For Immedate Release:
This week, local governments and elected officials across New Jersey decried the exorbitant cost of Governor Christie’s decision to hold an extra election on a Wednesday in October only three weeks before the general election. His cynical ploy to suppress voter turnout is going to cost New Jersey’s taxpayers well beyond $24 million. With no plans to pay for the costs immediately, local governments are scrambling to rearrange their budgets and calling the decision ‘mind-numbing’, ‘fiscally irresponsible’, and ‘bad governing.’ Read for yourself below.
Special Senate primary, election will cost Bergen County $1.6M apiece, clerk says
By S.P. Sullivan//The Star-Ledger
The special Senate primary and election to replace the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg will cost $1.6 million each to pull off, the Bergen County Clerk said this week. "There's a lot of costs that come with putting an election together," John Hogan told NJ.com. "Even though there may be a lesser turnout, you still have to put the same amount of work in."
Hunterdon County legislators continue to push back against N.J. special election
By Andrew George//The Express-Times
Democratic state legislators from Hunterdon County are continuing a push this week to change the date of this November's general election to coincide with the special election scheduled for October. On Monday, state Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a Democrat whose 15th District covers parts of Hunterdon and Mercer counties, introduced a bill he cosponsored with Assemblywoman Linda Stender aiming to change the general election from Nov. 5 to Oct. 16, the scheduled date for the special election.
..."What is truly mind-numbing is to expect voters to return to the ballot booths three times in three months at a great cost to taxpayers in reopening schools shut down for the summer, paying poll workers and providing overtime for added police security," Gusciora said in a statement earlier in the week.
Bergen County freeholders seek court order requiring state to pay for special Senate election
By Jim Norman//The Record
The Bergen County freeholders agreed unanimously Wednesday to direct their attorney to seek a court order requiring the state to pay for the costs of the special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Frank Lautenberg. Noting that the election — set by Governor Christie for Oct. 16 after Aug. 13party primaries — would add $3.6 million to budgeted election costs, the county is asking for immediate reimbursement from the state.
Monmouth officials want state to pay special election cost up front
By Christopher Robbins//The Star-Ledger
Monmouth County officials are happy to hold a special election for U.S. Senator in October, but they would like the state to pay the costs up front. “We budgeted for the November election and the primary, we did not budget for this election,” Freeholder Gary Rich said. “We are reaching out to the state and asking if they could to fund this up front.” At their next meeting, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders will consider a resolution to request that the state pay for the Oct. 16 special election and the Aug. 13 party primaries.
Union County Freeholders decline to fund special U.S. Senate election
By Richard Khavkine//The Star-Ledger
Calling Gov. Chris Christie's decision to hold a special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant after the recent death of Frank Lautenberg just weeks before an already scheduled election fiscally irresponsible, the Union County Freeholders on Thursday night declined to allocate the roughly $850,000 to fund the special balloting day, scheduled for October. Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh said holding two elections within weeks at such a cost was an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. "To have a special general election three weeks before (the scheduled election), that doesn't make any sense," Jalloh said this morning. "I haven't been given an good reason as to why we would fund this twice."
Mercer County freeholders express concerns about special October elections
Times of Trenton
The all-Democratic Mercer County Board of Freeholders said last night they are concerned about the impact of the special October election on local voters and budgets. Their objections coincided with an Appellate Court ruling yesterday that the October election can be held as scheduled. “Without question, the Governor was authorized to call a special election in this circumstance,” state Superior Court Judge Jane Grall wrote.
