As our community counts down to the Nov. 3 midterm elections, a new report from the Cape May County Herald shows that mail-in ballot returns across New Jersey are running well behind recent general elections. With just two weeks to go, the number of ballots cast by mail so far is significantly lower than the totals from 2022 through 2025, according to the Herald.
The story, reported by Vince Conti, senior reporter for the Cape May County Herald, highlights a trend that could shape turnout in local races up and down the ballot. While the exact figures were not detailed in the initial report, the comparison to the previous four general elections makes clear that fewer voters have chosen to vote by mail this cycle.
For Cape May County voters, the decline in mail-in balloting could mean more people are planning to head to the polls in person on Nov. 3, or it could signal a broader drop in engagement. Either way, local election officials will be watching closely as the deadline approaches.
The Herald's report comes amid a busy news cycle that includes several high-profile local stories, from beach damage and federal aid requests to a water treatment project in Cape May. But the mail-in ballot numbers stand out as a key indicator of how our community will participate in this year's midterms.
With the election just two weeks away, voters still have time to request and return mail-in ballots or make plans to vote in person. The Herald's reporting serves as a reminder that every vote counts—and that this year's turnout may look different from years past.
