Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman today called for the State of New Jersey to institute all mail-in voting for the June 2, 2020 primary election.

“It is simply not worth the risk to jeopardize the health of so many poll workers in the primary election, most of whom are senior citizens and are the most susceptible to serious respiratory illnesses,” said Suleiman. “An all mail-in voting primary election this June will greatly aid in ‘flattening the curve’ in New Jersey. While it is my hope that this crisis will have subsided come June 2, New Jersey simply cannot take that chance.”

County clerks are 85% there with an all-VBM primary, according to a source close to the situation.

this week – on an urgent, accelerated time line – are trying to figure out how to hold an election while combating the Covid-19 virus.

According to sources close to the clerks, they are having daily calls with the Secretary of State’s Office regarding the scheduled June 2nd Primary Election, school board (April 21st) and special elections.

There are differences of opinion among the clerks about the degree to which they have closed on a solution. They have kicked around moving forward with an election that prioritizes best social distancing and hygiene practices. They have examined moving the election date.

But as of this moment and despite the challenges of processing six million vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots, three sources say the clerks and the state are mostly leaning toward the option of an all-VBM election, at least for the primary (and very likely the school board and Atlantic Coty referendum eletions).