Murphy thrilled by early voting turnout – and the fact it went smoothly

Closeup shot of one vote button in focus in between many other buttons in a box. Selective focus with shallow depth of field.

Gov. Phil Murphy readily admits that you can’t necessarily compare the record-breaking early voting turnout in New Jersey to previous elections because 2022 was an off-year election and 2020 was a COVID-caused mail-only affair.

Murphy also admitted it won’t be clear if the heavy voting this past weekend means the final vote total will be higher — or if it’s just a matter of voting at a more convenient time.

This much also is clear: He is thrilled.

More than 250,000 voted this past weekend — already a record in the state for early voting and there still are six more days to go.

“The numbers were staggering all over the state,” he told ROI-NJ. “Tammy and I experienced it (Saturday) when we waited 40 minutes in line to get in the door.”

Murphy quickly suggested the early voting totals don’t necessarily favor one party over the other — though he was quick to say that, statistically, there are more Democrats in the state.

His concern now is the final overall number, Murphy said.

“The more important point, regardless of who you’re voting for, is people are voting — and that was our plea,” he said. “I don’t care who you vote for, you’ve just got to vote. And folks have clearly picked up that mantle in the early returns.

“I think that’s good for democracy.”

So is this important point.

“The system functioned flawlessly,” he said.