TOMS RIVER, NJ – With approximately 12,000 provisional ballots left to be counted in Ocean County, ballot counting has been halted after as many as 7 individuals at the Ocean County Election Board have contracted COVID-19. Ballot counting ceased Friday after workers reported positive testing, election officials who wished to remain anonymous told Shore News Network. Few in county government and at the election board, run by Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank Holman are speaking publicly about the outbreak.
It is not known how many election workers contracted the virus or what measures the county is taking to control the spread of the virus within the administrative building. Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank Holman was seen regularly in the past few days as ballots were counted. His condition is also unknown. Holman also serves as the Chairman of the Ocean County Board of Elections. It is also unknown as of now when ballot counting will resume.
The office building located at 129 Hooper Avenue in Toms River also houses the county cafeteria, Ocean County engineering department, planning department, roads & transportation department and solid waste management department.
County officials have not made a statement yet on the outbreak officially.