Issued on January 15, 2020
January
January 16 - February 14
Nomination of County Board of Election Members
(30 day period before February 15)
N.J.S.A. 19:6-18
*Under current law, the Democratic and Republican parties are the only “recognized political parties in New Jersey.”
February
February 15
Submission of Evening Voter Registration Plan by County Commissioners of Registration to Secretary of State
N.J.S.A. 19:31-2
**In counties where there is a Superintendent of Elections, that office serves as the commissioner of registration; in all other counties it’s the County Board of Election.
March
March 1
Governor Commissions County Election Board Members
N.J.S.A. 19:6-18
March 1 - March 15
County Boards of Election to Organize
N.J.S.A. 19:6-22; N.J.S.A. 19:6-23
March 1
On or before, the Chairs of the two State Political Party Committees are to notify the Secretary of State of the number of Delegates-At-Large and Alternates, and the number of District Delegates and Alternates to be Elected at the Presidential Primary
N.J.S.A. 19:24-1
March 19
Deadline for Creating, Abolishing, Dividing or Consolidating an Election District by County Board of Election
(75 days before primary election) (No election districts shall, except with the prior approval of the Secretary of State, be created, abolished, divided or consolidated between January 1 of any year whose last digit is 7 and December 1 of any year whose last digit is 0.)
N.J.S.A. 19:4-15, N.J.S.A. 19:4-15b.
March 20
On or before, the Secretary of State is to certify to the County Clerk and County Board of each County the number of Delegates-At-Large and Alternates, and the number of District Delegates and Alternates to be Chosen by each Political Party
N.J.S.A. 19:24-2
March 22 - March 28; March 29 - April 4
Publication of Notice of Requirements to Vote in Primary Election by County Commissioner of
Registration
(notice to be published once during each of the two calendar weeks next preceding the week of the 55th day
before the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-45.1
March 27
Secretary of State to Submit Notice to County Clerks and County Boards of Election of
Available Offices and Public Questions for Upcoming General Election
(67 days before primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-1
March 30
Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Primary Election
(before 4:00 p.m. on or before 64th day prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-14
April
April 1
On or before, the Secretary of State is to certify to the County Clerk of each County the
applicable Party Rules governing the Delegate Selection process
N.J.S.A. 19:24-2
April 1
Appointment of District Board Workers by County Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:6-3
April 1
County Committee Chairs to File with Municipal Clerks the Number of County Committee
Seats to be Filled at Primary Election
N.J.S.A. 19:23-1
April 1
Municipal Clerks to Submit Certified List of Suggested Polling Places to County Boards of
Election
N.J.S.A. 19:8-2
April 2
Deadline for Amendments to Defective Petitions for Primary Election Candidates
(3 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-20
April 3
Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Primary Election Candidates
(no later than 4 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-10
April 6
Notice of Federal, State, and County Offices to be Elected at General Election to be sent by
County Clerks to Municipal Clerks
(57 days before the primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-3
April 6
Notice of Public Offices to be Elected at General Election to be sent by Municipal Clerks to
County Clerks
(57 days before the primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-6
April 7
Publication of Notice of Mail-in Ballot Availability for Primary Election by County Clerks
(prior to the 55th day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-6
April 8
Deadline for Change of Party Affiliation Declaration Forms for Primary Election to be Filed
with County Commissioners of Registration
(55 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-45
April 8
Deadline for Filing Certificate to Fill Vacancy of a Primary Election Candidate By the
Appointed Vacancy Committee
(55 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-12
April 8
Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenges for Primary Election Candidates
(9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-11
April 9
Deadline for Municipal Clerk to Certify to the County Clerk the Names of the Candidates who
filed Primary Election Nomination Petition with Municipal Clerk
(54 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-14
April 9
Transmittal of Secretary of State Certification of Federal and State Primary Election
Candidates to County Clerks
(54 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-21
April 10
Transmittal of County Clerk Certification of All Candidates to be Placed on the Primary
Election Ballot to Municipal Clerks, the County Clerk Shall also Transmit such List, but for
Federal Candidates; to Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC)
(53 days before the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-22
April 10
County & Municipal Clerk Drawings for Ballot Positions for Primary Election Candidates
(53 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-24
April 12 - May 11
Publication of Notice of Primary Election by County Boards of Election
