State of NJ offers guide to vote by mail in Primary, General elections

The 2024 General Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The 2024 Primary Election will be held Tuesday, June 4.

There are a few changes to New Jersey Vote-By-Mail for 2024. Here's a brief guide to voting by mail in this year's elections in New Jersey.

• Eligibility: All active registered voters are entitled to vote by mail. Unaffiliated mail-in voters must declare their party affiliation with the Democratic Party or the Republican Party to vote in the June 4 Primary Election.


• Party Affiliation:
  
  
  
  • Voters wishing to change their party declaration must do so by Wednesday, April 10.
  
  
  • Unaffiliated voters may declare their party affiliation and vote at the polls during in-person early voting or on Primary Election Day.
  
  
  • Unaffiliated mail-in voters must declare their party by Tuesday, May 28 to receive a mail-in ballot by mail, or by 3 p.m. Monday, June 3 to be issued a ballot in person or by authorized messenger from the County Clerk's Office.
  
  
  • Change your party using the declaration form provided by the county or online and submit it to your county Commissioner of Registration or your municipal clerk.
  
  
  
  

• Requesting a Ballot:
  
  
  
  • By Mail: Request at least seven days before an election.
    
    
    
    • Primary: Tuesday, May 28
    
    
    • General: Tuesday, Oct.29
    
    
    
    
  
  
  •  In-Person: By 3 p.m. the day before the election.
    
    
    
    • Primary: Monday, June 3
    
    
    • General: Monday, Nov. 4
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

• Ballot Mail-Out:
  
  
  
  • Counties commence mailing ballots at least 45 days prior to Election Day.
    
    
    
    • Primary: Saturday, April 20
    
    
    • General: Saturday, Sept. 21
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

• Voter Registration Deadline:
  
  
  
  • Register by Tuesday, May 14 for the Primary Election.
  
  
  • Register by Tuesday, Oct. 15 for the General Election.
  
  
  
  

• Returning Your Ballot:

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  • Mail: Postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day, received within six days post-election.
  
  
  • Drop Box: Place in a secure ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  
  
  • In-Person: Deliver to the county Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  
  
  
  


• Tracking: Verify receipt of your ballot via the Track My Ballot Portal.


• Opting Out: If you usually vote by mail but prefer to vote in person, opt out through your County Clerk. If you opt out after a ballot has been issued, you may vote by provisional ballot at the polls during Early Voting or on Election Day.


• Correcting Errors: Contact your County Clerk for a replacement if you spoil or lose your ballot.


• Vote Counting: All valid ballots postmarked by Election Day and delivered by mail to the County Board of Elections no later than 144 hours (six days) from the time of the closing of the polls will be counted. Valid ballots delivered by the US Post Office no later than 48 hours (two days) without a postmark will be counted.