Highlands Mayoral Race Tightens To 2 Votes With Late VBM Ballots Counted

Carolyn Broullon and Rick O’Neil. photo courtesy of ShoreGrafx Inc

Highlands Councilwoman Carolyn Broullon leads Mayor Rick O’Neil by 2 votes with late Vote By Mail (VBM) ballots counted, according to results posted on MonmouthCountyVotes.com, the election website of the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, and the site’s mobile app.

Broullon led O’Neil by 6 votes when the polls closed on Tuesday, 589-583. VBM ballots postmarked by election day and delivered to the Board of Elections within 48 hours of polls closing are counted. The updated count is 591-589 with 4 write-in votes.

The outcome of the election hinges on provisional ballots determined to be valid by election officials next week. There are approximately 30 provisional ballots, according to the scuttlebutt amongst Highlands poll workers and politicos.

Provisional ballots are cast by voters who show up at the polls who are not in the voters’ book because they were sent a VBM ballot or an error. The ballots are validated against VBM tallies and voter records before being counted.

Highlands municipal elections are non-partisan.