Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Voting Machine Demonstration at Plainfield's National Night Out!


Many of you are probably aware that Plainfield will be using the new Express VoteXL voting machines beginning with the fall election on November 5, 2019. As your freeholder, I made a special request that Union County have a machine (along with staff) available at this year's National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 6 at Plainfield City Hall. The hands-on demonstrations of the new machines will take place from 5:30 - 8:30 pm, with trained Union County staff on hand to answer questions. 

Weekly demonstrations of the new machines are hosted at the Colleen Fraser Building (300 North Avenue East in Westfield) every Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. In addition, we want to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the machines, so community groups are encouraged to contact the Union County Board of Elections to schedule demonstrations for their members. Email Administrator Nicole DiRado at ndirado@ucnj.org or call (908) 527-4123. 

I have added below video demonstrations of the new machines (in English and Spanish). See the press release below for full details on all the demonstrations across Union County. 

Union County - How to use EXPRESS XL VOTING MACHINE (English)



Union County - Máquinas de votación ExpressVote XL (Spanish Language)





Press Release
For Immediate Release: July 30, 2019


Union County Board of Elections to Hold Multiple ExpressVote XL Voter Machine Demonstrations at “National Night Out” Events Across the County

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Elections has added additional dates to the schedule of hands-on public demonstrations for Union County’s new ExpressVote XL voting machines this summer. Demonstrations will be held at several National Night Out Events across the County in the month of August.
“Union County was among the first three counties in New Jersey to introduce the new voting machines last year, and we are looking forward to having this new technology available in all 21 of our municipalities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “We encourage all residents to attend one of the upcoming demonstration sessions while enjoying these National Night Out events in their hometowns.”
All demonstrations are open to all Union County residents, voters and non-voters alike. Attendees are advised that photographing and/or video recording of voting machines used by Union County is prohibited. Demonstrations are scheduled at the following events:
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Meisel Park, Springfield – National Night Out
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Summit National Night Out – 356 Broad Street, Summit
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Plainfield National Night Out- 515 Watchung Avenue
5:30 – 8:30pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Roselle Park National Night Out, Chestnut Street (Gazebo)
5:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Linden National Night Out, in front of city hall, Wood Avenue
Time: 5:00 – 7:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Clark National Night Out – Parking lot next to the Recreation Center
430 Westfield Avenue
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Roselle National Night Out –210 Chestnut Street (Between 1ST and 3rd Ave)
5:00 – 8:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Cranford National Night Out – In front of Municipal Building – 8 Springfield Ave
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Scotch Plains National Night Out –430 Park Ave – grass area on Stage House side
6:00 – 9:00pm
Voters in Westfield piloted the new machines in the 2018 General Elections.  Eight additional municipalities started using the new machines starting with the Primary Election on June 4, and the remaining 12 county municipalities will use them starting with the General Election in November.
For those interested, weekly demonstrations are being held every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Colleen Fraser Building in the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.  For additional outreach events, visit the Board of Elections’ website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe.
The schedule will be updated on the Elections Board website at ucnj.org/ucboe as events are added. A video demonstration of the new machines is also available in English and Spanish, online at ucnj.org/ucboe.
Please contact the Union County Election Board to schedule a demonstration for your community group by calling 908-527-4123 or emailing ndirado@ucnj.org.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Plainfield's 2019 Summer Food Service Program - Spread the Word!

Plainfield Hunger Heroes and Summer Food Service Program Coordinators Sharon Slater and Carolyn Thomas from the Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation continue to remind everyone that the program, in partnership with the Plainfield Public School District, is providing free summer meals to children (18 and under) at three sites: Hannah Atkins Playground, Rushmore Playground, and Seidler Field. The meals (Snack at 2:30 PM and Dinner at 5:30 PM) are served on Monday through Friday from now until Friday, August 23. This federal program, administered in New Jersey by the Department of Agriculture, serves nutritious meals to ensure that all of our kids in Plainfield have healthy, nutritious food during these hot summer days. For more information, please contact the Division of Parks and Recreation at (908) 753-3097.
Please share the video and flier to help spread the word!