HomeMy Public PortalAboutr 02:323No. 02-323 Date of Adoption September 5, 2002
URGING THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT A-273 TO
RETURN POLLING HOURS TO THE TIMES THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO
2002
WHEREAS, Legislation adopted in September 2001 increased the hours that polls
were open during election and primaries from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.; and
WHEREAS, the polls had previously been open for voters for thirteen (13) hours.
The new legislation imposed a fourteen (14) hour voting day on election workers,
many of whom are senior citizens and were already working under an undue
burden making it difficult to recruit and to maintain a motivated, well trained cadre
of election workers; and
WHEREAS, the existing poll hours combined with existing provisions in the law
allowing for absentee ballots offered every opportunity for a motivated citizen to
vote; and
WHEREAS, very few citizens are getting to the polls early enough in the morning
to vote during the earlier hour provided by last year's legislation and election
workers must now try to get to the polls by 5:00 a.m. and typically work until 9:00
p.m. on election days creating an intolerable situation for dedicated election day
workers, many of whom are senior citizens; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill No. 273, sponsored by Assemblymen Permacchio and
DeCroce, would return polling hours to the original times at 7:00 am to 8:00 p.m.
and would alleviate many of the overbearing conditions which have been
exacerbated by the extended polling hours introduced last year and is worthy of
passage.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the
Borough of Carteret, County of Middlesex, and State of New Jersey, do hereby
urge the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly to enact A-273 to return
the polling hours to those prior to 2002.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to
Governor James E. McGreevy, Senate President Codey, Senate President Bennett,
Assembly Speaker Sires, the Assembly Housing and Local Government
Committee, the Senate Community, Senator Joseph Vitale, Assemblywoman
Arlene Friscia, and Assemblyman John Wisneiwski and the New Jersey State
League of Municipalities.
Adopted this 5th day of September, 2002
and certified as a true copy of the
original on September 6, 2002.
KATHLEEN M. BARNEY
Municipal Clerk
RECORD OF COUNCIL VOTE
COUNCILMAN Yi~$ NO NV A.B, COUNCILMAN YES NO NV A.B.
pARISI X S/a'gllJgO X
X
11~ X SOclAYi~
RIOS X ~
X - Indicate Vote AB - Absent NV - Not Voting XOR - Indicates Vote to Overrule Veto