Paltry Poll Showing for Twp. Residents in Special Election

Newark Mayor Cory Booker and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan won the Democratic and Republican primary for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated after the death of Frank Lautenberg. 

But the special election held to determine each party’s representative was barely recognized in Washington Township.

Of the 13,187 registered voters in the township, just 1,092 – or 8.28-percent – turned out to vote Aug. 13.

Republicans overwhelmingly supported Lonegan, who ran against Alieta Eck, and he earned 553 of the 681 votes cast. But only 12.7 percent of registered Republicans hit the polls Tuesday, according to results.

On the Democratic side, Booker took the majority of Washington Township votes with 233, but split the difference with the rest of the field of 411 total ballots punched. Results showed 20.47 percent of Democratic voters hit the polls for the special election. 

There are 2,008 registered Democrats in Washington Township.

All nine of Washington Township’s polling locations were open and available to voters Tuesday. 

Booker and Lonegan will face off for the senatorial election on Oct. 16. The two elections combined are expected to cost a total of $24 million.