Registered to vote, what happens now?
Everything New Jersey voters need to know before heading to the polls on June 2.
Story by Shane Bagot
New Jersey residents who registered to vote by the May 12 deadline can now vote in the upcoming June 2 Primary Election. With the primary approaching, voters may be wondering, “What’s next?”
Affiliate to a party
New Jersey is a closed primary state, meaning voters must be affiliated with one of the two major parties. On their ballot, voters can then select among nominees from that party for each office up for election in the fall general election.
Does that mean that the unaffiliated voter cannot vote? No, unaffiliated or independent voters can still participate in the primary by declaring a Democratic or Republican affiliation. Forms to do so are available in person from the municipal clerk or the county Commissioner of Registration office, or online through the Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form or Voter Registration Form in the New Jersey Voter Information Portal.
The deadline to declare a party for Early Voting passed on April 8, but unaffiliated voters can still declare on-site on Primary Election Day. If a voter would like to change their party affiliation in the future, they may do so through any of these form options no later than 55 days before the next primary election.
Look into the Candidates
This year, voters will have candidates running for positions in the U.S. Senate, the House, and a host of statewide and local offices.
To learn about the nominees, voters can visit Ballotpedia. Information such as biographies, endorsements, and committee assignments can be found on candidate profiles. Voters interested in learning more can also visit the candidates' personal websites to read about policy positions, proposed initiatives, recent updates, and prior experience.
This year, U.S. Senator Cory Booker's renomination for the Democratic Party is uncontested, while the Republican primary is expected to be more competitive, with four candidates. This may be useful to keep in mind for voters who have not yet affiliated with a party.
Choose your voting method
After looking into the candidates, voters will have three voting options: early in-person voting, early vote-by-mail, and voting in-person on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2.
For ease of access, New Jersey law requires each county to provide early voting locations. This year, these sites will operate from May 26 to May 31. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polling locations for early voting can be found on the New Jersey Voter Information Portal.
Vote-by-mail begins on May 26 as well, which is also the deadline to apply for a mailed ballot through the county Board of Elections. County applications are also found on the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. Voters who have previously voted by mail and indicated that this is their preference will automatically receive a ballot in the mail.
Completed ballots may be placed in a county secure ballot drop box, typically located at municipal buildings. Alternatively, voters may deliver ballots directly to their county Board of Elections office. Ballots sent by mail must be postmarked no later than 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day.
Voting in person on Primary Election Day is historically the most popular option. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2. To find their polling place, voters can consult the state’s Board of Elections search tool by entering their home address.
Voters should also pay attention to election information received in the mail. Sample ballots from their county Board of Elections office will arrive a few weeks prior to the election. Voters who do not receive a sample ballot and would like one can contact their county clerk’s office or call the state’s Voter Information Portal at 1-877-658-6837.
Track your ballot
As a final step, New Jersey voters can create an account to track the status of their ballot.
If the tracker indicates that a ballot was accepted, the vote has been counted. For more information, voters can visit the New Jersey Voter Information Portal.
Shane Bagot is a freelance journalist and Rowan University journalism graduate whose work has appeared in The Village Green and Follow South Jersey.