What Primary? You Can Vote, but Many are Unaware

Tuesday is the primary election, but if you are like most New Jersey residents you may not have known that.

Madison has three candidates on ballots for two spots on the Borough Council, Jeannie Tsukamoto and Rob Catalanello for the Republican primary, and Bob McDowell for the Democratic primary.

Remember, you can only vote in the party's primary in which you are registered.

But are you like most residents, and unaware that you even have the chance to vote?

According to the most recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind, a large majority of the state is unaware of the primary.

Only fourteen percent polled correctly noted that the next time the public would have an opportunity to vote would be the state's June primary election.

Most voters–48 percent–thought the next time they'd have a chance to be heard was in November. Four percent thought they'd have to wait until the 2012 presidential election. There were 30 percent who didn't know when the next vote was taking place.

"Americans have more opportunities to vote than any other people in the world," said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and director of the poll in a release. "But we're oblivious to it."

One in five voters–or 21 percent–over 60 years of age knew they'd have their next chance Tuesday, compared to 13 percent of boomers age 45-59, and to 5 percent of voters under 30.

And one in five Republican voters–or 20 percent–identified June as the next opportunity, compared to 13 percent of Democrats and 6 percent of independents. 

"If you want your vote to count," said Woolley, "a contested primary is where your vote has the most influence.  If you're voting on primary day, you're part of an elite."

Tuesday's vote in the borough isn't contested based on those who will be on the ballots. Barring a large among of write-in votes, current council president Tsukamoto and Catalanello will take the two spots for the Republicans heading into November's general election. McDowell would be the lone Democrat listed for the party come November.

The Fairleigh Dickinson University poll of 555 registered voters statewide was conducted by telephone from May 20, 2010, through May 23, 2010, and has a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.

Polls in Madison are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Below is a list of polling locations and which districts they serve.

New Life Fellowship
203 Green Avenue
Fellowship Hall
Districts 1 and 9

North Star Athletic Club
95 North Street
Front Entrance Room
Districts 2, 4 and 10

Grace Episcopal Church
4 Madison Avenue
Grace Hall
Districts 3, 7, 11 and 12

Madison Public Library
39 Keep Street
Chase Auditorium
Districts 5 and 13

Madison Housing Authority
15 Chateau Thierry
Community Room
Districts 6 and 14

Madison YMCA
111 Kings Road
Front Left Lobby
District 8