Sussex County Board with mail in ballots set to go out to voters

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ -With mail in ballots set to go out to voters on September 21, the county board of elections is still missing two Democratic members. Current Chair Mark Hefler, the only Democrat on the committee said two names had been submitted to the governor for consideration.

Heftler said, “I’m told they are approved and the proverbial approvals are in the mail but until I see a piece of paper that remains to be known. But I’m hopeful that will come in short order, certainly before November.”

At the July 9 meeting two members, then chair Kate Matteson and member Deborah Wirths resigned. Prior to that, in May chair Daniel Perez resigned.

2024 Elections

The board of elections has a permanent Elections Chief Clerk. According to Hetfler at their August 28 meeting Wendy Buccino was moved from “interim” into the permanent position.

The board of election members discussed a “significant number of poll workers calling out because they are not comfortable working in the general election due to security reasons,” their minutes state.

Heftler said those security concerns were subject to exemption from discussion in public. He said they would be continuing to discuss concerns in executive session at their meeting on Monday morning.

Buccino noted police are restricted from coming within 100 feet of polling locations.

Buccino said they had a “full staff” of poll workers for the November election. She said more than 650 poll workers were available with the expectation they would need “close to 500” on election day.

Also on election day approximately 12 “runners” would be available, Buccino explained. The runners are “seasoned” poll workers who have experience and are familiar with the voting machines and equipment, she said. They are available to help with equipment issues that are not fixed by a phone call to the board of elections office. Similarly, they are available to help with questions and issues not resolved over the phone.

The county is divided into quadrants of responsibility, with two runners assigned to each of the north, south, east and west areas. Buccino said a runner is also in the county board of elections office to be able to make deliveries as needed to the polling locations.

Timeline and Voter Registration Information

The deadline to register to vote is October 15, 2024.

Three ways to vote in the November 5, 2024 election are to vote by mail, early-in-person voting and at the polling locations on Election Day.

To register to vote by mail, the county clerk must receive the application by October 29 if it is mailed. A vote by mail ballot may be requested, completed and turned into the Sussex County Clerk’s Office in person until 3 p.m. on Monday.

Mail in ballots can be sent through the US mail, submitted in one of the eight drop boxes in the county or brought to the county clerk’s office prior to the close of polls on November 5.

Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received by the Sussex County Clerk’s office by Thursday, November 8.

Anyone who has requested a mail in ballot may not vote in person. To be removed from the mail in ballot list, registered voters must complete an “Opt-Off” form.

Early voting will run from October 26 to November 3. Registered voters may cast their votes on a voting machine, in person at one of three early voting locations in Sussex County: