Schools

Referendum Sample Ballots Not Received by Some Residents

Days before the fields vote, some voters are concerned about not being informed prior to Tuesday's special election.

Prior to any election, the Morris County clerk's office is expected to mail sample ballots to residents in hopes of making them informed voters. But just days before the Tuesday Parsippany Board of Education fields referendum, some voters have yet to receive the document. 

One of those residents is Michael Espejo, who told Patch that he and many of his neighbors in the Brooklawn Drive area did not receive that ballot.

"No one on Brooklawn Drive that I know got it," said Espejo.

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He called the county clerk's office where he said an employee told him that whether the sample ballots arrive or not, the election will go forward Tuesday from2-9 p.m. as scheduled.

"I'm concerned," said Espejo. "The sample ballot is the only way some people are going to know about the election."

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He specifically mentioned seniors and those without children, who may not have direct contact with the schools and therefore may not know an election is being mounted.

Adding to his concern, he said, is the fact that the day before the election is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday when mail will not be delivered.

Patch contacted the county clerk's and elections offices in Morristown. An elections supervisor who refused to give her name said that sometimes things get lost in the mail, adding that she had received only one call complaining about the missing ballot.

The woman said the sample ballots went into the mail on Tuesday and that after hearing from the Parsippany resident, she contacted the Morris Plains Post Office, which serves the Brooklawn Drive area.

"All I can say is the Morris Plains postmaster said they were dealing with it," the election worker said. "[The ballots] went to the same post office we always use on Tuesday and from there they went to Newark['s post office]. Newark has the responsibility to send them."

The elections employee said the sample ballot can be found online on the Morris County Clerk website

Patch is attaching the sample ballot to this article, so that proactive citizens may print copies to deliver to senior centers and other residents is they choose to do so.

The school district website offers details of the referendum. More information, including .

Espejo said that in the interest of democracy, he hopes his fellow Parsippany residents get the message—and visit the polls Tuesday.

"Regardless of whether they vote for or against [the school board's $7.7 million high school athletic improvements plan], I want people to be aware.

"And I want them to vote."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here