Voting Begins at Brooklawn Middle School

The sun is not yet up, but general-election voters are at up and at 'em at Brooklawn Middle School. Candidates for state Senate, General Assembly, the county Freeholder Board and Parsippany Township Council are on the ballot representing the Democratic, Independent and Republican parties.

Early speculation is that a tough battle faces the council candidates in particular, where people on both sides of the political aisle say the finish could be a nail-biter that puts and end to the Republican monopoly on the township's legislative body. Of course, what happens depends on what the voters have to say while at the polls all over Parsippany.

At Brooklawn, town resident Paul Cameron was one of the first to cast a vote.

"More than any issue, I am supporting a particular party during this local election," he said. "I am voting to ensure checks and balances in local government, so that we don't have only representation for one ideology."

For Anthony Abrantes, who works with the local carpenters' union, issues rather than ideology takes precedence.

"Property taxes and job creation are the issues most important to my family and to those I represent in the carpenters' union," he said, noting he got here close to 6 a.m. so that he could get to work.

The weather should be no impediment to voting: The National Weather Service says highs will approach 70 degrees Tuesday.

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Patch coverage of the 2011 general election continues all day.