2021 Primary Election
Primary Election Day in New Jersey this year is Tuesday, June 8. All regular polling places in Sussex County will be open. 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Voting is in-person using voting machines. Voters must vote in their assigned location (assigned location is indicated on Sample Ballot or call the Election Office)
- Vote by Mail ballots are also available from the County Clerk’s Office upon request and can be returned in one of 3 ways:
- US Mail postmarked no later than Election Day June 8
- Board of Elections Office
- Office hours 8am – 4pm Monday thru Friday, Saturday June 5th from 9am-12pm.
- Any of 13 secure ballot drop boxes around the County.
Ballot Box Information:
** (Note: Vote-by-Mail ballots cannot be returned to polling places on Election Day.)- Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Ballots are picked up by Elections staff every morning.
- Drop boxes are locked at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- Voters can designate another person to return their paper ballot for them as noted on the ballot envelope. These “Bearers” can only return a total of 3 ballots, or 5 ballots if from the same household, in addition to their own.
- Sample ballots will be sent to all registered voters approximately 2 weeks prior to Election Day. The sample ballot will include the voter’s assigned polling place.
- Primary elections are open to those registered voters who have declared a Democratic or Republican Party affiliation.
- Unaffiliated registered voters can go their polling location on Election Day and declare a Democratic or Republican party affiliation and vote in the Primary.
- The deadline to register to vote in time for this Primary Election is Tuesday, May 18. The Board of Elections office will remain open until 9pm to accept new registrations.
- If a voter has moved within the County, they should call the Board of Elections to update their address so they can vote in their new town.
All polling places are inspected yearly for ADA Accessibility
COVID 19 protocols will be observed – COVID supplies will be available at each location
Any questions can be directed to the Election Office at 973-579-0950
Pictured from left: Ed Doughtery, President Greater Andover Senior Citizens Group, Matthew Danielson, Janis McGovern, Andover Township Mayor
Special Delivery to Senior Citizens of Greater Andover
Andover Township Resident and Sussex County Technical School Student Matthew Danielson recently procured donations to deliver to the Senior Citizens of Greater Andover at their first in-person meeting in over a year. Donations included a gift bag containing hand sanitizer and face masks. A special note of thanks and recognition to the Ali Family, who donated the hand sanitizer upon hearing of Matthew’s plans to assist the Senior Citizens group.
Matthew completed this project as part of his ongoing community service requirement, which service also includes being a member of the Andover Township Volunteer Fire Department. Thank you, Matthew, for being an integral part of our community, and for being an outstanding role model for our younger generation!
Brighten Your Yard with Sunflowers
Sustainable Andover invites 25 residents to brighten their yards with sunfowers. All that is needed is a deer-proof area and lots of sun. Seeds will be provided. Residents can pick up seed packets starting May 3 at the Municipal Clerk's office. First come, first served. Sunflower fact sheets included. The seeds can be started indoors or planted directly outside after Mother’s Day in our area. The goal is to have the flowers blooming the last two weeks of August or sooner. See flyer.
Miss Andover Township Contest
The 2021 Miss Andover Township Contest will be held on Thursday, June 10, 6:30 PM, at The Hillside Park Pavilion. See flyer. The winner will represent Andover Township in the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show “Queen of the Fair” contest. For rules and application see the Miss Andover Township Application. Deadline to submit an application is May 27.
Protect Your Ash Trees
We are experiencing a widespread problem with our Ash trees. If left untreated, 99% of trees that are infested with the Emerald Ash Borer will die. For information on how to protect and treat our trees, please see the NJ Department of Agriculture website nj.gov/agriculture and the booklet Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer.
COVID Information
For the most current information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, including specifics on the phases for administering the vaccine and how to sign up for the vaccine, please visit the Sussex County Department of Health page at: sussex.nj.us/cn/webpage.cfm?tpid=17480
Need Help Paying Your Energy Bill?
Financial Assistance Programs are Available.
Elizabethtown Gas has put together a fact sheet on available programs. See Fact Sheet. | See Elizabethtown Gas Energy Assistance page.
Virtual Reorganization Meeting
Although not as ceremonious as traditional, the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Andover Township Committee was held virtually on Thursday, January 7th.
Congratulations to our newly elected Mayor, Janis McGovern! Mayor McGovern is no stranger to local government, having served on the Township Committee for the past 8 years. Mayor McGovern has also served and continues to serve on the Township Land Use Board, Environmental Commission and Sustainable Andover, in addition to being an active liaison to our Senior Citizen Group and Recreation Committee. We applaud her efforts in putting community first, and wish her the very best in 2021!
Also appointed was Deputy Mayor Michael Lensak, and our newly elected Committeemen, Thomas D. Walsh, Jr. and John Carafello. Ellsworth E. Bensley, Jr., continues his 3-year term as Committeeman.
Although times have been challenging, our Mayor and Township Committee look forward to a better, more hopeful year, and are committed to serving the residents and business owners of Andover Township.
Mayor of the Year
Congratulations to Mayor Lensak, and to all of the Mayors representing Sussex County's 24 municipalities on being honored Mayor of the Year for 2020. The Sussex County Economic Development Partnership dediced to recognize all 24 Mayors for their efforts in what has been an unprecedented, difficult and trying time for their respective municipalites. Andover Township was no exception, and Mayor Lensak led with strength, compassion and conviction, fighting fiercely for local businesses to stay alive, while handling the day to day business as a member of the Township Committee. Special thanks to Edison Avecillas Enterprises and Perona Farms for sponsoring this year's event in Mayor Lensak's honor. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, you found a way to support the Township, and it is greatly appreciated.
Andover Township Named One of Safest Small Towns in America
SafeWise has recently released its annual Safest Small Towns in America report, and Andover Township ranked #69 this year! You can read the full 2020 report here: safewise.com/safest-towns-america/
Don't Put Plastic Bags in Your Curbside Recycling Bin
Plastic bags and wraps require a different collection system.
Please don't include them with your curbside pickup; take them to a grocery store that accepts clean and dry plastic bags.
Thank you. See flier.