New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy announced on Twitter Friday that the “July 7th primary will be a primarily vote-by-mail election”.
This comes as New Jersey has reported 10,138 deaths due to COVID-19, and Murphy said, “We’ve now lost 13 times as many New Jerseyans to #COVID19 as we did on 9/11”.
Gov. Murphy did, however, note on Friday that “the rate of spread continues to slow across the state,” and that New Jersey is also “seeing a slowing in the number of newly reported cases at our long-term care facilities.”
Murphy also said the number of patients reported in either critical or intensive care fell to 1,127, the ventilator use dropped to 865. He said there were 285 new COVID-19 hospitalizations yesterday, but also pointed out there were 357 discharges yesterday.
Despite the curve flattening in New Jersey, Governor Murphy announced the July 7 primary will be “primarily vote-by-mail”.
In a series of tweets, Murphy wrote: “BREAKING: Our July 7th primary will be a primarily vote-by-mail election. ALL registered Democratic and Republican voters will receive a postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot. ALL unaffiliated and inactive voters will receive a postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot application.” Continued Below
(Related: Joe Biden On The COVID-19 Crisis: “The People Who Are Getting Hurt Are Democrats”)
Murphy continued: “We will ensure that a limited number of in-person polling places in each county will be open to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote. No one should have to choose between their health and exercising their right to vote.”
“The deadline by which votes must be received by a county Board of Elections to be counted as valid will be extended from 48 hours after polls close to SEVEN DAYS after polls close. We will ensure every vote is counted,” he added. Continued Below
Governor Phil Murphy’s official tweets:
BREAKING: Our July 7th primary will be a primarily vote-by-mail election.
ALL registered Democratic and Republican voters will receive a postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot.ALL unaffiliated and inactive voters will receive a postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot application.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 15, 2020
The deadline by which votes must be received by a county Board of Elections to be counted as valid will be extended from 48 hours after polls close to SEVEN DAYS after polls close.
We will ensure every vote is counted.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 15, 2020
Gov. Murphy also thanked the president Friday for funding:
Just received a call from President @realDonaldTrump, who informed me about this critical federal support. This funding will help keep our trains and buses running and continue the improvements we've made to @NJTRANSIT. Thank you, Mr. President! https://t.co/HXo81lQSVL
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 15, 2020
We leave you with Gov. Murphy and Martha McCallum on Fox News:
