Early Voting OK'd For Red Bank's First Nonpartisan Election

RED BANK, NJ — Residents will have a chance to participate in early voting for the borough's first nonpartisan election for a new Borough Council.

The Borough Council on Wednesday night approved early voting on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the Tuesday, May 9, election.

Borough Clerk Laura Reinertsen confirmed the voting will take place in Borough Hall from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

She said mail-in ballots may also be filed for the election. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot, if you don't already receive them, is May 2. Go to the Monmouth County Votes site for information about obtaining a ballot.

Voters also can refer to a timeline for the election from the Monmouth County Election Division.

The council also discussed the cost of the early voting, anticipating the extra days of voting will cost an additional $20,000 above the $25,000 anticipated cost, according to Mayor Billy Portman.

If a runoff is required, there will be an additional cost for that election. The Charter Study Commission's report on page 39 explains how a runoff would be calculated. The runoff, if necessary, would take place on the fourth Tuesday after the election, barring any conflict with the primary election.

When the Charter Study Commission recommended a a nonpartisan form of government for the borough - and when voters approved the change in November, it set in motion this first "reset" election in May as required by state law.

Winning candidates would take their seats July 1.

The council may then pass an ordinance to move elections to November, in which case the next council election would be held in November 2025.

Because the terms on the council would be staggered, two spots - drawn by lot - would serve for two years, necessitating the 2025 election. The other council members would serve for four years.

The Charter Study Commission, in an informational news release last year, said Red Bank has approximately 7,748 registered voters, 42.6 percent Democrats, 35.3 percent Unaffiliated, 20.8 percent Republican and 1.3 percent Other Parties, meaning 36.6 percent of voters did not get a voice in the primaries.

This past November, voters approved the change to a nonpartisan, Council-Manager form of government by more than 68 percent.

Petitions by candidates wishing to run in the election must be filed with the borough clerk by March 6.

So far, the Red Bank's Ready team, led by Mayor Billy Portman for mayor, has filed petitions to run. Running for council seats on the team are current Councilmember Kate Triggiano; Ben Forest of the Red Bank school board; former Charter Study Commission Chairperson Nancy Blackwood; and David Cassidy, Laura Jannone and Kristina Bonatakis.