That wasn’t a protest rally you drove by Saturday along South Street in Morristown.
All the sign-waving was meant as a heads-up that early voting has begun.
“This is just more of a get-out-the-vote, visibility event,” explained Melissa Stern, past secretary of the League of Women Voters of the Morris Area. “So the League organized this in some of the key locations in Morris County where we could get people to come out and just alert people that today is the day.”
Video: ‘Vote Early’ parade in Morristown:
Similar League events were scheduled in Denville, Madison and Morris Plains, Stern said.
Early voting in New Jersey started Saturday and extends through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3. Early ballots can be cast at Morristown town hall from 10 am – 8 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 10 am – 6 pm on Sundays. Registered voters in Morris County can vote early at any of eight polling locations during the early voting period.
Chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, early voting is the way to go,” about a dozen people paraded from the historic Morristown Green to town hall in crisp noontime weather. They were led by Leslie Bensley, former Morris County Tourism director and retired head of the Friends of Jockey Hollow.
“Early voting is the way to go because it secures your vote by doing it now. It’s in the system, and then you will have no concerns should something happen on Election Day. So it’s really putting your vote in the bank,” she said.
Bensley added: “I think that there is a certain nervousness about Election Day this year. And so I think to allay any worries that your vote might not count, going to the polls on early voting day is a measure that you can take to have a level of greater confidence.”
Even though New Jersey is not considered a swing state, Bensley acknowledged, “every vote counts, and doing something demonstrative gives me comfort.”
In a preemptive move, the U.S. Department of Justice has sued Alaska to block certification of the Senate race there if the incumbent Republican loses by a close margin. The litigation has stoked fears that President Trump, anxious to retain GOP control of Congress, will attempt to overturn congressional outcomes just as he tried to overturn his own defeat in 2020.
These pivotal midterms include a hotly contested rematch between Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-11th Dist.) and Republican Councilman Joe Hathaway of Randolph. The neighboring 7th District features a blistering race between Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett.
Morristown Democratic Councilman Chris Russo is trying to unseat Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen and break the GOP lock on that board.
Three seats are being contested for Morris Township’s governing body, while the mayoralty and two council seats are on the line in Morris Plains.
Another option is vote-by-mail. The deadline to register has passed. Greater Morristown voters unsure if they are already signed up to receive a Vote-By-Mail ballot can contact Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi or use the Track My Ballot tool at Vote.NJ.Gov. Mail-in votes must be postmarked or placed in designated deposit boxes by Nov. 3.
“Read all the directions carefully to ensure you don’t miss any steps. SEAL your ballot inside the inner sleeve and SIGN it,” the League of Women Voters advised in a statement.
Morristown has a long history of people stepping forward in pivotal moments.
When you chip in to Morristown Green, you’re helping your neighbors stay informed, strengthening our civic backbone, and carrying on the spirit that’s defined this town since its earliest days.
Rally for local news.
