VOTER REGISTRATION

Registration Deadline: The registration deadline to vote is 21 days prior to Election Day.

Party Affiliation: A registered voter currently affiliated with a political party who wishes to change their party affiliation must file a Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form 55 days before a Primary Election. 

A registered voter currently not affiliated with a political party may declare their party affiliation up to and including Primary Election day.

You can print and complete the Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form and mail or deliver it to the Commissioner of Registration in your county or you can also file it with your municipal clerk. These cards are also available at your local Commissioner of Registration Office.

The Commissioner of Registration cannot accept faxed copies or an electronic transmission of Party Affiliation Declaration Forms, since an original signature is required.

VOTER REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS

Age: At least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you have reached the age of 18

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen

Residency: Must be a resident of the county for 30 days before the election

Felony Convictions: Must be a person not serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

ID Requirements: In order to register online you must provide one of the following:

-NJ driver's license;

-MVC Non-driver ID card;

-Social security number;

If you have none of the above you must provide a COPY of a current and valid photo ID, or a document with your name and current address on it to avoid having to provide identification at the polling place.

If you did not provide identification to the county commissioner of registration or if the identification information could not be verified (i.e., your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number), YOU MAY BE ASKED TO SHOW IDENTIFICATION AT THE POLLING PLACE WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE.

Identification may include, but not limited to, any Current and Valid Photo ID:

NJ driver's license, Military or other Government ID, Student or Job ID, Store Membership Card, United States Passport,

Or

Bank statement, Car registration, Government check or document, Non-photo NJ driver's license, Rent receipt, Sample Ballot, Utility bill, or any other official document

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

In person: Registration Application Forms are available from the Division of Elections, the Commissioners of Registration office in the County where you live or from your Municipal Clerk. Registration forms are also available at Division of Motor Vehicle offices.

You can also register to vote at the same time you are applying for assistance or service at the following agencies:

-NJ Medical Assistance & Health Services Program

-WIC (Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infant & Children)

-Work First NJ Programs

-Division of Developmental Disabilities

-Office of Disability Services - Department of Human Services - Public Offices

-Armed Forces of the United States Recruitment Offices

-Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Department of Labor

-Commission of the Blind & Visually Impaired

-County Welfare Agency or County Board of Social Services

By mail/ in writing: You can also print a registration application and after entering required data, mail it to the Commissioners of Registration office in the county where you reside. In addition, this form can be used for name and address changes.

The Commissioners of Registration cannot accept faxed copies or an electronic transmission of a voter registration form since an original signature is required. 

Online: Click here. To register online, you will need your date of birth and one of the following forms of identification:

-A current and valid Driver’s License or a non-driver Identification Card (ID card) issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Your information will be provided to the MVC to validate identification, and to retrieve a copy of your digitized signature or;

-A Social Security number To use your social security number, you must have the ability to sign on-screen or upload your signature to complete the registration process. If you are unable to provide a digital signature, you can not register online.

VERIFYING YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS

Online: New Jersey voter registration verification

Phone: Contact your Commissioner of Election Office

OBTAINING AN VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT

Counties will begin mailing out ballots to voters 45 days before an election, but some counties will begin before then.

In person: A voter may also apply in person to the County Clerk until 3:00 p.m. the day before the elections.

By mail: Mail your applications to your Commissioners of Registration office.

To receive your ballot by mail, the application must be received by the county clerk 7 days prior to the election.

The County Clerk cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of a Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, unless you are a Military or Overseas Voter, since an original signature is required.

Military and overseas voting: Military and overseas voters can submit a state form or the Federal Postcard Application. More information for Military and Overseas Voters available here.

SUBMITTING A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT

Location and time: If returning your Ballot in person it must be received by the County Board of Elections before close (8 p.m.) of polls on Election Day. 

If returning your Mail-In Ballot by mail, it must be postmarked no later than 8 p.m. Election Day and received by the County Board of Elections no later than 6 days after the time of the closing of the polls for the election. You can also drop off your ballot in a drop box. You can find drop box locations here.

If you received a mail ballot, but instead want to vote in person, you can do that too by opting out. Contact your county clerk to opt out of mail voting.

You can track your mail ballot here. 

IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING

This new option enables all registered voters to cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during in-person early voting period prior to Election Day. You can now choose to vote, in person, when it’s most convenient for your schedule.

No matter where you live in the county, you can vote your specific ballot at any of your county’s designated in-person early voting locations. Find your county’s locations at VOTE.NJ.GOV.

In-Person Early Voting for both the Primary Election and the General Election. Early voting locations will be open from at least 10 am to 8 pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and from at least 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. No appointment is necessary. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.

ELECTION DAY VOTING

Vote in person at your polling place, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.

Go to VOTE.NJ.GOV for your polling place, listed on the Polling Locations page.

Voters may also cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is cast by a voter whose eligibility to vote cannot be confirmed at the polls on Election Day or if they have applied for a vote-by-mail ballot. If, after the election, it is determined that the voter who cast the provisional ballot was eligible to vote, the ballot will be counted. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Verifying Registration: New Jersey voter registration verification

Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org/

Polling Place: New Jersey polling place finder

How to Vote: Voter Rights and Accessibility Information

Getting your vote counted: View your Voter bill of Rights.

Problems with voting: For more information click here

Verifying provisional ballot status: After the election, you can call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837) to find out if your ballot was counted. If your ballot was not counted, you can find out why it was rejected.

Verifying vote by mail ballot status: Use My Voter Record to track your vote-by-mail ballot. Or, contact your local Commissioner of Elections for more information. You can also call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837) to find out if your ballot was counted, after the election. If your ballot was not counted, you can find out why it was rejected.

Voter FAQ: NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Frequently Asked Questions