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Frequently Asked Voter Questions
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FAQ Index | Candidate
Questions | Voter Questions
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| 1 |
When is the primary election? |
| 2 |
When is the general election? |
| 3 |
When is the election for
municipalities with non-partisan forms of government? |
| 4 |
When is the election for
municipalities with a partisan form of government? |
| 5 |
Who can register to vote? |
| 6 |
What are the hours the polls
are open? |
| 7 |
Where do I vote? |
| 8 |
Am I registered to vote? |
| 9 |
Why are voters asked to
sign affidavits? |
| 10 |
How can I get an vote by mail
ballot on election day? |
| 11 |
How can I get an vote by mail
ballot? |
| 12 |
When must I send my vote by mail
ballot in? |
| 13 |
Can my vote by mail ballot
be postmarked on election day? |
| 14 |
I got an vote by mail ballot
and my trip was canceled - what do I do now? |
| 15 |
When do the boards of election
begin counting the vote by mail ballots? |
| 16 |
Can a candidate distribute
flyers without a "paid for by" statement? |
| 17 |
How close (or far) from
the polls can electioneering activity take place? |
| 18 |
Can a candidate be at the
polls without a challenger badge? |
| 19 |
Can a candidate's wife
/ husband / brother / sister / mother / etc. Work at the polls? |
| 20 |
I was refused the right
to vote at the polls because (you name it). Where can I appeal? |
| 21 |
There is (you name it)
going on at the polls and I think it is illegal. |
| 22 |
I just broke my leg, was
admitted to the hospital, had a baby, broke out with measles, etc. and can't get
to the polls. How can I vote? |
| 23 |
They're making people vote
on paper ballots instead of the voting machine. Is this illegal? |
| 24 |
There is disruptive activity
(fights, excessive challenging, campaigning, etc) in my polling place. What do
I do? |
| 25 |
Do only registered voters
serve on juries? |
| 26 |
If I vote, do I have to
register as a Democrat or a Republican? |
| 27 |
Who is the chief election
officials in the state of New Jersey? |
| 28 |
How many days before an
election can I change my party affiliation? |
| 29 |
Can I declare my party
affiliation at the polls? |
| 30 |
When is the petition filing
deadline for primary election candidates? |
| 31 |
When is the petition filing
deadline for general election candidates? |
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| 1 |
When is the primary election?
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in June.
Presidential Primary Election is set for The first Tuesday after
the first Monday in February.
The correct date for this year is February 5, 2008.
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| 2 |
When is the general election?
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
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| 3 |
When is the election for municipalities with non-partisan
forms of government?
The second Tuesday in May.
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| 4 |
When is the election for municipalities with a partisan
form of government?
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in June.
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| 5 |
Who can register to vote?
Any person may register to vote who is:
- a U.S. citizen
- 18 years of age by election day
- a resident of the state and county at least 30 days prior to the election
- adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have been lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting, not serving a sentence,
or is on parole or probation as a result of, a indictable offense under the laws
of this or another state or of the United States.
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| 6 |
What are the hours the polls are open?
The polls are open 6 a.m.to 8 p.m.
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| 7 |
Where do I vote?
You must contact the Commissioner of Registration
and they can provide you with that information.
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| 8 |
Am I registered to vote?
You may call the Commissioner of Registration
to verify your registration status.
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| 9 |
When can a voter be asked to sign an affidavit at the
polling place?
A voter may be asked to sign an affirmation form at the polls that he/she still
resides at the residence on the registration list if his/her page is tagged (due
to undeliverable mail) returned to the County Commissioner
of Registration. A voter may need to sign an affidavit if he or she is challenged
by a poll worker or challenger who believes the person is not eligible to vote
(usually because of residency).
Any voter who has moved within a county, and has not corrected their voter records,
is eligible to vote in their new municipality by provisional ballot at the polling
place. To vote with this ballot, you need to complete an affirmation form.
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| 10 |
How can I get a vote by mail ballot on election day?
Vote by mail ballots are available on election day, under emergency circumstances.
Usually, if a voter becomes ill on election day or the night before, an authorized
messenger can obtain a vote by mail ballot by court order.
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| 11 |
How can I get a vote by mail ballot?
You must apply to the County
Clerk at any time not less than 7 days prior to the election if you desire
to vote by mail. If you fail to apply in writing for a vote by mail ballot within
the 7 day time frame you may apply in person, or by authorized messenger for sick
or confined voter only to the county clerk on any day up to 3:00 p.m. the day
before the election.
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| 12 |
When must I send my vote by mail ballot in?
Your vote by mail ballot must be RECEIVED by the County Board of Elections no later
then 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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| 13 |
Can my vote by mail ballot be postmarked on election day?
