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Department of State, Division of Elections

New Jersey Voter Information Portal

The Hon. Tahesha Way, Secretary of State
Voting Questions? Call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837)
NJ Division of Elections

Vote-By-Mail

Any voter may apply for vote-by-mail by completing the Application for Vote-By-Mail Ballot and returning the application to their County Clerk.

 

After you complete your Vote-By-Mail Ballot, return your ballot by one of three ways, mail it back, place it in one of your county’s Secure Ballot Drop Box Locations or return it to your County Board of Elections Office.

 

How to Complete and Return Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot

 

Here are some easy, step-by-step instructions on how to complete your vote-by-mail ballot, to make sure your vote counts.

  1. Look inside the envelope you receive in the mail for these items:
    • The ballot
    • An inner envelope with an attached certificate
    • A mailing envelope

  2. Completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections in blue or black ink.

  3. Fill in and sign the certificate, keeping it attached to the inner envelope.

  4. Place the ballot into the certificate envelope.

  5. Then, place the certificate envelope into the mailing envelope.

  6. Return your ballot. How you return it is up to you.
    Select one of the following three ways:
    • Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before 6 days after Election Day.
    • Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Secure Ballot Drop Box locations
    • Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. County Election Officials

NOTE: Your Vote-By-Mail ballot CANNOT be returned to your In-Person Early Voting Poll Location or your Election Day Poll Location.

 

Vote-By-Mail FAQs

How do I receive my vote-by-mail ballot?

Every Active registered voter is eligible to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

Please contact your county clerk to submit a request. If you would like to receive your ballot by mail you must request your ballot not less than 7 days before an election.

General Election – November 1, 2022

Otherwise, you must get your vote-by-mail ballot in-person from your county clerk, by 3 p.m. the day before Election Day.

General Election – November 7, 2022

You have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return your ballot to the Board of Elections in person or deposit it in one of your county’s secure authorized ballot drop boxes. You can also mail your ballot, it must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

What if I always vote-by-mail, but now want to vote early, in-person, instead?

Check whether or not you are an active vote-by-mail voter at Vote.NJ.Gov, under “Track My Ballot.” If you are registered to vote by mail in an election, you must opt out, in order to cast a ballot in person on a machine at an early voting location. To opt out, contact your County Clerk.

When will ballots be mailed?
Counties will begin mailing ballots to voters 45 days before an election, but some counties will begin before then.
General Election – September 24, 2022

How do I know if my vote-by-mail ballot has been received?

You can check on the status of your vote-by-mail ballot using the Track My Ballot Portal online or you can contact your County Clerk.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

First time users have to create an account and will need either a Voter ID, a Driver’s License Number, or the last 4 digits of their SSN Number to validate voter registration status. (If you don’t know your Voter ID number, you can obtain it by going to "Voter Search" or contact your Superintendent of Elections or Commissioner of Registration)

Can I track my vote-by-mail ballot?
Yes, voters can track their vote-by-mail ballot through the Track My Ballot Portal.

First time users have to create an account and will need either a Voter ID Number, a Driver’s License Number, or the last 4 digits of SSN to validate voter registration status. (If you don’t know your Voter ID number, you can obtain it by going to "Voter Search" or contact your Superintendent of Elections or Commissioner of Registration)

If I am voting by mail, when must the county Board of Elections receive my ballot?

Vote-by-mail ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by Election Day, and received by the county Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls.
General Election – November 14, 2022

Vote-by-mail ballots that are placed in the county’s secure ballot drop box or delivered in-person to the County Board of Elections must be delivered by 8 pm on Election Day.

How can I return my ballot?

Either return your ballot by mail, bring your completed and sealed ballot in-person to your county’s Board of Elections office, or place it in a secure “ballot drop box” located throughout your county.

What is the deadline by which election officials must receive a mailed ballot?
Every vote-by-mail ballot that is postmarked on or before Election Day, and that is received on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls shall be considered valid and shall be canvassed, assuming the ballot meets all other statutory requirements.
General Election – November 14, 2022

Additionally, every mail-in ballot that does not bear a postmark date but is received by the county board of elections by delivery of the United States Postal Service before or within forty-eight (48) hours (2 days) of the closing of polls, shall be considered valid and shall be canvassed, assuming the ballot meets all other statutory requirements.

How do I stop receiving a vote-by-mail ballot for future elections?
It depends on your county. Please call your county clerk to inquire about their procedure.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

Do I have to include a stamp on my ballot return envelope?
It depends on your county. Please call your County Clerk.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

Do vote by mail ballots require a witness or notary?
No, vote-by-mail ballots do not require a witness or notary.

They do require the voter’s signature.

Do voters casting a ballot by mail need to include a copy of their ID?
Voters do not need to provide a copy of their ID in order to cast a vote- by-mail ballot except under certain circumstances for first time voters. These voters will receive a notice with their vote-by-mail ballot.

What should I do if I make a mistake, damage, or lose my vote-by-mail ballot?

If you have not already returned your ballot, you may request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot from your County Clerk. If you go to your polling location on Election Day, you will have to vote using a paper provisional ballot.

What is the difference between absentee and Vote-By-Mail ballot in New Jersey?
The term “absentee ballot” was changed in July 2009 and was replaced by the Vote-By-Mail ballot law that allowed a voter to request a ballot by mail for any reason.

Will my Vote-By-Mail ballot be counted? I heard that Vote-By-Mail ballots might not be counted.

Every valid vote-by-mail ballot is counted.

Be sure to complete and sign the certificate attached to the inner envelope when you return your vote-by- mail ballot. Be sure to leave the certificate attached to the inner envelope. Do not put it inside the inner envelope. If you are going to mail your ballot, it must be postmarked ON or BEFORE Election Day and received by your county Board of Elections by 8 pm on the sixth day after the close of the polls. If you are not sure if your ballot will arrive in time, you can drop it off in person at the county Board of Elections or one of the county’s secure authorized ballot drop boxes. Contact your Board of Elections for drop-off locations. If you are dropping your ballot off in-person, you must do so by 8 pm on Election Day.

“Bearers” FAQs

Can I deliver more than 1 vote-by-mail ballot to the Board of Elections office or place it in the ballot drop box?

A person who transports a voted (completed) vote by mail ballot for someone else is considered a "Bearer". Bearers are limited to three (3) non-household ballots per election, except that an authorized bearer may transport up to five (5) ballots in an election if those voters are immediate family members residing in the same household as the bearer.
  • Not to exceed (5) ballots in total for any election
  • The Bearer MUST SIGN the "Bearer Portion" of the outer envelope of the ballot in the presence of the voter when taking custody of the ballot.

Any Bearer Ballots that exceed the limit must be REJECTED. If the Bearer is hand-delivering the ballot to the county Board of Elections, then he/she MUST SHOW ID AND SIGN the Bearer Book. It is against the law for anyone except you, the voter, to mail or transport your ballot unless the outer envelope is sealed and the “Bearer Portion” is completed.

Can I deliver my vote-by-mail ballot to my polling location?
No, you cannot bring your ballot to your polling place on Election Day. However, you can bring your completed and sealed ballot in-person to your county’s Board of Elections office, or place it in a secure “ballot drop box” located throughout your county.

Vote-By-Mail Applications

Atlantic County Vote-By-Mail Ballot Applications

 

Page Last Updated: 08/17/21

 

 

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