Early voting for the primary election begins in New Jersey

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) -- The wait is over; Primary voting is underway in the Garden State.

Across all 21 counties, in-person early voting has begun, the first of five days. It's an opportunity some voters say they take advantage of to avoid the long lines at the polls on Primary Day, which is coming up on Tuesday, June 4th.

"It's the convenience of it, I mean, there's nothing like it," said voter John Minella. 

"Where I live, parking is always a problem," said Minella, "you're looking for a parking space, you have to run in, run out."

On the first day of early voting, Hudson County reported around 1,000 coming out to the polls.

"Of course, the Presidential election, we always expect a spike in turnout over your average election," said Michael Harper, Clerk to the Hudson County Board of Elections. 

Hudson County is home to 26 polling locations, which County officials say is by far the most of any County in the State.

"We're very proud of that," said Harper. "We love giving people every opportunity that we can to get them out and get their vote cast."

"Hudson County, we want to make it as transparent as possible," said County Clerk Junior Maldonado.

All across the Garden State, voters can go to their polling location on Saturday and Sunday, first for a Primary election.

"If somebody is working - nowadays, economically some people are working two jobs, and they can't get away to be able to cast their vote during the week. So having hours during the weekend is fabulous," said Maldonado. "There's no reason for anybody not to cast their vote in any election."

State officials say polls will be open to registered voters who declare a party through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.