Voter Turnout in Woodbridge 'Very Light'; Polls Open to 8 pm

To call today's primary turnout light would be an understatement, if you talk to the two Republicans duking it out today to head the party's ticket for mayor in Woodbridge in the fall.

"The turnout is low," said Councilman Bob Luban, who has been out and about, checking on the voting stats around the township.

Polls around the township are open until 8 pm.

Luban is running with a full slate in the Republican primary against former township prosecutor Christopher Struben and his team in what has turned into a contentious battle to head the line come November.

The two men found one thing to agree on, though - that the voter turnout was much lighter than normal so far, even for a primary. 

"It's really light so far, so I don't know how to feel," said Struben. "I don't know what to make of it."

In the three districts in Struben's polling station, he said only 12 votes had been cast by noon. 

Struben said he had sent out several mailers in Colonia, where both he and Luban reside, and he himself had made hundreds of calls in his part of the township alone.

"I was hoping to get 1,500 voters to the polls. That'd mean we'd need 20 Republicans per district," he said. "Right now it's about four. I don't know what to think."

Woodbridge has approximately 5,500 registered Republicans.

Luban went around town, delivering refreshments to the poll clerks, and said he noticed a low turnout himself.

"I expected it to be low. I expect it'll pick up later as people get home from work and stop by to vote," Luban said.

The only primary fight among the Democrats is the campaign of Jean Pierce. The independent Democrat is running for one of the four at-large council seats against the incumbents running on the party line under Mayor John McCormac, who is running himself for reelection.