Voting options in storm-ravaged New Jersey

2012-11-05 7

New Jersey governor Chris Christie says residents hit by super storm Sandy will have several options for casting their votes.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRIS CHRISTIE, NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR, SAYING:

"If you've been displaced from your home because of the storm, we'll let you vote by e-mail or fax. Otherwise, you've got this six other ways that you can vote. E-mail and fax is just for those people displaced from their homes because of the storm."

Christie also ordered New Jersey county clerks to open their offices over the past weekend for early voting.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRIS CHRISTIE, NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR, SAYING:

"The polling places that have power just go there and vote as normal. Polling places that are not destroyed but don't have power, you still go to your polling place. We're going to have trucks set up there and you're all going to vote 'old school'. That's the way it is. You'll vote paper ballot. And that means it's going to take a little longer to count but everyone's going to have their opportunity to vote. We're also dealing with folks who have been displaced in shelters and allowing them to apply by e-mail and fax for their ballot, have them come back to where they are, and then vote, and send them back.

As of Saturday, nearly 1.3 million New Jersey residents remained without power.