Howell 2024 Voter Guide: Deadlines, Who's Running

HOWELL, NJ — The 2024 general election is rapidly approaching. While the federal election for president continues to draw the most attention, there are elections at the local level as well.

Our voter guide covers what you need to know about making sure you are registered to vote, how you can vote by mail if you choose, when early voting begins and where polling places are for Election Day, along with who's on the ballot in Howell Township from the local level to the federal campaigns.

Key dates

• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5
• Deadline to register to vote: Tuesday, Oct. 15. Check your voter registration here.
• Early voting: Oct. 26-Nov. 3; Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail: Tuesday, Oct. 29. Mail-In Ballot Application
• Deadline for in-person applications for a mail-in ballot: Nov. 4 by 3 p.m.
• Where can I drop off my ballot? See Ocean County ballot drop-box locations. Ballots must be deposited in the dropbox by 8 p.m. Nov. 5
• Mailing it? Ballots must be postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 5 and received by the Board of Elections by Nov. 11
• Where can I vote in person? Find your polling location online; it also will be on your sample ballot. Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
• Track your mail-in ballot.

Who Are The Candidates?

In Howell Township, there are elections for both the municipal government and the school boards.

There are two candidates seeking election to succeed Theresa Berger as mayor. John Leggio is the Republican candidate running on the No Strings Attached slogan, after winning a three-way primary in June. John Hughes is the Democratic candidate.

There is one seat open on the Township Council. Incumbent Evelyn Malsbury O'Donnell, a Republican, is seeking re-election to the four-year seat. Rebecca Scott is the Democratic candidate, and Betty L. Velez-Gimbel, running on the Vision With Action slogan, is an independent.

The Howell Township Board of Education, which oversees the town's kindergarten through eighth grade schools, has three, three-year terms up for election. Incumbents Jennifer Okerson and Stephen Levine are seeking re-election. They are being challenged by Margaret "Maggie" Lazur, running on the slogan A Fresh Voice; Matthew I. Withers, Suzanne Gabriel, Frank D. Maletto Jr., and Sara Moran, who is running on the slogan Fiscally Responsible Parent.

Also up for election is the Howell Township seat on the Freehold Regional High School Board of Education. The one three-year term is being sought by Gabriella Gugliotta-Comes` and Peter J. Bruno, the incumbent, running on the slogan Our Students First.

Here's a quick rundown of the choices that voters will be asked to make on a national, state and county level:

• Presidential race: Residents can either cast a write-in vote or choose between Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, the Democratic candidates, or former President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, the Republicans. Also running are: Claudia de la Cruz and Karina Garcia, Party for Socialism and Liberation; Rachele Fruit and Margaret Trowe, Socialist Workers Party; Joseph Kishore and Jerry White, Socialist Equality party; Chase Oliver and Mike Ter Maat, Libertarian Party; Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware, Green Party; Randall A. Terry and Stephen E. Broden, U.S. Constitution Party.
  
  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, will appear on the ballot as independents. While Kennedy withdrew from the race on Aug. 23 and endorsed Trump, it was too late to have his name removed from the ballot in New Jersey, which has a deadline of Aug. 16 for candidates to withdraw. Requests from Kennedy and from the state Democratic Party Committee to remove Kennedy's name were rejected, the New Jersey Globe reported.
  
• U.S. Senate: The U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Robert Menendez is up for election. Democrat Andy Kim, who has been serving the Third District in the House of Representatives since January 2019, is being challenged for the seat by Republican Curtis Bashaw, a newcomer. Also running for the six-year term are: Kenneth Kaplan, Libertarian Party; Christina Khalil, Green Party; Joanne Kuniansky, Socialist Workers Party; Patricia G. Mooneyham, on the Vote Better slogan.
• U.S. House of Representatives: All 12 House seats in New Jersey are up for election, including the 4th District. Incumbent Republican Chris Smith is seeking his 23rd term in the House. His challengers are Democrat Matthew Jenkins; Barry Bendar of the Green Party, and John Morrison of the Libertarian Party.
• Monmouth County: There is one four-year term up for election on the Board of Commissioners. Republican Susan M. Kiley, the incumbent, is being challenged by Democrat Danielle Mastropiero.

Note: This article has been updated to clarify the status of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign.