By David Wildstein, October 06 2022 3:31 pm

There are reports of voting machine failures in parts of Somerset County, where the Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education is seeking to pass a $7.95 million bond issue for school improvements in a special referendum election today, the New Jersey Globe has learned.

At some polling places, electronic poll books were not connecting when polling locations in Warren and Watchung opened at 2 PM today, leaving voters with just the option of casting provisional ballots.   In other locations, some voting machines were not working, again forcing voters to cast provisional, paper ballots.

It’s the latest in a series of mishaps over the last few years under the leadership of Somerset County Board of Elections administrator Jerry Midgette.   He did not immediately respond to a 3:27 PM call to his cell phone seeking comment.

There are no reported issues with voting machines in Long Hill, a Morris County municipality that is part of the Watchung Hills Regional High School district.

Warren, Watchung and Long Hill are all part of New Jersey’s 7th district, where Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski and Republican Tom Kean, Jr. are competing in one of  the nation’s most closely-watched House districts.