School Elections, the Afternoon: Where Are the Voters?

After checking out , Bridgewater Patch continued its trek around town to talk to people as they left the polls—and had some trouble finding people.

As election officials at said around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the turnout has been some of the lowest they have seen in years, not counting 2010 when the controversial budget and state aid losses were high on everyone's minds.

The officials said they were hoping people would show up either when they came to the school to pick up their kids, or after work hours, but, at that point, things were very slow.

Bridgewater resident Lisa [who declined to give her last name] was one of the few voting at Bradley Gardens Wednesday afternoon, and she said she does it to support the community as a whole.

"They've had meetings about the budget," she said. "People have to realize that if you want education in the township to be good, you have to vote."

Alex Kosnik, who voted at , said the district needs to do more to get the word out and remind residents about the vote.

"More has to be done than just the ballot," he said. "More news e-blasts and maybe letters home with the students."

"People don't show because the school elections take a lower priority," he added. "But this is a township where education is important."

To understand what is happening in the district, Kosnik said, residents have to vote and take part.

"If you care where your money goes, you should care who sits on the board," he said. "They go hand in hand."

Bridgewater resident Mary Johnson, who said she voted in every election, said she didn't become invested in the school elections until Gov. Chris Christie began emphasizing the school budgets and encouraging residents to vote last year.

"The governor made me more conscious of how money is being spent," she said. "I am paying more attention."

"And I think everyone should pay more attention," she added.

Johnson said she also believes that something can and should be done to ensure that more people participate in the school elections.

"People have to take responsibility for their government," she said.

For Kosnik, the elections are weighing more heavily on his mind this year because his kids are in the schools and will be entering the high school soon.

"It is looming more in the front of my mind," he said, adding that there were only two other people voting at Milltown Primary when he went in.

And although he declined to say whether he had actually supported the budget, Kosnik said there are some issues he is concerned about, including salaries for administrators and superintendents.

"I think they should be making less, and more should go to the schools," he said.

In Raritan, the number of people who come out to vote is just as big a problem, particularly because they only have candidates to vote for one out of every three years.

"I think that suppresses the voters," said Al Smith, the incumbent running for the position on the board to represent Raritan Borough, and who voted at Raritan Borough Hall Wednesday morning.

But, Smith said, those who do vote in Raritan will continue to do so, despite knowing that Bridgewater is obviously the biggest chunk of the district itself.

"They may not defer to Bridgewater," he said. "They have a certain civic pride."

Aside from 2010 which saw higher numbers all over the state, Smith said, voter turnout in Raritan is historically low.

"I think many people, unless they have someone in the schools, don't think about what's going on," he said. "They don't feel they have a sense of what's happening."

"But I do think what brings people are the fact that the school budget is the biggest piece of their tax money," he added.

Still, Smith said, partaking in the budget vote especially is important because of the economic ramifications of the costs.

"When you go to market your property, the schools are most important," he said. "You want schools that are well-run."

Smith said he has not heard comments from residents about the budget, but is hoping for a positive outcome.

"We can have excellent schools, that's a motivator," he said. "We are trying to get positive votes."

Raritan resident Angela Perone said she is supporting Smith in the election.

"I believe Mr. Smith puts in 110 percent for the people of Raritan," she said.

Perone said she believes it is especially important that the residents of Raritan have a voice in their school district.

"It is important for Raritan to have representation because Bridgewater has eight members on the board and Raritan only has the one," she said.

And, as many have said before him, Smith advocates that residents must take part in a choice before they can voice an opinion about it.

"If you don't vote," he said, "then I think you forfeit your right to complain."

Check back throughout the day as Bridgewater Patch continues traveling to different polling locations to speak with voters, and keep it here this evening, and follow us on Twitter at #BWaterPatch, for live updates on the election results.