How to Vote

Overview

The November 3rd General Election will be held overwhelmingly through vote-by-mail. Governor Phil Murphy has come out with a plan that protects public health and ensures all New Jerseyans can safely and securely cast their ballot. In July, these measures increased voter participation in the primary and led to the second highest state primary turnout in NJ history. It did not favor one political party or another; it favored democracy.

For the general election, Gov. Murphy has expanded on the vote-by-mail plan from the July primary to ensure that — regardless of the US Postal Service’s status in November — all NJ voters will be able to safely and securely cast their ballot. Gov. Murphy’s executive order has safeguards in place to make sure everyone’s voice is heard and that every voter has a secure way to return their ballot.

Registering to vote

• There will be an online voter registration system live on September 4th for those who are not already registered to vote
  • Anyone who registers will then receive a ballot

Getting a ballot

• All active registered NJ voters will automatically receive a pre-paid postage vote-by-mail ballot from their county clerks. All ballots will be sent to voters by October 5th.
• There will be no sample ballots. The ballot you receive is the ballot you fill out and return.

Returning a ballot

Voters will have safe options to cast their ballot:

• By Mail: Use pre-paid postage to return ballot via mail. Must be postmarked by November 3rd.
• With the County Clerk: Take to the County Clerk’s office anytime before Election Day.
• By Drop Box: Return ballot by secure ballot drop box
• With a Poll Worker: Hand to a poll worker at an in-person polling place on Election Day (11/3). There will be at least one polling place per municipality.
• Vote in-Person: As for a provisional ballot on Election Day
• All individuals with disabilities will have access to an ADA-compliant machine

All NJ public schools will close on Election Day for in-person voting.

These plans make it easier for voters to safely and securely vote regardless of ongoing issues with the US Postal Service. This means every New Jerseyan will be able to stay safe and make their voice heard this fall.

FAQs

When will I receive my ballot?

If you are already registered to vote, your ballot will be mailed by October 5. If you register between October 5 and October 13, your ballot will be sent as soon as possible.

Where can I register to vote?
https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register

Where are the dropboxes?

The location information for the drop boxes will be made available to the public soon. As soon as the Andy Kim campaign receives concrete information on their location, we will disseminate that information and provide all the resources we can to make locating the boxes as easy as possible.

Where do I drop off my ballot on Election Day?

If you wish to drop your ballot off in-person on election day, we encourage you to do so at your polling location.

What do I need in order to vote provisionally on Election Day?

If you are voting in NJ for the first time, you should bring an ID. If you have voted in NJ before, you should show up as you normally would. Our recommendation is that you vote provisionally at your polling location.

What do voters need to bring with them in order to drop off their ballot at the board of election or county clerk’s office?

Photo id and their ballot. If they have someone else’s VBM ballot (eg a family member) then the bearer portion on the outer envelope should be completed before they get there.

Where are the polling locations?

There will be at least 1 in each municipality, and that information will also be distributed the moment that the campaign gets specific addresses.

How can I track my ballot or know when it’s been received?

You can check: https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/auth/sign-in

You’ll need to create your public access account to check. You’ll need to enter your full name, the county in which you live, and your Driver’s License or the last 4 digits of your SSN to create this account. Once created, you can use the above link to check the status of your ballot.

You can also call your County Clerk.

How often do the ballot boxes get checked

Ballot Drop Boxes get checked daily. They also have 24/7 surveillance cameras.

Who do I call for more information on vote by mail?

Your County Clerk!
Burlington: 609-265-5122
Ocean: 732-929-2018