Eligible Voters for Federal Ballot

A “Military Voter” includes New Jersey citizens who are members of the Uniformed Services, merchant marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

• The “Uniformed Services” include members of the United States Armed Forces (Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
• Family members of a military voter are also entitled to vote.
• A military voter is a voter who is absent from his or her New Jersey residence on election day; and is entitled to vote whether he or she is living elsewhere in New Jersey (ie.,a military installation), outside of New Jersey or outside the United States.

An “Overseas Civilian Voter” is a voter who is living outside of the United States and who was residing in New Jersey immediately prior to departure.

• To receive a federal ballot, the civilian overseas voter need not have been registered to vote in New Jersey prior to going outside of the United States, but must have been domiciled in New Jersey and have possessed the qualifications to register and vote in New Jersey.
• The overseas civilian voter is entitled to a federal ballot whether or not he or she ever intends to return to the United States to reside.

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Federal Elections includes

All general, primary, and any special elections for candidates for the office of United States President and Vice-President, Presidential Electors, United States Senator and Member of the United States House of Representatives.

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Application Process

• Voter submits a Federal postcard application to the Department of State, Division of Elections or the county clerk for the voter’s last residence in New Jersey.
• The Federal postcard application is available here
  (see the Link below).

Federal Post Card Application and Instructions

• The Federal postcard application can be used as an application to register to vote for federal elections and/or as an application for an absentee ballot.
• If the application is sent to the Division of Elections, it will be forwarded to the appropriate county clerk in the State.
• The application is now valid for two years for all all federal elections held through the second federal general election.
• The application may be sent by air mail or fax.
• If the application is sent by fax, the voter must also mail the application to the county clerk or the Division of Elections.
• Voter may request that ballot be sent by air mail or fax.
• If the voter requests a ballot be sent by air mail, the application shall be received on or before the 30th day before the federal election.
• If voter requests the ballot be sent by fax, the application shall be received no later than the 4th day before the federal election. The voter must include a fax number and location for receipt of the ballot on the application.
• Only Military Voters and Overseas Civilian Voters Are Entitled to Fax Applications and Voted Ballots.
• If the application is sent by fax and is rejected by the county clerk, the county clerk must notify the applicant of the rejection by fax.
• If the application is approved, the county clerk must send the voter the ballot and all related materials, including instructions.

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Delivery Requirements for Ballot

• Completed ballot must be sent back to the appropriate county board of election, by 8:00 p.m. election night, which is the time for the close of the polls.
• This 8:00 p.m. deadline applies to faxed and air mailed ballots.

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Special Requirements for Faxed Ballots

• The voter who faxes his or her voted ballot, must also air mail the original ballot materials to the county board of election.
• Faxed ballot is processed and counted in the same manner as original absentee ballots.
• When the original ballot is received, the county is to compare it to faxed ballot. If they do not match, or original is not received, the county superintendent of elections or county prosecutor is sent the ballots for appropriate action.

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Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots

Federal law also provides for the use of a federal write-in ballot for federal general elections ONLY (not primaries or special federal elections) for use by an overseas voter who makes a timely application for, but who does not receive, his or her state absentee ballot.

Federal Post Card Application and Instructions

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Special Rules for the Federal Write-In Ballots

The federal write-in ballot will NOT BE COUNTED if:

• the ballot is submitted from any location within the United States; or
• the application of the overseas voter is received by the appropriate state election official less than 30 days before the election; or
• the state absentee ballot if received by the appropriate state election official by the close of the polls on election night.

Note: if the voter submits a federal write-in ballot for the federal general election and later receives the state absentee ballot, he or she may also send in the state ballot (presumably if the voter thinks that the state ballot can be received by the close of the polls) and should indicate that he or she had previously sent in the federal write-in ballot.

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