A documentary showing how officials and volunteers worked together so residents could vote only eight days after Hurricane Sandy ravaged many polling places can be viewed on the League of Women Voters website.
The League, a non-partisan organization that advocates for voters, produced the film.
The film shows scenes of devastation in parts of Ocean County, including Point Pleasant Beach, as well as interviews with officials from Ocean County to Hoboken who talked about how difficult it was to pull off elections a week after the superstorm flooded polling places and sent residents scrambling for shelter.
"On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey with an incredible force of destruction," says the League on its website. "By the next morning, one week before the election, millions of New Jersey residents were without power, displaced from their homes, and overwhelmed by the devastation of the storm. Some 800 polling places throughout the state were without power."
" 'Storming for the Vote: Hurricane Sandy and the Election' is a documentary film about advocates, government officials, and an energized and motivated public whose efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy ensured that citizens displaced or disrupted by the storm were able to exercise their right to vote.
"Sponsored and produced by the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, this 20-minute film deepens the public’s understanding of the election process, policies and reforms post Sandy.
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"The filmmakers conduct interviews with leaders, policy experts, municipal officials, and the executive leadership of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
"Dramatic news footage and videos from citizen journalists are combined with candid interviews with voters from across the state," the website says.
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"This film demonstrates that for New Jersey citizens, having the opportunity to cast a vote was a comfort, a palpable sense of relief, a moment of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic and disorienting week, and most importantly an inspiring testament to the fact that participating in the democratic process unites and serves all of us," said Kerry Butch, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
Many residents had to vote by absentee ballot or at polling places in other towns. For example, Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head and Mantoloking residents all voted at Borough Hall, Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant Borough. That was even while Point Pleasant Borough was grappling with its own challenges since a few of its own polling places, including Bay Head Shores Club House, had been flooded and could not be used.
The film will also be shown at forums at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County library on Oct. 29, the one year anniversary of the storm that sent residents and business people into a tail spin that still has many of them reeling.
"And yet, the democratic process carried on and with the help of county workers, volunteers, the libraries and a host of advocates, organizations and the individual voters, polls opened, ballots were cast and victories were declared."
Those efforts are captured in the documentary which chronicles the actions taken so that everyone who wanted to vote had the ability to do so in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
"The League of Women Voters did an exceptional job producing a documentary that captured the emotional and devastating impact that Sandy had on our county as well as showcasing the great spirit of our residents to cast their votes despite the obstacles faced after the storm," said county clerk Scott Colabella.
The public is invited to attend two free forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters to view "Storming for the Vote" and hear from a panel of election officials as they discuss the affects of the storm on the election.
The forums are scheduled to run from 5 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 in Mancini Hall at the county library's main branch, 101 Washington St., Toms River.
The documentary produced and directed by noted Filmmaker Christina Eliopoulos, features footage of the county after the storm and interviews with Colabella and county Board of Elections supervisors as they provide first-hand recollections of their efforts to administer a Presidential Election in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
"Scott and his staff and the Board of Elections and so many County and local agencies, and organizations deserve a great deal of credit for running this election under adverse conditions," said county Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety and liaison to the clerk's office. "I would like to thank the League of Women Voters for capturing the spirit of cooperation that was so very apparent during this time."
According to Colabella, 253,333 people cast ballots out of 383,260 registered voters or a 66 percent turnout during the 2012 General Election.
"This was a remarkable turnout considering the circumstances," Colabella said. "This was an unforgettable time in the history of Ocean County and our state."
The documentary can be viewed on the League website by clicking here.
More information about the League is available at its website.
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