Tri-boro Voters Head to Polls as 'Habit' During Primary

While voter turnout appeared low in the tri-boro Tuesday, clerks in Kinnelon, Butler and Bloomingdale said this is typical for primary elections-

“In an uncontested election, you’re going to get your party faithfuls coming out.  If there was a contest, I’ll bet you would get a lot of people to vote," said Butler Borough Clerk Mary O’Keefe. 

Laurie Block, a worker at the polls, said, "It’s been, like, 20 people in my district alone. I’ve been here since 1998, and this is the worst. The polls open at 6 in the morning. We get here at 5:15 am and wait. It's such a waste."

Poll workers were not the only ones to notice few voters entering the polls.

"From what I’ve seen, there’s only one actual primary candidate, so there can’t really be that much to vote on,” said Alex Carmichael, a Butler resident.

Ray Verdonik, who ended up recieving 136 votes for his uncontested seat on the Butler Council, said he thinks his party reputation should be credited for the race being uncontested.

"It’s uncontested locally, so there’s no representation other than two of us, and no Democrats running against us. We had one Democrat on the council for nine years who chose not to run. It’s because, as Republicans, we are doing such a great job running the town."

Verdonik said since the race is uncontested, campaigning has been "low key" but that the candidates will be going door-to-door in late summer to talk to constituents about how serious they are about running for council and working for the people of the borough. He will also be highlighting some of the projects the borough council has been working on, he said.

"We’re doing everything we can to minimize any increase in taxes. It’s not easy to do budgets now, with a 2 percent cap. They really strangle us with what you can do with that. Also, we’re working with the downtown business association to help get the downtown reenergized. We did new sidewalks and lighting about five years ago," he said. "We do have the Riverwalk, which is starting to get rented out to businesses. We’re gonna keep looking for grants that are available, and looking for shared services."

In speaking of the primary election, Trevor Verdonik, Ray’s son, who attends college at Lehigh University, said, “There really weren’t that many choices. There were a lot of incumbents."

In Bloomingdale, polls were also fairly quiet.

Democratic Committee Chairman Bernie Vroom voted at the Samuel R. Donald School.

"It's your right. You have to exercise your right," he said when asked why he came out to vote.

Bloomingdale resident Pete Croop, when asked why he came out to vote, said, "Just out of habit."

In Kinnelon, one voter said she was concerned about the low turnout and said the candidates could have communicated about the election more.

“I’m concerned there are so few people out today. The candidates were very negligent about giving out their positions. You need a little information to get the word out, and there wasn’t any. There haven’t been any mailings," said Diana Ferraro, a resident and former teacher. "You like to see the candidates’ mailings.  I didn’t hear about any debates. I guess if you get one or two votes, you’ve made it. I guess people in town don’t care. It’s their town."

Kinnelon resident Debra Casha said that voting, even in a primary election, is important.

“I’m going to vote because it’s the most important thing you can do. People don’t understand the importance of the primary. You’re making a point of deciding who will run in the general election. People need to be engaged. The county clerk sends out the ballots, which is helpful," she said.

"I understand that we have an uncontested primary in Kinnelon. I’m a Republican, but I’m very disheartened that the turnout is not better, when there are men and women fighting for our freedom.”

Avery Hart, a resident, clinical social worker, and one of the founders of Kinnelon Conserves, was disheartened that no Democrats ran in Kinnelon. “It’s very sad that the Democrats do not run candidates in this town. It’s always good to have additional perspective. It’s called voting demographics. Most people follow what their family does in Morris County. It’s a big imbalance. It isn’t the person; it’s the policy. We need a new perspective."