By MADDY VITALE
Ocean City voters will have an election like no other.
And like the other stay-at-home orders for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no going to the polls.
Instead, residents will be able to fill out mail-in ballots from home.
The Cape May County Clerk’s Office is mailing all registered voters the forms by the end of April for the May 12 municipal election.
“Every Ocean City voter will get a mail-in ballot with the address on file,” Cape May County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti said Wednesday. “Every voter was notified by the Ocean City clerk (Melissa Rasner) that the election would be by mail-in ballots.”
With an unprecedented pandemic and an executive order by Gov. Phil Murphy with closures and restrictions in place for everyone’s safety, it is just something that is the “new normal,” Fulginiti said.
But she emphasized that like people who normally vote by mail in other elections, this is similar and every vote counts.
While there are three uncontested races in Ocean City’s four wards, there is a contested race for the Third Ward seat. Incumbent Third Ward Councilman Tony Wilson is running against Boardwalk businessman Jody Levchuk.
Running unopposed are incumbents First Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger and Fourth Ward Councilman Bob Barr and newcomer Tom Rotondi, who is running for the Second Ward seat vacated in January by Councilman Antwan McClellan, who was elected to the state Assembly.
This is certainly not the first election where mail-in ballots were utilized in recent years.
When Hurricane Sandy hit the coast in October of 2012, Fulginiti said it impacted how voting was done for the General Election.
“There were executive orders in place then, for certain requirements,” she said. “But nothing like this.”
Fulginiti explained how the mail-in process works.
“When a voter gets a mail-in ballot, they should vote and put it in the mail. That is the method for returning the ballot,” she noted. “They need to be mailed and postmarked May 12 or before. I encourage people to do it sooner than that.”
She said registered voters will receive a second card in the mail stating that the mail-in ballots were mailed and are on the way to their homes.
“All of the materials have been printed and now they are being delivered to the mail house,” Fulginiti added. “They are not going out yet. It may be by next week, but we have until April 24 to mail them.”
When the voting closes at 8 p.m. on May 12, the votes will be counted and unofficial totals will be available, Fulginiti said.
The official vote totals will be announced on or around May 14. The law allows for an additional two days from the election day to receive the mail-in ballots.
“When everything is in, counted and audited then the totals will be official,” Fulginiti said.
Here is a link to the mail in ballots: https://www.capemaycountyvotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20-OceanCity-All-Wards.pdf
Voters who do not get a mail-in ballot in the mail by the end of April are asked to call the Cape May County Clerk’s Office at 609-465-1013.
Ocean City Municipal Election: May 12
To cast your ballot: Look for the official ballot in your regular mail (this will NOT be a sample ballot). Complete the ballot and return (postage is pre-paid). Ballots must be postmarked by May 12.
To register to vote or update your mailing address: Visit capemaycountyvotes.com to print forms that must be returned (postage pre-paid) by April 21.
To request a vote by mail ballot: If you are living away from your permanent address, you can have a ballot mailed to your temporary address. Visit capemaycountyvotes.com to print forms that can be returned up to seven days prior to the election.
