Making Sense of New Jersey's Upcoming Special Senate Elections

By Colleen O'Dea (Courtesy of NJ Spotlight)

In less than two weeks, New Jersey is going to hold an unprecedented special statewide election and many in the state fear few are going to vote.

“Only the most committed, most dedicated, most partisan voters would show up on a Tuesday in August to vote in this election,” said Ben Dworkin, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics and a political science professor at Rider University.

The primary on Tuesday, August 13 will determine which Democrat and Republican will appear on a special October ballot to replace Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the Democrat who had represented New Jersey for 29 of the last 31 years before his death two months ago.

Confusion over this highly unusual August election is expected to lead to turnout even lower than the typical primary. Candidates and organizations like the League of Women Voters of New Jersey are working to alert potential voters about the date (and extended hours), their ability to vote even if they are not registered as either a Democrat or a Republican, and the opportunity for all New Jerseyans to vote by mail.

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.