Frequently Asked Questions about the July 7, 2020 Primary Election
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Q1. How do I receive my vote by mail ballot?
A1. If you are an active registered voter with the Democratic or Republican Party, you should have received a ballot by now. You can check your voter status here. If you are not registered to vote, the registration deadline of June 16 for this primary election has passed.
If you haven’t received your ballot and you are registered either as a Democrat or a Republican, please contact your county clerk to determine the status of your ballot and next steps. If you would like to receive your ballot by mail you must request your ballot by June 30. Otherwise you must get your vote by mail ballot in-person from your county clerk. You have until 8pm on Election Day to pick up a ballot in person and return it to the Board of Elections.
If you are an unaffiliated voter, you should have received a vote by mail application from your County Clerk. You will have to declare a political party in order to participate in the primary. If you would like to receive your ballot by mail you must request your ballot by June 30, otherwise you must get your vote by mail ballot in person from your county clerk. You have until 8pm on Election Day to pick up a ballot and return it to the Board of Elections.
https://nj.gov/state/elections/county-eo.shtml
Q2. How do I know if my vote by mail ballot has been mailed?
A2. To check the status of your vote by mail ballot, contact your county clerk. County Clerk contact information can be found at https://nj.gov/state/elections/county-eo.shtml or you can check online at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/auth/sign-in
Q3. Will my other votes be counted if I choose not to vote on a candidate or question?
A3. Yes. If you choose to leave a race or question blank, your other votes will still be counted.
Q4. Will my vote by mail ballot be counted? I heard that vote by mail ballots might not be counted.
A4. Every valid vote by mail ballot is counted. Be sure to sign the certificate envelope when you return your vote by mail ballot. If you are going to mail your ballot, it must be postmarked ON or BEFORE Election Day, July 7, 2020 and received by your county Board of Elections by 8pm July 14, 2020. If you are not sure if your ballot will arrive in time, you can drop it off in-person. Contact your Board of Elections for drop-off locations. If you are dropping your ballot off in person, it must be received by your county Board of Elections by 8pm on Election Day, July 7, 2020.
Q5. If I am voting by mail, when must the county Board of Elections receive my ballot?
A5. Vote by mail ballots that are sent through the mail must be postmarked by Election Day, July 7, and received by the county Board of Elections on or before July 14. Vote by mail ballots that are placed in a drop box or delivered in-person to the county Board of Elections must be received by 8pm on Election Day, July 7.
Q6. What should I do if I make a mistake, damage, or lose my mail ballot?
A6. 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.
Q7. Can I vote in-person at my polling location?
A7. Yes. If you go to a polling location on Election Day, you will have to vote using a provisional paper ballot. The July 7, 2020 Primary Election is being conducted primarily by vote by mail. If you haven’t received your vote by mail ballot, please contact your county clerk at https://nj.gov/state/elections/county-eo.shtml. If you are an unaffiliated voter, you will have to declare your political party in order to participate in the primary. Please contact your county clerk to request either a Democratic or Republican vote by mail ballot.
Q8. What is a provisional ballot?
A8. Normally a provisional ballot is cast by a voter whose eligibility to vote cannot be confirmed at the polls on Election Day. The July 7th Primary Election will require all voters, except those with a
disability, to vote using a provisional paper ballot. If, after the election, administrators determine that the voter who cast the provisional ballot was eligible to vote, the ballot will be counted as a regular ballot.
Q9. Can I deliver more than 1 ballot in person or place it in the ballot drop box?
A9. A person who transports a cast (completed) vote by mail ballot for someone else is considered a "Bearer". Bearers are limited to THREE (3) ballots per Election. Any Bearer Ballots that exceeds the three limit must be REJECTED. 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. If the Bearer is hand-delivering the ballot, then he/she MUST SHOW ID AND SIGN the Bearer Book at the county Board of Elections.
Q10. Where can I find the locations of the VBM (Vote by Mail) ballot drop box?
A10. Please visit Elections.NJ.gov
https://nj.gov/state/elections/primary-election-070720.shtml
Q11. How can I return my ballot?
A11. Either return your ballot by mail, bring it in-person to your county’s Board of Elections office, or place it in a secure ballot drop box located throughout your county.
Q12. Why am I receiving a letter saying that my vote by mail ballot or provisional ballot was missing a signature and asking for additional information?
A12. If your vote by mail ballot or provisional ballot was missing your signature, your county elections office will provide you an opportunity to certify that you did, in fact, cast that ballot. If you complete the form, sign it and return it in-person, by fax, or by e-mail to the county board of elections before 2 p.m. on July 23, 2020 or by mail, such that the county boards of elections receives it by the close of business on July 23, 2020, your ballot will be counted and your voter record with be updated to include your signature on that form.
Q.13 Why am I receiving a letter stating that the signature on my vote by mail ballot or provisional ballot did not match the signature in my voter record and asking for additional information?
A13. If the county board of elections determines that the signature on your vote by mail ballot or provisional ballot does not match the signature in your voter record, your county elections office will provide you an opportunity to certify that you did, in fact, cast that ballot and have your voter record updated with your current signature. If you complete the form, sign it and return it in-person, by fax, or by e-mail to the county board of elections before 2 p.m. on July 23, 2020 or by mail, such that the county boards of elections receives it by the close of business on July 23, 2020, your ballot will be counted and your voter record with be updated to include your signature on that form.