Perth Amboy runoff election is Tuesday. Here's what's at stake
PERTH AMBOY – Voters will decide Tuesday who will lead the city for the next four years.
Because no mayoral candidate in the November general election received 50% of the vote, incumbent Mayor Wilda Diaz, running under the "Stronger Together" slogan, will face off against Councilman Helmin J. Caba, running under the "2020 Vision for Perth Amboy" slogan, in the runoff election.
Diaz and Caba received the most votes in the November election, which had five candidates running for mayor. Diaz received 4,946 votes, while Caba received 4,525 votes.
Also running in the runoff election for two, four-year seats on the city council are Rose B. Morales and Bienvenido "BJ" Torres Jr., who are running on Caba’s slate, and Bernadette Falcon-Lopez and Junior A. Iglesia, who are running on Diaz’s slate.
Election '20: Perth Amboy school board candidate who lost by 10 votes files for recount
Election '20: 66,000 New Jersey ballots were rejected in November election. Here's why they were tossed
Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order in November setting the date of the runoff election to allow enough time for every registered voter to be sent a mail-in ballot as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
According to Middlesex County's website, ballots were sent to city voters the week of Nov. 23. Anyone who did not receive a ballot may request a replacement from the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office by calling 732-745-4202 or by sending a replacement ballot request form.
Ballots may be returned through the mail and must be postmarked by Dec. 15.
Ballots also may be dropped off at one of the Middlesex County Board of Elections’ three drop box locations before 8 p.m. Dec. 15.
The drop box locations are:
- Perth Amboy Public Safety Complex, 361 New Brunswick Ave. The drop box is located located between Municipal Court and Police Station; closer to police station entrance.
- Perth Amboy City Hall, 260 High St. The drop box is located on the west side of the building, directly in front of the window.
- Board of Elections Office, 1 Kennedy Blvd, East Brunswick. The drop box is located under a tree.
Drop Boxes are secure and monitored by video surveillance. Ballots are collected from drop boxes on a daily basis, seven days a week
Completed and sealed ballots also can be submitted at assigned polling location in-person on Tuesday. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Districts 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5 will vote at Alexander F. Jankowski Community Center, 1 Olive St.
- Districts 4-6, 6-3, 6-5, 6-7, 6-9,6-12, 6-13,6-14 at James J. Flynn School , 850 Chamberlain Ave.
- Districts 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 at McGinnis Middle School, 271 State St.
- Districts 3-1, 3-2, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, 6-6, 6-8, 6-10, 6-11 at Perth Amboy High School , 300 Eagle Ave.
- Districts 1-1,1-2,1-4,1-5 at Robert N. Wilentz School, 51 First St.
Residents will be prohibited from submitting another individual's ballot at polling locations.
If you do not receive a mail-in ballot or wish to vote in-person, you can vote by paper provisional ballot only at your assigned polling place.
A limited number of machines will be available only for voters with a disability. Accommodations will be made for voters with a disability at their polling location. If you are a disabled voter and need access to an ADA accessible ballot marking device to vote on Dec. 15, call the Middlesex County Board of Elections at 732-745-3471.
According to Municipal Clerk Victoria Ann Kupsch, the state said votes must be certified by Dec. 30.
For additional information about the Perth Amboy runoff election, visit bit.ly/3qGFTsj.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.