Day at the Polls: New Legislators May Turn Voters Away

With Bridgewater participating in its mayoral election this year, there is one other change to the ballot—the township’s first vote as part of the 23rd legislative district.

But several of the candidates do not believe this will necessarily bring people out to the polls.

“I think people will be less likely to come out because they don’t know Sen. [Mike] Dougherty and the other candidates, so I think that will have the opposite effect,” said Republican candidate for council Matthew Moench. “People used to come because they knew Sen. [Christopher] ‘Kip’ Bateman, and they support the ticket.”

Democratic candidate for mayor Jim Ventantonio had a similar opinion.

“I think generally if you know the top of the ticket, you will go,” he said. “But many don’t know who the legislators are, so they won’t vote for that.”

“And two of the three assembly people are not in the county,” he added.

John Rooney, Democratic candidate for council, had a different opinion. He said he believes suddenly being moved from District 16 to 23, in terms of legislators, will be a factor in convincing people to vote.

“Some of the assembly candidates have spent some time in Bridgewater, and that adds a new dynamic,” he said. “Bateman and others are not our representatives anymore, and people realize the importance of this.”

Resident Linda Tarulli, who voted at , said it was hard to pick someone because the legislators are new to Bridgewater. But coming in to vote was her duty.

“I am always registered,” she said.