(within 30 days before close of registration for election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-7
*Under current law the Primary Election is held only for the Democratic and Republican parties. N.J.S.A. 19:5-1
April 13
Deadline for Filing in Superior Court to Protect Primary Election Candidate’s Rights
(12 days after petition filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-12
April 13*
Deadline for Preparation of Official Primary Election Ballot for Printing
(50 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-1
* County Commissioner of Registration is to provide notice to the two County Chairpersons of the date to inspect voting machines
after they have been prepared for the upcoming election. This date will vary from county to county. N.J.S.A. 19:48-6
April 18
Commencement of Mailing of Mail-In Ballots for Primary Election
(45 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-5, N.J.S.A. 19:63-9
May
May 12
Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Election
(21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-6
May 12
Mandated Evening Voter Registration Available for Primary Election in Offices of County
Commissioners of Registration
(optional for Municipal Clerk)
(21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-2
May 15
Certification of Polling Places by County Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:8-4
May 15
Filing of Certification of Accessible Polling Places to the Secretary of State by the County
Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:8-3.4
May 19
Deadline for Filing of Challenger Appointments for Primary Election
(second Tuesday preceding election)
N.J.S.A. 19:7-3
May 24 – May 30
Publication of Notice of Primary Election by County Boards of Election
(once during the calendar week prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-7
May 26
Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for Primary Election by County Boards of
Election
(7 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-9
May 26
Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for Primary Election
(not less than 7 days prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
May 27
Mailing of Sample Ballots for Primary Election
(on or before 12 noon on Wednesday preceding election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-34
May 29
Deadline for Application to Receive Primary Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for
Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters
(4th day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:59-4
June
June 1 – by 3:00 p.m.
Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for Primary Election
(up to 3:00 p.m. on the day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
June 1
Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for Primary Election by County Boards of
Election
(1 day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-9
June 2
Primary Election Day
(Tuesday after first Monday in June)
N.J.S.A. 19:2-1, N.J.S.A. 19:23-40
June 2
Last day for Testing of Electronic Scanning Equipment for Tabulation of Paper Ballots for
Primary Election
(day of election) (notice to be given 48 hours prior to the start of testing)
N.J.S.A. 19:53A-8
June 2
Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the Primary Election
June 2
Deadline for in Person Submission of Primary Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of
Election
(by 8:00 p.m. on the day of election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-16
June 3 - June 19
Impoundment Period for Voting Machines Used in the Primary Election
(17 days following election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72)
N.J.S.A. 19:52-6
June 4
Deadline for Receipt of Timely Mailed Postmarked Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election
(no later than 48 hours after the time of the closing of the polls for the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-16
June 9
Deadline for Filing of Acceptance of Nomination by Successful Primary Election
Write-in Nominee
(7 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-16
June 9
Filing of Acceptance of One Nomination where Primary Election Nominee Receives More Than
One Nomination for Same Office
(7 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-9
June 10
Deadline for Municipal Clerk to Certify to County Clerk and County Board of Elections the
Names of Duly Elected County Committee Members
(within 8 days after primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-54
June 12
Deadline for Filing of Election Contest Petitions for Primary Election
(up to 10 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:29-3
June 15
Canvass of Primary Election Votes by County Clerks
(12 days after the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-55
June 19
Deadline for Recount Applications for Primary Election
(within 17 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:28-1
June 19
Deadline for Applications for Recheck of Voting Machines Used in the Primary Election
(within 17 days after election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72)
N.J.S.A. 19:52-6
June 19
Deadline for Preparation of Emergency and Provisional Ballot Reports by Each County Board
of Election for the Primary Election
(within 17 days after the election or 3 days after the certification of the results of the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:53B-21, N.J.S.A. 19:53C-21
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
