33rd Legislative District Assembly candidates Tony Hector and Frank Alonso, part of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” gubernatorial ticket, are suing the Hudson County Board of Elections seeking at least four River Road polling sites.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The one-count lawsuit was filed in Hudson County Superior Court by Hoboken-based lawyer Angel Hector, Tony Hector’s son, on behalf of the candidates on Thursday.
“Despite the number of registered voters for each municipality, Union City’s polling locations (10) nearly match the total number of polling places (11) for the remaining municipalities in the district,” the lawsuit says.
“Additionally, these early voting locations are all mobile trailers which by their very nature grant easier access to voters in Union City. The polling places for North Bergen, Weehawken, and West New York are more inland and atop the cliffs of Palisades Avenue which make them difficult for residents of the waterfront to access.”
At the end of April, the Assembly hopefuls asked the board of elections for in-person polling sites and one early voting site, but Board of Elections Clerk Michael Harper said that while the request seemed reasonable, the relevant deadlines had passed, as HCV first reported.
As a result, Hector and Alonso are taking the matter to court. A county spokesman declined to comment.
They are underdogs against Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein, backed by the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) which includes Chair Craig Guy and state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack.
“There are approximately 8,000 registered voters that occupy the waterfront and must navigate around the Palisades Cliffs … in order to vote,” the suit alleges.
” … This clearly creates an advantage for Union City voters to obtain access to vote as opposed to other residents of the district, specifically those residents of the waterfront. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:8-4, the Hudson County Board of Elections has until May 14, 2025 to certify polling places.”
The primary elections in New Jersey are set for June 10th.
