June 4 was Primary Election Day. Since Memorial Day, the voting machine warehouse department of the Middlesex County Election Board has been busy delivering more than 700 voting machines to 600 voting districts in 25 municipalities. In Plainsboro machines will be set up in six polling places for 12 voting districts.
As a candidate for West Windsor Plainsboro Board of Education, I have been studying Plainsboro’s past primary and school elections. Both types of elections had lower voter turnout. More voters have shown up for school elections than for primary elections since 2009. However, each year school elections took place in the municipal building while primary elections were held in six polling places: the municipal building, Wicoff Elementary School, Community Middle School, High School North, the firehouse, and Windrows. From a technical standpoint, primary election can be handled in two locations: the municipal building and the Windrows, which requires fewer machine deliveries and poll clerks.
Polling places should be consolidated during the primary election to save tax money. This year, the WW-P district’s school election was moved to coincide with the general election. Cost saving is a main reason. The move would save $35,000 each year. At this rate, consolidating polling places for primaries in Plainsboro would save $10,000. If the election boards in all 22 counties make similar moves, millions of dollars can be saved statewide each year. The taxpayers will come out winners.
Note: Senator Frank Lautenberg passed away on Monday. A special election has been called for October that will cost the state an estimated $24 million.
Yu “Taylor” Zhong
Plainsboro
The writer is a candidate for the WW-P Board of Education.
