TOMS RIVER, NJ – Election workers in Ocean Count have been granted an extension by Governor Phil Murphy to certify the November 2020 election after a COVID-19 outbreak shut down the Toms River offices last weekend. Neither the Ocean County Health Department or the Ocean County Board of Elections issued any formal statements on the outbreak. Shore News Network was advised of the closure and outbreak by an employee who wishes to remain anonymous. Emails sent to the election board went unanswered.
“Last night I signed an election-related Executive Order. I guess I did that today or last night, and it does two things,” Murphy said. “First, it extends the certification deadline to next Wednesday, November 25th, only for counties unable to meet today’s deadline because of the impact COVID-19 has had on their board of election staff and facilities for those counties. Two counties, Ocean and Salem, qualify for this extension. And we get a lot of folks who have been impacted by COVID-19 in the Board of Elections community there, keep them in your prayers.”