Subject: Voting times for School Board Election: I checked the Board of Elections website and am somewhat confused. I don't understand why Mullica Township has such limited voting hours (between 5-9:00 PM) and other communities have longer hours. It's understandable with places like Galloway Township, because they have many more residents, however even Egg Harbor City has the polls open from 3-9:00 PM. I know these elections are now covered by the Atlantic County Board of Elections, but last year, for the high school vote, the hours were 2-9:00 PM, but switched back again this year to 5-9:00 PM. Mullica Township has the shortest voting hours, which makes it hard for those who work night shifts or even casino employees to be able to vote. By having such limited hours, it cuts out people who may want to vote, but can't make it in the 4 hour time frame. Absentee ballots are available, but have to be postmarked 8 days prior to the election to request them and then have to be received within the next week. Also, once you ask for an absentee ballot, you automatically are always going to be sent absentee ballots unless you once again request not to be able to vote via absentee ballot and again, making it seem to be more trouble then it is worth to vote by absentee ballot. Who would we address about the voting times? This is the link to the Atlantic County Board of Elections polling times and places webpage: http://www.aclink.org/BoardOfElections/Main/Polling_places_school.asp.

RESPONSE: The State -- by Law, sets the minimum hours that polls in all towns need to be open for School Board elections...5 P.M. to 9 P.M. A School Board may choose to have its polls open longer...but the poll workers have to paid more by the taxpayers of that community if the polls are open longer. For those who work the second shift...they need to apply for absentee ballots for school board elections...or forfeit their right to vote...and as we see, one vote can make a big difference.