Public Advocate Reminds Voters about Deadline to Change Political Party in Time for June Primary

TRENTON – New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen today reminded voters about the upcoming April 14 deadline for voters wishing to change their party affiliation for the June primary election.

New Jersey law stipulates that any person who has previously voted in a primary election under a current registration cannot vote in another party’s primary, unless he or she files a new political party affiliation declaration form on or before the 50th day before the primary.  Votes cast in a general election are not relevant for determining party affiliation.

The 50th day before the June primary is April 14, and the affiliation declaration form must be filed with the municipal clerk or county commissioner of registration by that date.  A postmark is not sufficient.

For example, someone who voted in a Republican primary in 2004 and has not voted in any primary election since then would be considered Republican-affiliated.  Unless he or she files a change of affiliation form, that voter would only be allowed to vote in the Republican primary on June 3.  Likewise, someone who voted in the Democratic presidential primary earlier this year can only vote for Democratic candidates on June 3, unless the voter timely files a change of affiliation form.

However, a registered voter who has never before voted in a primary election or filed affiliation papers can go to his or her polling place on June 3, and choose which party to affiliate with, without having to file affiliation papers before that date.

Declaring a political party affiliation for the primary does not limit a voter’s choice of candidates in the November general election.

With the 2008 presidential election in full swing, protecting voters' rights remains a high priority for Public Advocate Chen. His department has focused on a wide variety of other voter advocacy activities, including: 

• ensuring that motor vehicle agencies and other public offices offer voter registration opportunities, in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act;
• protecting the rights of voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently at their polling places;
• monitoring the process used to select and purchase voting machines in New Jersey;

• deploying lawyers to various county courthouses to assist voters on election day; and
• ensuring that civil rights groups are able to assist voters at polling places on Election Day.
  
  

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