Live Updates: Election Day In New Jersey

Last updated at 3:40 p.m.

It's Election Day in New Jersey. Follow along with our live updates:

Despite running its election via the mail and asking people to drop off their ballots at drop boxes, New Jersey saw lines popping up at polling places in Newark and elsewhere on Tuesday. Images were captured on social and by News12 showing lines at polling stations, despite the fact that more than 3.5 million have already voted. Patch will be posting updates over the course of the day.

News12 reported that voters weren't able to access a local church to vote a half-hour after polls had opened.

Read more: Unopen Polling Sites, Long Lines In North Jersey On Election Day

Lines were much smaller elsewhere:

Read more:

• DOJ Monitoring Voting Rights Compliance In NJ Counties
• NJ Superior Court Judges Available For Election Day Hearings

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. New Jersey has conducted a vote-by-mail operation, and a limited numbers of in-person polling places are available.

If you go to a polling location to vote on Election Day, you will be provided with a paper provisional ballot. If you have a disability that prevents you from voting on a paper ballot, you will be provided access to an accessible voting device. Also, a voter may drop off their vote by mail ballot at their polling place (see more election information below).

In Willingboro, Gov. Phil Murphy joined Rep. Andy Kim, D-Burlington, Ocean, for a rally at Kim’s campaign office before Kim’s volunteers went out to encourage registered voters who have not yet voted to go vote.

Murphy said the election was about finding common ground and leaving behind partisan rhetoric, which is what Kim will do, he said.

“It’s not about squeaking across the finish line,” Kim said. “It’s about winning so decisively that we send a message. It’s about fighting for the people, and I’m in it for the community.”

At the Alfred Zampella School in Jersey City, there were no lines around 10 a.m. Tuesday, and, according to sign-holders and voting aids, there hadn’t been most of the day.

The six-feet markers were present to separate folks, but weren’t needed, according to Carolyn Burno.

Present at the location since 6 a.m., Burno said most voters had filled out their ballots at home and were simply dropping them off inside.

Wearing a Biden-Harris mask, Burno, 68, doesn’t live in the neighborhood, but came to help in the Heights after the polling location by her house wasn’t used this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A longtime voter, Burno said the 2020 presidential election and the months leading up to it had created an environment she hasn’t seen before.

She spoke to violence and looting during George Floyd protests, but also the pandemic and response to it as driving forces for the intensified vitriol.

“This here is the worst I’ve seen,” said Burno.

While Burno has witnessed elections first-hand for years, Julien Castello is just dipping his toes into local politics in 2020.

Standing next to a Patrick Ambrossi for Council sign, Castello, a high school junior, told Patch his interest in politics drove him to participate even though he won’t cast his first ballot until 2024.

He described his experience as revealing in a few ways, particularly in how aggressive and “competitive” campaigning could be.

The tense experiences he said could be describing as “weird,” as is the environment in which he’s getting his first taste of politics.

There was a steady stream of voters at Cherry Hill High School East i Camden County between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., but no long lines. Voters had varying views on in-person voting and voting by mail this as opposed to voting in the past.

“It took a little longer this year, but it was easy enough,” said David Bross, who said he always intended to vote in-person. “I split my vote between the parties. I’m an independent, right-leaning centrist.”

Resident Andrew Athians said he normally knows what to expect when he votes electronically.

Receiving a provisional ballot at the polls was knew, and he said he nearly forgot to turn his provisional ballot over. He originally wanted to vote-by-mail, but ultimately decided that voting in person was the best way to go.

“I voted for Biden and all the Democrats,” Athians said. “I absolutely was not a fan of Trump when he was running, and I was surprised he was even on the ballot in 2016. I don’t like Joe Biden, but I voted for him because I’d rather have someone who shows compassion.”

“Everything was perfect,” resident Carlos Herrera said. “I don’ trust the mail. I never considered voting by mail.”

“I’ve seen stories about ballots being found in empty parking lots, and in storage trucks,” said Nathaniel Mellul, who said he considered voting by mail for a time. “I prefer to do things in person. I hope this does this job.I hope my vote gets in correctly.”

Other residents told Patch the experience of voting in-person feels “more real,” while one resident who identified herself as Anna said voting by mail might have been a better option.

“If I knew what it was going to be like to vote here, I would’ve voted by mail,” she said.

At the town hall in Moorestown, there were few voters in line for in-person voting at 11 a.m., but some were dropping off their ballots at the secure drop box next door at the library.

“As long as it’s done the right way, it doesn’t matter how you vote,” resident Maria Pratsinakis said.

“It’s a little less personal, but it was easy,” said Tyler Gabriel, who voted with Heather Loprano. “I prefer to vote in person because I’m a little more certain my vote will count correctly. I don’t trust the mail. Even if there is no fraud, things can still get lost.”

A Moorestown resident who only wished to be identified as “Nick, age 24” voted weeks ago using the secure ballot drop box at the town hall. He voted for Democrats across the board, noting that when it came to president, he wrote in Bernie Sanders’ name.

“If I was in a swing state, I would’ve voted for Biden, but I think his policies fall short of the progressive action this country needs,” he said. “We need a Green New Deal and Medicare For All, and he’s not very strong on that.”

He said the Black Lives Matter movement is the most positive thing to come out of this year. He went to a protest in Asbury Park, and called it “empowering.”

“It was the largest mass protest movement in history, and I think that put pressure on politicians. We need more of that and less of the partisan divide.”

Here is more election information:

You can also still drop off your ballot in the mail or in a drop box. Whether you plan to vote by mail or in person, here's everything you need to know about casting your ballot in New Jersey.

• Election date: Nov. 3 (Tuesday
• Check if you are registered to vote.
• Where can I drop off my ballot?
• Track my mail-in ballot.
• Where can I vote in person?
• Postmarked by deadline: Nov. 3
• Received by deadline: Nov. 10

With the presidential race and marijuana legalization on the ballot, Gov. Phil Murphy Tweeted on Monday afternoon that it looked like voter turnout might be the "highest in state history."

He said that 3.54 million New Jerseyans had already voted, which is 90 percent of the total turnout during the 2016 presidential race.

• Presidential race: Residents can either cast a write-in vote or choose, among the major parties, between Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, or Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and US Sen. Kamala Harris. Also running are: Don Blankenship/William Mohr (Constitution Party); Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (Green); Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (Libertarian); Gloria La Riva/Sunil Freeman (Party for Socialism and Liberation); Roque De La Fuente/Darcy Richardson (The Alliance Party) and Bill Hammons/Eric Bodenstab (Unity Party).
• US Congress: One US Senate seat will be contested: Incumbent Democrat Cory Booker will face Republican Rik Mehta. All 12 of the state's congressional seats will be decided. New Jersey's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives is split between 10 Democrats and two Republicans heading into Election Day. See congressional races on your local ballot here.
• Municipal and school board races: Most towns will be voting for representatives on your local governing body and school boards.
• Marijuana legalization/Ballot questions: Voters will decide whether to legalize the possession and use of marijuana. Voters will also decide whether to makes peacetime veterans eligible to receive the veterans' property tax deduction.

For full coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here: New Jersey Elections 2020

If you see anything at polling places or have a tip, please email Tom Davis as tom.davis@patch.com.

With reporting by Montana Samuels and Anthony Bellano