newjerseynewsroom.com

Tuesday's polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

It appears the Election Day contest between Democratic Rep. John Adler and Republican challenger Jon Runyan in the 3rd Congressional District will be the political battle in New Jersey on Tuesday that will be part of the overall national contest for control of Congress.

As New Jersey voters — probably about half of those eligible — go the polls on Tuesday, polls show Runyan of Mount Laurel and a former Philadelphia Eagles' star, either leading one-term congressman Adler or at least running nose to nose with him in the district, which includes parts of Camden, Burlington, and Monmouth counties.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the last elections where congressional candidates topped the ballot, 48 percent of registered voter turned out in 2008, and 46 percent voted in 2000.

Pollsters have declared New Jersey Republicans are more motivated to vote on Tuesday but Democrats are trying to turnout their supporters in an effort to protect their 8 incumbent congressmen. Five Republican congressmen are seeking re-election.

There are also three state legislative races, one for the Senate and another for the Assembly in the 5th District in Camden County and another Senate race in the 14th District in Mercer and Middlesex counties. There are also municipal elections and a ballot question.

In the 6th Congressional District in mainly Monmouth and Middlesex counties, Republican and Tea Party candidate Highlands Mayor Anna C. Little is giving Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. a closer race than expected. Pallone is seeking a twelfth term.

In the 12th District in mainly Mercer and Hunterdon counties, polls show Democratic Rep. Rush Holt has pulled away from Republican challenger Scott Sipprelle, a Princeton businessman. Polls show voter know little about Sipprelle despite a last-minute attempt to boost his campaign with TV ads. Holt is seeking a seventh term.

In the 7th District that spans Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Union, Democratic challenger Ed Potosnak of Scotch Plains, a high school science teacher, has campaigned hard in an effort to upset Republican Rep. Leonard Lance, who is seeking a second term.

The ballot questions asks voters to approve a constitutional amendment to ensure that any money taken from the paychecks of public employees be used only for paying for their benefits and not be used to fund, for example, the state budget.

Election Day in New Jersey is not immune from political dirty tricks and that has moved, at least in part, for state Attorney General Paula T. Dow to announce that approximately 225 deputy attorneys general will be on duty throughout the state to help ensure a fair and smooth-running election and to assist county election officials in resolving any voting-related legal issues as they emerge.

"Deputy attorneys general will be in each of the state's 21 counties throughout Election Day to ensure the right to vote is protected and to resolve any potential legal issues that may arise," Dow said. They will handle any court applications and to provide timely legal advice to county superintendents of Election and Boards of Election on emergent, voting-related legal matters.

Dow noted that it is a criminal offense to solicit or electioneer voters as they enter or exit a polling establishment. She added a "protective zone" extends 100 feet from the outside entrance of the polling place. Any attempts to unlawfully interfere with voters within this area are usually handled by police. Dow said persons who believe they have been victimized with their right to vote should immediately contact the state hotline at: 1-877-NJVOTER or (609) 599-6877.

RELATED:

Where do I vote?

Voters can also address election-related queries to their county superintendent of election and county board of election. A list of county-level election office contacts can be found on the state Division of Elections Web site at www.NJElections.org. The web site offers useful information about the voting process and voting rights. In addition, those who wish to provide information concerning accessibility of specific polling sites for the disabled can do so by filling out an online feedback form.

Here are the congressional candidates by district:

1st District

Includes all or parts of Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties

Incumbent:

Robert Andrews (D)

Challengers: Dale Glading (R); Margaret Chapman (I); Mark Heacock (I); Nicky Petrutz (I)

2nd District

Includes all or parts of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties

Incumbent:

Frank LoBiondo (R)

Challengers: Gary Stein (D); Peter Boyce (I); Mark Lovett (I); Vitov Valdes-Munoz (I)

3rd District

Includes all or parts of Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties

Incumbent:

John Adler (D)

Challengers: Jon Runyan (R); Peter DeStefano (I)

4th District

Includes all or parts of Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties

Incumbent:

Chris Smith (R)

Challengers: Howard Kleinhendler (D)

5th District

Includes all or parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties

Incumbent:

Scott Garrett (R)

Challengers: Tod Theise (D); Ed Fanning (I); Mark Quick (I); James Radigan (I)

6th District

Includes all or parts of Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties

Incumbent:

Frank Pallone Jr. (D)

Challengers: Anna Little (R)

7th District

Includes all or parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties

Incumbent:

Leonard Lance (R)

Challengers: Ed Potosnak (D)

8th District

Includes all or parts of Essex and Passaic counties

Incumbent:

Bill Pascrell (D)

Challengers: Roland Straten (R); Raymond Giangrasso (I)

9th District

Includes all or parts of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties

Incumbent:

Steve Rothman (D)

Challengers: Michael Agosta (R); Patricia Alessandrini (I)

10th District

Includes all or parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties

Incumbent:

Donald Payne (D)

Challengers: Michael Alonso (R); Joanne Miller (I); Robert Louis Toussaint (I)

11th District

Includes all or parts of Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex counties

Incumbent:

Rodney Frelinghuysen (R)

Challengers: Douglas Herbert (D); Jim Gawron (I)

12th District

Includes all or parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties

Incumbent:

Rush Holt (D)

Challengers: Scott Sipprelle (R); Kenneth Cody (I)

13th District

Includes all or parts of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex and Union counties

Incumbent:

Albio Sires (D)

Challengers: Henrietta Dwyer (R); Maximo Gomez Nacer (I); Anthony Zanowic (I)

Here are the candidates for the state Legislatur:

14th District Senate

Includes Mercer and Middlesex counties

Democrat: Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein

Republican: Thomas Goodwin

5th District Senate

Includes Camden and Gloucester counties

Democrat: Sen. Donald W. Norcross

Republican: Harry E. Trout

5th District Assembly

Democrat: Assemblyman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson

Republican: Barbara A. Gallagher