Roderick Watson is the seventh candidate. The candidates are weighing on the issues of transparency in government, partisan politics, development, infrastructure, including information-technology; and balanced growth.

City of Long Beach

June 2 : League of Women’s Voters of Long Beach,NY and the Long Beach Public Library will sponsor a Virtual Candidates Forum for the City of Long Beach Council Candidates. You can either view afterwards or live stream.

Seven Democratic candidates are running for three Council seats. Incumbent John Bendo joins Tina Posterli, and Paulette Waithe in being supported by the Nassau County Democrats. Three Democrats; Kevin Heller, Leah Tozer, and Bill Notholt are running under the banner of Long Beach United. Roy Lester, a former president of the Long Beach school board, bankruptcy lawyer, and frequent critic of city policies, is running on his own.

Residents of the City of Long Beach are still paying off more than $8 million in debt issued almost seven years ago to cover a budget deficit. An investigation last year by the Nassau County District Attorney found “rampant, longstanding, egregious incompetence by many public officials within the Long Beach government,” but the prosecutor didn’t have enough evidence to bring criminal charges.

Important questions remain on how to generate money for the city, lower taxes and expand the tax base. If that isn’t enough, the candidates are facing issues such as repairing infrastructure, smart redevelopment, earning the city residents’ trust in government, and fiscal responsibility.

Suffolk County

Registration Deadlines

May 28, 2021 Last day to postmark voter registration form.
Must be received by the Board of Elections no later than June 2nd, 2021.
May 28, 2021 Last day to submit voter registration form in person at Board of Elections

You may vote:

By requesting an absentee ballot in writing or online . Deadlines provided by League of Women Voters of Suffolk County
In person at an early voting polling place between June 12 and June 20
In person at your assigned polling place on June 22.

Town of East Hampton

Two Democrats; Jeffrey Bragman and Peter K Van Scoyoc are running for Supervisor.
Three Democrats are running for the two Council seats; John P. Whelan, Cathy A Rogers and Kathee Burke-Gonzalez.
Ten Democrats are running for the nine Trustee positions; David J Cataletto, Susan F Mc Graw-Keber, William F Taylor, James C Grimes, Richard P Drew II, John M Aldred, Michael L Martinsen, Francis J Bock, Timothy A Garneau, and Benjamin P Dollinger.

It has been a contentious primary for the candidates including issues like the wind farm, the pandemic , water quality, housing affordability, building a new senior center and hospital emergency room. Others are focused on historic preservation and town infrastructure improvements.

Town of Huntington

Two Working Family Candidates; Rebecca L Sanin and Marissa Anderson are running for Supervisor.
Three Democrats; Hunter J Gross, Joseph G Schramm Jr, and Jen Hebert are running for two Council seats.
Three Working Family Candidates; Jen Hebert, Robert A Smitelli, and Michael J Oddo are running for two Council seats.

Issues facing Huntington candidates include economic development, affordable housing, restoration of public integrity, the effects of the LIPA Tax Settlement, and the Huntington Station revitalization plan.

Town of Islip

Two Republicans; Andrew T Wittman III and Michael S Siniski, are running for Receiver of Taxes.

Town of Southhampton

Two Working Family Candidates; Thomas F Neely and Marc Braeger, are running for Superintendent of Highways.
Three Democrats; Adam B Grossman, incumbent Barbara L Wilson and Shari P Oster, are running for two Town Justice positions.
Three Conservatives; Barbara L Wilson, Bryan L Browns and Patrick J Gunn, are running for two Town Justice positions.
Four Working Family Candidates; Bryan L Browns, Shari P Oster, Adam B Grossman, and Barbara L Wilson are running for two Town Justice positions.
Four Working Family Candidates; Miranda P Schultz, Sean P Mc Ardle, Robin L Long and Thomas Schiavoni are running for two Council seats.

Issues facing the candidates include traffic congestion, public transportation, blue infrastructure, affordable housing, and preservation of open space.

New Jersey

Primary: Tuesday, June 8, 2021

In Person

Last year’s primary and general elections in the Garden State were conducted primarily by mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Gov. Phil Murphy announced in March that this year’s primary election would occur mainly in person. All regular polling places will be open for residents to cast their votes on voting machines.If you’re unsure where your polling place is, you can look it up using your address on the state Division of Elections website.

Although Gov. Murphy signed a law establishing statewide early in-person voting in March, there will not be any early in-person voting in the June primary. A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State said counties still had to acquire new electronic poll books and train workers in how to use them. The November general election in New Jersey is expected to have early in-person voting.

Under state law, anyone who wishes to vote in the primary must be registered with a political party to cast a ballot. However, anyone unaffiliated with a political party can still vote by selecting that party at their polling site on primary day.

By Mail

If you want to vote by mail in New Jersey’s primary election, you can, for any reason, by applying for a mail ballot with your county clerk. You must apply for it by June 1, seven days before the election. You can also apply for it in person at your county clerk’s office until 3 p.m. the day before the election, Monday June 7.

Once you fill out and seal your mail ballot, there are three ways to submit it for your vote to be counted: A return it by mail or B hand it in at your local polling place or C at your county Board of Elections office, or put it in a secure ballot drop box in your county.

The Governor’s Race

Republican Debate Schedule

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 7pm The WKXW (101.5)/Trenton station will host a one hour debate. The debate format includes questions from listeners who will call in, email, post questions to social media.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 8 pm A live virtual primary debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli and Hirsh Singh on NJ PBS. The public is asked to submit questions for the candidates.

The Candidates

Four Republicans have declared their candidacy to oust Democrat incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy. The winner of the primary election will get to challenge the current Gov. Phil Murphy, who is running unopposed under the Democratic ticket. The candidates include Brian D. Levine, Jack Ciattarelli, Hirsh V. Singh, and Philip Rizzo.

Policies and Proposals

Because New Jersey is one of only two states to elect a governor in the year after a presidential election (Virginia is the other), its shaping up as one of the nation’s earliest electoral judgments on the Trump years. Can the GOP frontrunner, Jack Ciattarelli, steer clear of Donald Trump?

Ciattarelli’s platform is centered on relaxing pandemic-related restrictions and reinvigorating the New Jersey economy in the wake of the health crisis. Brian Levine describes himself as  fiscally conservative but not ideologically, maintaining that his occupational background as a CPA would benefit New Jersey’s economic compass. Hirsh V Singh trying to paint himself as the more pro-Trump Republican and Ciattarelli as too moderate. Phillip Rizzo, an avowed supporter of former president Trump, takes a pro-life stance and has never run for political office.

Finances

Ciattarelli and Gov. Phil Murphy are the only candidates to qualify for public funds, which caps candidates at spending $7.3 million during the primary election.

Because Ciattarelli is accepting state matching funds for his campaign and because Singh raised enough money in donations, they are required to debate. Rizzo failed to qualify for the debate as he reportedly missed the deadline to file paperwork and that “deficiencies” were included in the papers he did submit. Rizzo is a former businessman in the construction and real estate industries. A state appellate court ruled May 20 that Rizzo missed the deadline to file, according to the New Jersey Globe.

The New Jersey State Legislature Elections

The New Jersey Senate has 40 members, and the New Jersey General Assembly has 80 members. One Senator and two Assembly Members will be elected from each of the 40 districts of New Jersey. Assembly members hold two year terms, while Senators hold four year terms.

In the past, New Jersey used the decennial Census survey to redraw legislative maps in time for its odd-year state elections. This time, New Jersey delayed redistricting as a result of a constitutional amendment approved by voters last November. This controversial vote guaranteed that districts, last drawn in 2011, would stay in place. ““What we have for [the next] two years now is a map that does not reflect ‘one person, one vote,’ where folks are getting their rightful representation in the legislature”.

Your District’s Candidates

Is your district having a Primary contest? Confirm what your legislative district is. See if it is listed below. These are all of the candidates in the New Jersey State Senate Primary and the New Jersey General Assembly Primary.

Major Legislative Districts Primary Contests

If you live in the districts below, research how each candidate is addressing issues that are important to you . Local newspapers are severely limited and online news sources often have a money wall. Search social media sites and contact the campaigns for more information and volunteer opportunities. These local races in November make up the foundation of this Democracy.

District 2 State Senate Race
Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nod to try to replace GOP Sen. Chris Brown in Atlantic County’s 2nd District. Vincent Polistina, who represented the district in the Assembly nine years ago, is up against Seth Grossman, who fared better than expected in his 2018 loss to Jeff Van Drew for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

Ocean County’s 10th District Assembly Race
Incumbents Assemblymen John Catalano and Gregory McGuckin received the GOP endorsement. Running as Conservative Republicans are two Toms River residents, Geraldine Ambrosio and Brian Quinn.Word is that Quinn and Ambrosio are running under the ticket led by New Jersey gubernatorial candidate, conservative Hirsh Singh. Neither have websites.

District 16
For friends and family:
There are primary contests for both the Assembly and Senate
in the 16th District, which spans parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties.

State Senate Race
Two Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination for Senate: Michael Pappas, a former congressman from Branchburg and Jeffrey Grant of Belle Mead. Issues are centered around how the state is handling the pandemic, economic recovery, taxation , “political, ethnic and gender radicalism in our public schools” and preserving the second amendment. The winner will face the Democratic Senate Candidate Andrew Zwicker in November.
Assembly Race
Three Democrats filed for two Assembly slots: Incumbent Assemblyman Roy Freiman of Hillsborough is running with former Montgomery Mayor Sadaf Jaffer. Faris Zwirahn of Princeton is also competing for a seat.

