Election Day is coming up and we must make it our business to go out and vote. It is a right and also a responsibility as a citizen. Many people do not think it is important. But your vote does make a difference. When you don’t vote, you’re absence is making a difference that impacts the results. Just think about it, there are so many people that want to vote and can’t because they are not U.S. citizens.

Voting gives you an opportunity to elect a candidate of your choice. Before elections, you should research information on the various candidates. Don’t be misled by politicians that talk a good game. We all know good politicians and bad politicians. The good politicians care about the community. The decisions they make help the community move forward. Your vote influences decisions that improve conditions in your community.

BLOOMFIELD - Complete area results of Nov. 2, 2010 General Election regarding the mayor's race here may still be wanting in an otherwise return of most incumbents.

Essex County Clerk Christopher J. Durkin said to Local Talk late Nov. 2 that he would be personally counting the 30 emergency ballots and another 140 provisional ballots regarding the race between Raymond J. McCarthy and John Lazar. Counting those 170 ballots may determine whether incumbent Democrat McCarthy receives a third term or if challenging Republican Lazar gets his first term.

McCarthy, as of Durkin's 10:55 p.m. Nov. 2 posting, is leading Lazar by 155 votes, 5,611-5,456, with all 35 township polling stations reporting.

Darrin Sharif won the Central Ward runoff election by 11 votes today, after Essex County election commissioners tallied 41 provisional ballots at the Hall of Records office, said Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin.

Provisional ballots are used whenever there are questions of residency or eligibility. The ballots are usually added to the poll station and absentee ballot figures after questions of their legitimacy are determined.

In the unofficial tally after the June 15 election, Sharif led Bell by 25 votes - 2,374 to 2,359 - from the Central Ward's 31 polling districts.

NEWARK – The runoff election in Newark's Central Ward between Councilman Charles A. Bell and challenger Darrin Sharif was too close to call and will come down to 64 provisional ballots.

The ballots will be counted by the Essex County election commissioners at the Hall of Records office on Thursday after 5 p.m. Newark Municipal Clerk Robert P. Marasco is to announce the unofficial results, incorporating the provisional ballots, afterwards.