The Voting Booth
Even in communities with non-partisan elections, in which by definition there are no primaries for local offices, the primary election is of importance because neighborhood party committee people are elected then and they have influence on the elected officials. And, of course, the party’s nominees for higher national and state offices including president and governor are selected in the primary.
• School Board Election - Most New Jersey communities have elected school boards. The elections take place on the third Tuesday in April. Since the elections are held at a separate time from regular elections, turnouts tend to be low. As a result, your vote, especially combined with the votes of your friends and neighbors, if they share a preference for the same candidate, can make a tremendous difference. School board members, while they tend to be active members of a political party, run in elections where there is no party label listed on the ballot.
• Non-partisan Election - Some communities including New Jersey’s largest city, Newark, elect their council and mayor in non-partisan elections.These are elections in which candidates run without party labels. They are held on the third Tuesday in May. In practice, most of the candidates are active participants in one of the major political parties - though their party affiliation does not appear on the ballot. Special Election - There are certain special elections that take place at different times than the regularly scheduled primaries, general elections, non-partisan elections and school board elections. Not surprisingly, voter turnout for these elections tends to be especially low. For example, there is special school elections that can be called in certain New Jersey communities at specified times in January, March, September, or December. These elections are usually about financial issues that are not covered in the annual budget, such as a bond referendum for new school construction.
Down the Ballot To fully exercise your right to vote, it is essential to go beyond the major offices that are usually listed close to the top of any ballot and 48