New Jersey county elections to be monitored by Justice Department
Federal monitors will be present throughout the day to make sure the county follows the Voting Rights Act.
More Stories
Tuesday is Election Day, and the top races will determine who controls the state legislature.
News 12 New Jersey’s Ali Reid visited the Westfield Armory where polling locations opened at 6 a.m.
The Justice Department announced federal monitors will be present throughout the day to make sure the county follows the Voting Rights Act.
VOTING GUIDE: How to find your polling location, voter registration status and Election Day hotlines
RELATED: Former Gov. McGreevey expected to announce Jersey City mayoral run
Officials say the division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with the federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country.
Union County will be required to print ballots in English and Spanish under the terms of a consent decree. Over the last few months, the county made a push to hire more bilingual poll workers in districts where there is a higher concentration of Hispanic voters. Officials say language barriers should never prevent someone from being able to vote.
Because it’s an off year with no races for governor, president, or Congress, voter turnout is expected to be low. But all 120 seats in the Legislature are on the ballot.
Democrats are looking to keep control of both chambers while republicans are hoping to take at least one house for the first time in over 20 years.
Polls remain open across the state through 8 p.m.
