Levinson Backs Voter ID, Breaks With Giralo Over Vote-by-Mail

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson and County Clerk Joe Giralo agree that New Jersey should require voter identification. But the two longtime Atlantic County Republicans sharply disagree over vote-by-mail.

Levinson said Friday he believes Election Day should once again become the primary way most people cast ballots, with absentee voting largely reserved for people who cannot get to the polls.

Giralo takes almost the opposite position on mail voting.

The county clerk told Off The Press with Scott Cronick on WOND earlier this week that while he supports voter ID, he would strongly oppose eliminating vote-by-mail.

“I would never be an advocate — never, ever be an advocate — to do away with vote by mail,” Giralo said.

Levinson, appearing Friday on The Don Williams Show on WOND, made clear he disagrees.

“I also find this vote by mail — it's too much room for mischief,” Levinson said.

Levinson said he understands the convenience offered by mail voting but believes voting traditionally required citizens to make an effort to participate.

“Democracy does take a little bit of work, and I, for one, do not agree,” Levinson said. “It's easier, of course. And if it was up to me, maybe I'm getting too old, you'd have Election Day, not election month.”

Levinson said he would retain absentee voting for people who are unable to vote in person.

“You'd go to the polls, or if you're incapacitated or in the service, then you have your absentee ballot like we did in the past,” Levinson said. “And I think this vote by mail, as convenient as it is, there's too much room for mischief.”

Giralo: Make It Easier to Vote

Giralo's position is considerably different.

“Some people can't get to the polls,” Giralo told Cronick. “Some people work night work. Some people are disabled.”

“To me it should be made the easiest way possible for people to vote,” Giralo said.

Giralo, who is seeking another five-year term as county clerk this fall, supports voter ID but acknowledged that applying such a requirement to mail ballots would raise questions that would have to be resolved.

“That would need a lot of work and a lot of vetting to do it right,” Giralo said.

New Jersey does not currently require every voter to present photo identification at the polls. The state does, however, have identification and verification requirements in certain circumstances, and its online vote-by-mail application requires identifying information.

Giralo said his overriding concern is encouraging eligible voters to participate, regardless of which method they choose.

“Whether you vote by mail, early vote or Election Day — vote,” Giralo said. “Have your voice heard. I don't care. Have your voice heard.”

Byrnes Also Supports Voter ID

Atlantic County Commissioner June Byrnes, who appeared alongside Levinson Friday, said she strongly supports requiring identification at the polls.

Byrnes said she previously worked as a poll worker and recalled situations in which voters with similar names could create confusion.

She described one hypothetical example involving a father and son with the same name, saying one could mistakenly be recorded as having voted when it was actually the other.

“If you show your ID, it will say on there your full name, who you are,” Byrnes said. “And those mistakes don't happen.”

Without identification, she said, the voter mistakenly marked as having already cast a ballot could be forced to vote provisionally.

“So, yes, I've seen the mistakes happen,” Byrnes said.

Levinson: ‘We Don't Walk Lockstep’

Williams pointed out to Levinson that his position puts him at odds with Giralo.

Levinson acknowledged the disagreement but praised the clerk.

“Everybody has their own opinion,” Levinson said. “We don't walk lockstep with each other here. We have our own opinions. We have our own conscience.”

Levinson said he remains concerned about the potential for abuse of mail ballots and questioned the cost of mailing ballots compared with the number ultimately returned.

“I know it's democracy. I know it's the law. But you ask me my opinion, I'm giving it, Don,” Levinson said. “Election Day should be Election Day.”

He later added that despite their disagreement, he has considerable respect for Giralo.

“I respect Joe Giralo's opinion,” Levinson said. “He's a friend. He's probably the best clerk in the state of New Jersey. But I just happen to disagree.”

Mail Ballots Going Out Sept. 19

The disagreement comes as Atlantic County prepares for the Nov. 3 general election.

Giralo announced last week that his office will begin processing vote-by-mail ballots Sept. 19 in accordance with New Jersey law. Voters will have three options in the general election: vote by mail, vote during the state's nine-day early-voting period or vote at the polls on Election Day.

Giralo said his office has been preparing for the election for months and urged residents to participate regardless of which voting method they choose.

The Atlantic County Board of Elections, a bipartisan body with two Republican and two Democratic commissioners, is responsible for canvassing and counting mail, provisional, military and overseas ballots.

For Levinson, however, convenience doesn't outweigh his concerns about widespread mail voting.

For Giralo, election security and voter access do not have to be competing goals.

They agree on requiring voter identification.

On vote-by-mail, they clearly don't.