Christie Orders Odd-Even Gas Rationing To Relieve Ease Lines

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie took action to prevent a fuel shortage and ease the problem of extended wait times and lines at gas stations by signing Executive Order 108, declaring a limited state of energy emergency with regard to the supply of motor fuel and implementing odd-even rationing for gasoline purchases in 12 New Jersey counties.  Odd-even fuel sales will take effect in the following counties at noon on November 3, 2012: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.

“As New Jerseyans continue the long process of recovering from Hurricane Sandy, it’s imperative that our families have secure, reliable access to essential supplies like fuel. Right now, the impact of the storm, particularly the continuance of widespread power outages, has created the disorderly sale of gas – including long lines, out of operation stations, and stations facing shortages,” said Governor Christie. “This system will ease the strain on those gas stations still operating, while we work to bring more online for the public to access fuel, in a manner that is fair, easy to understand, and less stressful.”

Once in effect, all retail dealers of motor fuel will be required to only sell motor fuel for use in a passenger automobile bearing license plates, the last number of which is an even number, on even numbered days of each month. Likewise sales will only be permitted to passenger automobiles bearing license plates ending in odd numbers on odd numbered days of the month.  Specialized plates – or those not displaying a number – will be considered odd numbered plates.

Governor Christie and Attorney General Jeff Chiesa pledged to aggressively and vigorously enforce the order to ensure compliance and the effectiveness of the policy in the affected counties.

“The orderly and reliable sale of gas to our residents is essential to maintaining a steady and reliable source of power for both transportation and the maintenance of essential services at home.  With the challenges we face in the storm’s aftermath, we will be vigilant in enforcing this odd-even system, as we ease the stresses on the system,” said Attorney General Jeffery S. Chiesa. “I encourage all New Jerseyans to abide by this system – motorists and retail dealers alike – to ease wait times and improve access for everyone.  Those who choose to disregard this order will be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted under the Governor’s state of emergency authority.”

These sales provision will remain in effect for as long as the Governor’s limited declared state of energy emergency is in effect in those 12 counties.

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New Jersey Registered Voters Encouraged To Vote Early At Their County Elections Office

Trenton, NJ – The Christie Administration is encouraging New Jersey voters to take advantage of the extended weekend hours at New Jersey’s county elections offices to cast their vote before Election Day. Registered New Jersey voters can vote in-person by visiting their county clerk’s office no later than 3 pm Monday.  Once they receive a ballot from their clerk’s office, voters will be able to complete their ballot and immediately deliver it to their county board of elections office. In a directive issued yesterday by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, county election offices are to remain open, at a minimum, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm beginning November 2 until November 5, and are to take all reasonable measures to inform voters of the extended hours.

“The extent of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction is impossible to fully describe,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno, who serves as Secretary of State and is responsible for overseeing the Division of Elections. “For many New Jerseyans, the hurricane’s impact may have made Election Day the last thing on their minds, but we want to make voting as easy as possible considering the devastating circumstances. Despite the devastation that surrounds many of our citizens, we are committed to upholding and honoring our nation’s ideals and having an open and transparent election.”

More information is available at elections.nj.gov 

The following is a list of county clerks and board of elections office phone numbers in each county.

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