Vote by mail ballots must be received by the County Board of Election by 8 p.m. on
Election day.
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| 14 |
I got an vote by mail ballot and my trip was canceled - what
do I do now?
You may NOT vote at the polls if you received a vote by mail ballot, unless the
circumstances have changed, which given that circumstance, may allow the voter to vote by provisional ballot on election day.
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| 15 |
When do the boards of election begin counting the vote by mail
ballots?
Vote by mail ballots are counted on election day.
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| 16 |
Can a candidate distribute flyers without a "paid
for by" statement?
It depends on whether the candidate comes under the jurisdiction of the Election
Law Enforcement Commission. This is a separate State office, the number is
292-8700.
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| 17 |
How close (or far) from the polls can electioneering
activity take place?
Electioneering, consisting of signs, buttons, literature, etc., can take place
freely as long the activity is at least 100 feet from the outside entrance to
the polling place. (usually where the flag flies) Exit polling by the media is
not considered electioneering.
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| 18 |
Can a candidate be at the polls without a challenger
badge?
Candidates whose names are on the allot are automatically challengers and as such
are allowed to be present at the polls.
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| 19 |
Can a candidate's wife/husband/brother/sister/mother/
etc. Work at the polls?
That is a decision to be made by the County Board of Elections.
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| 20 |
I was refused the right to vote at the polls because
(you name it). Where can I appeal?
- I moved - if you moved within the same county, go to the polling place serving
your new residence. You can call the County Board of Elections or Municipal Clerk
for the location. You will be permitted to vote a "provisional" paper
ballot.
- If you moved across county lines more than one month ago, you had to register
in your new county of residence. You cannot vote in your old county.
If you moved across the county lines within 30 days you can vote at your old polling
place in your former county. If you choose to go back, tell the poll clerk you
need to fill out the affidavit to vote.
- My page was tagged / my sample ballot was returned undeliverable - if you
reside at the same address of which you were registered, you may vote by completing
an affirmation form of residency at the polls. You then vote in the machine.
- My page was missing - you should have been given a "provisional"
paper ballot to vote for this election.
- I was challenged and the board workers voted not to let me vote - you must
go to the Superior Court in the county of your residence. Please call your county
Commissioner of Registration.
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| 21 |
There is (you name it) going on at the polls and I think
it is illegal.
You should report this to your County Commissioner
of Registration.
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| 22 |
I just broke my leg, was admitted to the hospital, had
a baby, broke out with measles, etc. and can't get to the polls. How can I vote?
If you become sick or confined on election day, an authorized messenger, either
a family member or registered voter of the county, must get a court order to obtain
a vote by mail ballot from the county clerk. The authorized messenger should bring
to court a completed vote by mail ballot application. The authorized messenger shall
be a family member or a registered voter of the county in which the application
is made and shall place his signature on the application in the space so provided
in the presence of the County Clerk or his
designee. This can be obtained from the County Clerk. If a ballot is issued for
you please remember that the completed ballot must be delivered to the County
Board of Elections before 8 p.m. on election day or it will not be counted.
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| 23 |
They're making people vote on paper ballots instead of
the voting machine. Is this illegal?
If your voting machine becomes inoperable, the law allows voters to cast "emergency
paper ballot" until the voting machine is repaired. Certain voters must also
vote by provisional ballot, if they are registered in the county and moved within
the county without notifying the election officials before election day, or if
there is a physical problem at the polling place.
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| 24 |
There is disruptive activity (fights, excessive challenging,
campaigning, etc) in my polling place. What do I do?
Report this activity to the Commissioner
of Registration.
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| 25 |
Do only registered voters serve on juries?
That used to be true, but today any licensed driver over the age of 18 can also
be called for jury duty.
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| 26 |
If I vote, do I have to register as a Democrat or a Republican?
That's only true if you want to vote in either party's primary (nomination election).
If you don't vote in a primary, however, you have no voice in deciding who will
be on the ballot.
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| 27 |
Who is the chief election officials in the state of New
Jersey?
The Secretary of State is the Chief Election Official in the State of New Jersey.
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| 28 |
How many days before an election can I change my party
affiliation?
You can change your party affiliation
up to 50 days before a primary election and still vote in that primary election.
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| 29 |
Can I declare my party affiliation at the polls?
You can declare your party affiliation
at the polls when you go to vote in your first Primary Election. After that, you
may change your party affiliation 50 days before a primary election.
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| 30 |
When is the petition filing deadline for primary election
candidates?
The petition filing deadline for Primary Election candidates is 4:00 p.m. on the
57th day before the Primary Election.
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| 31 |
When is the petition filing deadline for general election
candidates?
The petition filing deadline for General Election candidates is 4:00 p.m. on the
day of the Primary Election.
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