Trenton Officials Await Legal Decision on Early Voting for Mayoral Runoff

The Mercer County Board of Elections is waiting on a decision from state attorneys regarding whether residents can vote early in the upcoming Trenton mayoral runoff election, Trentonian reported.

The uncertainty centers on whether voters will be granted a three-day window to cast ballots before the official runoff date on Dec. 8. This procedural question follows a crowded six-way race where no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote.

According to unofficial results reported by The Jersey Vindicator, Corey Isiah McNair led the field with 4,417 votes, representing 37.12% of the total. Incumbent Mayor Reed Gusciora finished second with 2,767 votes, or 23.25%.

McNair, a police detective and political newcomer, finished the initial count approximately 1,650 votes ahead of Gusciora. This margin represents nearly 14 percentage points between the two candidates.

The upcoming contest marks the first mayoral runoff in New Jersey’s capital city since 2018, Insider NJ reported. While the specific early voting dates remain unconfirmed, an initial report suggested an early voting period could have run from Dec. 4 through Dec. 6.

Trenton Officials Await Legal Decision on Early Voting for Mayoral Runoff — Photo: insidernj.com

Both candidates have expressed support for the early voting option. Gusciora has also advocated for at least one debate between himself and McNair before the runoff begins.

“Absolutely,” said Gusciora, who pressed for at least one debate with McNair before runoff voting begins.

McNair attended the Mercer County Board of Elections meeting to voice his stance on the matter. He argued that voters should have the opportunity to cast ballots over several days rather than being restricted to a single day.

The McNair campaign noted that residents had been hearing from candidates from August through October. McNair has used online video to inform voters about the various options available for casting runoff election votes.

The Mercer County Board of Elections expressed that the final decision rests with the state. Jill Moyer, the chairperson for the Board of Elections, stated, “It’s not our decision.”

Secretary Martin Jennings, Jr. echoed this sentiment during the meeting. The board also includes Commissioners Mary Corrigan and Gino Melone.

Candidate	Vote Count	Percentage
Corey Isiah McNair	4,417	37.12%
Reed Gusciora	2,767	23.25%

While the early voting window is pending a legal determination, Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello confirmed that city residents will have access to mail-in voting.

The board expects a decision from state officials soon. Until that guidance arrives, the specific timeline for the three-day early voting window remains unconfirmed.

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