Voters in New Jersey encounter long lines and technical problems at the polls

✔️ Some polling stations had technical problems at the beginning of the day

✔️ Voter turnout appeared to be high in some places

✔️ Officials emphasized that anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote

Voters in New Jersey experienced some problems and long lines at the polls as of Tuesday afternoon, which election officials said could mean record turnout.

Burlington County voters on social media and callers to the New Jersey 101.5 newsroom report long lines at polling locations in Burlington, Eastampton, Florence, Marlton and Mount Laurel.

The state's attorney general's office reportedly sought a judge's order to keep polling places in Burlington County open past 8 p.m. to accommodate long lines, New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein reported.

After nearly 1.2 million votes were cast in the nine days between Oct. 26 and Nov. 3, in-person voters had the opportunity to cast their ballots on Tuesday. Voter turnout appears to be very high, resulting in some long lines, although no specific numbers have been reported yet.

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“People are excited. People are desperate to make their voice heard. Voters may need a little time if they are using devices they are not familiar with. Chances are you haven't been to a voting booth since 2016. Every single county in New Jersey has since upgraded their machines,” State Department spokeswoman Alicia D’Alessandro told New Jersey 101.5.

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New voters face problems

County spokesman David Levinsky said there were technical issues at some locations when polls first opened that slowed the process, but those have been resolved. The large turnout led to ongoing problems.

“We simply still have a great interest in participation and voter turnout. It could potentially be a year of record turnout “I will be allowed to vote,” Levinsky said.

About a dozen newly registered voters at Claremont Avenue School in Woodbridge's Colonia neighborhood told New Jersey 101.5 their names were in the system but poll workers were unable to complete the process to give them a ballot. A spokeswoman for the Middlesex County Board of Elections said in a statement that longer loading times in the poll book were to blame.

“A provisional ballot was provided to voters where appropriate, and Board of Elections staff were on site throughout the day to ensure voters were able to register and cast their ballot,” the spokeswoman said in an email to New Jersey 101.5 .

According to the Asbury Park Press, 10 people who were barred from voting in Monmouth County went before a judge who denied all of their appeals. Allan Roth, attorney for the Monmouth County Democratic Organization, told the press that they were rejected because they missed the registration deadline or were registered out of state.

D'Alessandro urged voters not to vent their frustration over the long lines at poll workers, adding that many of them work 18-hour days.

“We urge everyone to be patient. These are people who are taking the time of their lives to make democracy work,” D'Alessandro said.

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