224 messenger ballots returned from Asbury voters
15 of 42 messengers return affidavits
As of 5 p.m. today, 224 messenger ballots had been returned to Monmouth County election offices for tabulation, according to data provided by the county. In total, 336 voters have requested messenger ballots for the Asbury Park city council election.
To vote by messenger ballot, a voter must complete an application designating a messenger and, if desired, an assistor. The messenger then obtains the ballot from county election offices, and delivers it to the voter. The voter may mail the completed ballot or have the messenger or another individual carry the ballot to county election offices.
The system was created for people who are unable to vote by mail due to disability or old age, Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French said, although anyone is legally able to vote by messenger ballot.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating the use of messenger ballots in the Asbury Park city council election. The Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant at the A-Team headquarters on Saturday. Three other tickets are running for council, and all have denied using messenger ballots.
After the investigation began, French instituted a requirement that messengers sign affidavits. She sent all 42 messengers the affidavits through certified mail.
In signing the newly required affidavits, messengers certify that they have met the voters they are assisting; they are related to the voters or are themselves registered voters in Monmouth County; they will not act as messenger for more than 10 voters; they will deliver the ballots directly to the voters and not to any other individuals; and they are not candidates in the election.
Messengers also certify that they are aware that violating the Voting by Mail statute, which governs messenger ballots, is a crime in the third degree.
Seventeen of the 42 messengers who collected ballots have returned the affidavits so far, according to the election offices. Those who returned affidavits include Timothy Wesley of Neptune, Latosa Suit of Asbury Park, Joseph World of Asbury Park, Pamela World of Asbury Park, Ernest Jones of Asbury Park, Byron Hall of Asbury Park, Sharmane Gilliam of Neptune, Stan Daniels of Asbury Park, Mia Carrington of Neptune, Tera Carpenter of Asbury Park, Alexis Wheeler of Asbury Park, Diteko Hammary of Asbury Park, Cakiyyah Steward of Asbury Park, Tyron Sanders of Asbury Park, Janie Garlington of Asbury Park, Pamela Gideon of Asbury Park and Jaisun Rahfik Lewinski of Neptune.
The remaining 25 messengers who have not returned affidavits are Heriberto Acevedo, Tyson Burrus, Larry Clifton of Eatontown, Louis DiLieto Jr., Linda Fitzpatrick, Derrick Foster, Derrick Ghee, Latosha Gilbert of Long Branch, Alisha Hammary of Cliffwood, Donald Hammary, Knowryl Hammary, Emily Harris, Nicolle Harris, Shequelle Harris, Jennifer Lewinski of Neptune, Shatina Riller, Tracie Royster, Richard Scott, Curtis Showers II of Neptune, Derrick Spears, Stephon Watt of Neptune, Janelle Whitman, Ki Airah Whitman, Larry Wilson of Neptune and Tanay Wilson of Neptune. All listed are from Asbury Park unless otherwise noted.
No one has requested to be a messenger since the affidavit requirement was handed down, according to the county offices.
The city council election is next Tuesday, May 14, and all five council seats are up for grabs. Voters will pick five from a field of 22 candidates. The winners then select a mayor from amongst themselves. The current council’s terms expire on June 30, with new four-year terms starting on July 1.
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