One of the potentially most competitive U.S. House races in our region could take days – or weeks – to resolve thanks to a full-scale voting machine meltdown in Mercer County, New Jersey this morning.
The exact issue remains unknown. Software glitch? Wrong ink? It’s unclear based upon our sources, but what’s clear is that the hardware isn’t properly reading the ballots.
The good news:
I’m told by sources who’ve been briefed on the situation on the ground that Mercer County, New Jerseyy voters CAN cast a standard ballot which will be counted. In the event they’re denied the opportunity for whatever reason, e.g. the 300-year-old poll worker can’t find your name? And you haven’t voted any other way like by mail? Vote provisional.
Do not leave without voting. Can’t stress that enough.
The bad news:
NJ-03 paper ballots will be HAND COUNTED, so there’s a decent chance we won’t know who won the competitive NJ-03 (Andy Kim v. Bob Healey) for awhile. Five key Mercer towns (Lawrence, Hamilton, Robbinsville, Hightstown, and and East Windsor lie inside the recently redrawn NJ-03.
Leave it to the lawyers, folks. Go vote! Now.
