Credit: (NJ Spotlight News)The polls are open in New Jersey, the first time voters here get the chance to vote early on machines in a primary election.
There are contests for Democratic and Republican nominations, or both, in nearly all the state’s 12 congressional districts. These races top this year’s balloting, but county and municipal contests are also on the ballot.
At least three polling locations will be open beginning Friday in each county for early in-person voting, with larger counties opening as many as nine places where voters can use a machine to cast ballots for all races. Polls are open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters can find the list of locations open to them on their sample ballots, on county election websites or on the state Division of Elections website.
Last November was the first time New Jersey residents were able to vote in person ahead of Election Day. More than 200,000 people cast ballots this way. The early voting period for the general election is nine days, compared with three for the primary, in recognition of the smaller number of people who usually vote in primaries.
New Jersey has a closed primary, meaning only registered members of a party can vote for candidates of that party. Primaries typically attract only the most engaged partisans. The state has about 2.5 million registered Democrats and 1.49 million registered Republicans. In the last midterm election in 2018, about 706,000 people voted, or two in 10 of registered party voters. Although unaffiliated voters — New Jersey has 2.36 million — can show up at the polls, declare a party and vote, not many do. New Jersey does not have same-day voter registration, so only those already registered can vote. Voters can check their registration status on the state Division of Elections website.
Voting by mail
Mail-in balloting has become very popular in the state. So far, more than 210,000 people have already voted by mail in this primary. That’s more than five times the number who used mail-in ballots four years ago and roughly the same number as in last year’s primary, when the governor’s race topped the ticket.
Anyone who has received a mail-in ballot can return it via the U.S. Postal Service through Tuesday, though it must be postmarked by Election Day to be counted. There are also hundreds of secure drop boxes around the state where voters can deposit mail-in ballots. Voters can only use a drop box in their home counties for the votes to count. The Division of Elections website has a full list of drop box locations.
It’s not too late to get a mail-in ballot. Voters can visit their county clerk’s office to get a ballot through 3 p.m. on Monday. Some clerks will have extended hours this weekend, but voters should check with the county. A list of all county election officials is online.
As usual, polls will be open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for traditional machine voting. The sample ballots all voters should have received list an individual’s polling location. The state has an online polling place locator, as well.
NJ Spotlight News has links to key state election information, a way to find one’s new congressional district and coverage of every primary contest on our elections page.
