Full Notification

This is West Caldwell Mayor Joe Tempesta with a public service announcement.

We have 3 things to report this evening. The Latest on Essex County Covid Testing in West Caldwell, Halloween and Trick or Treating in West Caldwell, and Election Day one week from today in West Caldwell.

The Essex County Free Covid Testing scheduled this Thursday at the Local 68 Operating Engineers building at 14 Fairfield Place off of Passaic Avenue in West Caldwell is completely full, however the County of Essex wishes to remind you that every Monday through Friday they conduct free Covid Tests throughout the County and to check the sites and times please go to their website at ESSEXCOVID.org or call for an appointment at 973-877-8456.

Regarding Halloween and Trick or Treating in West Caldwell. All residents can accept Trick or Treaters at your your home or if you choose not to participate that is fine too, simply do not answer your door. The choice is up to each individual family. I would suggest due to the Pandemic, it may be prudent to limit contact by placing your treats outside your front door. Parents if you wish to send your children out or not it is your decision.

Election Day is one week away. The polls will be open on Tuesday November 3 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and this year as ordered by the County Board of Elections we have two polling places-one is at Town Hall on 30 Clinton Road on the second floor in the Public Meeting room and the other is at the James Caldwell High School cafeteria located off Westville Avenue. To be clear, I will recite what is on the Essex County Clerk website:

There will be NO Electronic Voting Machines at either polling place on Election Day. Governor Murphy issued an executive Order several months ago ordering this election to be a VOTE BY MAIL Election with the following 3 options as taken from the Essex Clerk’s Website for Election Day:

1. You may Vote on a provisional Ballot-this is a ballot like the one you received at home. Keep in mind it will take you approximately 5 minutes to fill it out and submit to the Poll Worker. Anticipate some waiting at either Polling Place.

2. If you are a legally registered disabled voter with the Essex County Commissioner of Elections Office, and there are very few in West Caldwell, you can vote at either Polling Place utilizing an audio component to listen to the ballot and make selections on a hand-held device.

3. You may bring to either Polling place, Town Hall or James Caldwell High School Cafeteria, your VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT and drop your voted ballot in a Secure Drop Box inside either polling place.

I know these rules are difficult, but these are the rules. I would suggest if you have not yet filled out your mail in ballot, that you do so at your convenience in the comforts of your own home. If you decide to come to a polling place on Election Day, please anticipate that you may have to wait longer than normal for your turn to vote.

If you misplaced or never received a mail in Ballot and wish to avoid going to the Polling sites on Election Day, you may also request a ballot in person Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week in the Hall of Records in Newark between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and this Saturday as well between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

One other alternative is to request a ballot in person at the Essex County Education Center at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange this Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., or this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

The drop Box in front of Town Hall is still available 24/7 in front of Town Hall and will be up until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day if you wish to drop your Vote by Mail Ballot. You may also send you Vote by Mail Ballot through the U.S. mail as long as it is postmarked no later than November 3rd.

Thank you.