By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
TRENTON - To protect voters and poll workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order No. 105, mandating the May 12 non-partisan election to be held exclusively using vote-by-mail ballots.
The well-being of citizens is the state's number one priority, said Lt. Gov. Shiela Oliver, who also serves as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
"Gov. Murphy and I fully respect that elections are the foundation of our democracy, but we will not allow our citizens to be put in harm's way as the COVID-19 pandemic escalates," Oliver said.
Elections in other cities previously scheduled for March 31 and April 21 will also be held in May.
The order requires all elections scheduled for May 12 to be held solely by vote-by-mail.
Ballots will automatically be sent to all registered voters without the need for an application and will include prepaid postage to guarantee proper delivery to the county.
Polling places will not be open on May 12.
The Secretary of State will prepare a schedule that ensures timely receipt and return of ballots for counting on May 12.
For first-time voters, the last day to register to vote is Tuesday, April 21.
Anyone wishing to vote for the first time can complete a paper Voter Registration Application by downloading a form at https://nj.gov/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml, and returning it by mail to Atlantic County Commissioner of Registration Maureen Bugdon, 1333 Atlantic Ave., 4th Floor, Atlantic City, NJ 08401.
The requirement that sample ballots be sent to registered voters ahead of the election has been suspended.
A mechanism is also in place at both the Atlantic County Office Building in Atlantic City and the Historic Atlantic County Courthouse in Mays Landing where forms can be safely delivered.
Voters who do not have access to a computer or need to update their registration information, should contact the Commissioner of Registration at 609-645-5882 for further assistance. Voter Registration forms can be mailed to allow voters to update their profiles.
Incumbent Commissioners Beth Holtzman, Lance Landgraf and Tim Kriebel are running unopposed in the Ventnor election.
No changes have been announced at this time for the primary elections on June 2.
"We will not hesitate to act if the emergency requires us to do so. We want to make sure everyone is safe in voting," Murphy said.
https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-105.pdf
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