Christie promises N.J. registered voters they’ll be able to cast ballots

All registered voters will be able to vote in Tuesday’s election, Gov. Chris Christie assured New Jersey residents Friday during an update on the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

 

Visiting Brick Friday, the governor also said the number of commercial and residential customers still without power was down to 1.1 million from a high of 2.7 million.

The governor’s office has compiled a calendar of when utility companies expect to restore electric service to every community knocked out by the storm. He said he will make the list public.

Christie urged voters not to wait, saying county clerk offices will be open this weekend and Monday so people can use the vote-by-mail option to vote there in person.

Voters who normally cast ballots at the few polling places washed out by the storm will be directed to other sites, he said, adding that if a polling place does not have power, there will be a National Guard truck there and voters will be able to use paper ballots.

He said tabulating the results could make for a long election night.

And the governor suggested that motorists frustrated by long gas lines in North Jersey might want to head south. Christie said only 25 percent of stations north of Interstate 195 are open and operating. But he says 90 percent south of I-195 in South Jersey are in service.