Brick Council Opposes Early Voting Law

The Brick Township council this week voted in favor of opposing a state law that will allow for early voting statewide.

The early voting law, if signed by Gov. Chris Christie, would be an unfunded mandate. Brick would be compelled to provide at least two polling places prior to primary and general elections that would have to be paid for through municipal funds.

School elections are not covered under the law.

Township Clerk Lynnette Iannarone said the formula which would determine how many polling places would be required in Brick has not yet been developed, but assuming two polling places would have to operate between five weeks and two days prior to the election, the cost would total $45,063 per year inclusive of both the primary and general elections.

The state could require more than two polling places, however, and officials are also worried about the idea of an an additional primary election being revived in presidential election years.

"This has the potential to double or triple," said Councilwoman Susan Lydecker, who said she would support early voting if it would not cost local taxpayers.

Right now, Brick officials know that they would have to have more than one polling place for potential early voting since the township has more than 30,000 residents.

Not everyone agreed with the opposition to early voting, however.

"I don't feel that the financial cost is really so prohibitive to have the council vote against early voting, because every vote is important," said resident Sam Foster, who addressed the council at its meeting Tuesday.

As it stands now, early voting by mail is available to New Jersey residents, though physical polling places are only open on Election Day itself.