Polling locations appear to be very busy today

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany voters are out in droves voting for the candidates of their choice. Polls will be open until 8:00 p.m. this evening.

Mayor Mimi Letts was at St Christophers Church where she was volunteering as a voter challenger.

Parsippany polling locations:

District 1: Public Safety Training Academy
500 West Hanover Avenue, Morris Plains
Classroom 141

So what is a Challenger?
Challengers are appointed to observe the conduct of an election on behalf of a candidate; a political party or the proponents or opponents of a question.

The County Chairperson of each political party may appoint two challengers per election district. Candidates whose names appear on the ballot are automatically challengers. You have been provided with Candidate Challenger badges.

A candidate for election may appoint two challengers for each election district in which he/she is to be voted for, but only two challengers shall be allowed for each election district to represent all candidates nominated in and by the same petition. Those challengers must stay at the district to which they are appointed.

Unless express permission is given by the Board of Elections, not more than one challenger appointed for a party, candidate or a public question shall be present at one time in any polling place while serving and exercising the powers of a challenger and during the hours when the polls are open for voting. (NJSA 19:7-6.1) If permission is given to one party, candidate or public question, it must be granted to the opposition as well. A County Chairman can appoint up to 24 “at-large” challengers. The “at-large” challenger shall be issued a county-wide permit, which is to be presented to any poll worker within the county. When leaving the polling place the challenger must reclaim the permit in order to gain entry to any other polling place.

Challenger Credentials 
Appointment papers must indicate the challenger’s name, address, and district where they are challenging. Challengers must present their credentials to the poll worker who will post them. The challenger keeps the official challenger badge issued by the Board of Elections and must wear it to show that they are authorized to be in the polling place. Challengers must be registered to vote in the county in which the election is held and no appointed challenger shall serve in any district other than that to which appointed. If a challenger is to be moved to another district, or a new challenger is to be appointed, the original credentials must be returned to the Board of Elections and new credentials will be issued.

Challengers have the right and power to challenge the right of a person to cast a ballot, and the counting or rejecting of any ballot or any part of a ballot. (NJSA 19:7-5) The primary duty of a Challenger is to observe the election, keep a record of who votes, and challenge any voter for whom they have a reasonable basis to believe is not qualified to vote.