Proposals in this race include an economic recovery that creates green jobs, promotes civil and human rights, and empowers an inclusive public health approach to COVID-19. Another candidate has a focus on policies that impact the most marginalized residents of the state, child care subsidies and restorative justice alternatives. Imagining a future that includes tax breaks for restaurants and small businesses, and expanding access to quality healthcare and mental health services are priorities for a third candidate.

The 18th District in Middlesex County.
Two full slates of candidates are contesting the Democratic primary.

State Senate Race
Two Democrats are running for Senate: Incumbent Senator Patrick Diegnan Jr. and Mohin Patel of Edison. The Democratic party endorsed Senator Diegnan.
Assembly Race
Democrat incumbents Robert Karabinchak and Sterley Stanley are running against Lisa Salem of Edison and Maurice Alfaro Sr. of Metuchen. The new candidates are running under the slogan Middlesex Democratic Party. Two candidates have neither web nor social media sites.

The 20th District
The 20th District that includes Elizabeth and other Union County municipalities has the largest field of any in the state, with crowded Democratic primaries for both the Senate and Assembly.

State Senate Race
Democrat incumbent Senator Joseph Cryan is running against candidate Jamel Holley.
Assembly Race
Incumbent Assembly Member Annette Quijano and candidate Rev. Reginald Atkins received the Union County party endorsement. They are running against Democrat candidates Christian Velez and Diane Murray-Clements of Hillside. Progressive Democrats Ricky Castaneda and Aissa Heath of Elizabeth are also in the race.

The 21st District Assembly Race
Three Republicans are vying for two Assembly seats which encompasses parts of Union, Morris and Somerset counties. Incumbent Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz is running with Michele Matsikoudis with party backing. Jennifer Makar of Roselle Park also running.

The 26th District Assembly Race
Three Republicans are seeking the nod for two Assembly seats in the 26th District, which spans parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. The filings indicate incumbents Jay Webber and BettyLou DeCroce are bracketed together. The third candidate, who got the endorsement in Morris County, the largest portion of the district, is Christian Barranco of Oak Ridge.

The 30th District Assembly Race
Three Republicans are seeking two Assembly nominations in the 30th District, which covers parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties. Incumbents Assemblymen Sean Kean and Edward Thomson are facing a challenge from Alter Eliezer Richter.

The 37th District
Two full slates of Democrats are vying in Bergen County’s 37th District, where Sen. Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg’s retirement has set off an intraparty battle.

Senate Race
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, who received the Bergen County Democratic Committee’s endorsement, is running against Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, campaigning under the slogan “Real Bergen Democrats”.
Assembly Race
Shama Haider of Tenafly and Ellen Park of Englewood Cliffs are seeking the seats and are opposed by Gervonn Romney-Rice of Teaneck and Lauren Dayton of Tenafly.

The League of Women Voters are sponsoring a candidate’s forum for Democrats running for Senate and Assembly seats in the 37th District primary. The forum is scheduled for May 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The 39th District Assembly Race

Four Republicans are vying for two Assembly seats. Incumbents Assemblyman Robert Auth and Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio are facing John Azzariti and Jonathan Kurpis.

Local Elections

Local Town, Village, and County Primary elections are being held throughout the states of New York and New Jersey. Find out what’s happening in your community. Get involved.

Lambertville, New Jersey – Democratic Primary

After a competitive election in June 2018, former longtime mayor David Del Vecchio and newcomer Andrew Nowick will be running against each other in the Democratic Primary for the nomination to run for mayor of Lambertville in 2021. When asked what the biggest issues he would prioritize if elected mayor, Nowick said encouraging more civic engagement, helping the city recover from the COVID pandemic and focusing on the state of the city’s municipal buildings. Del Vecchio cited his top three issues as being holding taxes and spending; having more consistent services; and meeting climate change goals.

More recently, former mayor Dave Delvecchio and Andrew Nowick answered a range of questions regarding the growth of city debt, keeping property taxes low, protecting the Lambertville water system, and many other issues of concern at a recent Candidates Forum.
I have known Andrew Nowick for many years and can attest to his brilliance and diligence, in addition to his commitment to transparency and accountability.

Flemington Borough Council, New Jersey – Democratic Primary

Incumbents Council Member Chris Runion, and Council President Caitin Giles-McCormick are joined by are running for two Council seats. Mayor Driver has supported Rosetti and Giles-McCormick. Rosetti has also won the support of the New Jersey Young Democrats. I could only find information on Liz Rosetti from her 2020 campaign.

All three candidates had the opportunity introduce themselves to voters, and answer questions gathered from recent news articles and questions contributed by residents at a recent Candidates Forum.

Next Post: Update on NY and NJ Primaries, and ongoing Civic Engagement