More than 400,000 New Jersey voters already have cast ballots in this year’s gubernatorial election, indicating an increase in mail-in ballot turnout. People who prefer to vote in person will get their chance starting Saturday.
Early in-person voting begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at dozens of locations throughout the state and continues through Nov. 2.
This first weekend could provide a sense for how popular early in-person voting will be this year. During its first few years, not many used the method but it broke records during last year’s presidential election, when 1.1 million cast ballots during the nine-day in-person voting period in 2024, with more than 150,000 on one day alone.
As for early ballots returned by mail, as of end of day Tuesday, more than 404,000 New Jerseyans had mailed ballots, about 44% of the number who had received one, an NJ Spotlight News analysis of a state Division of Elections database found. That’s more than at this point four years ago, the last time the state held a gubernatorial election.
It’s unclear if more people are choosing to vote by mail or if there is increased interest in this year’s race, which features Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th), Republican Jack Ciattarelli, making his third try for the seat, Libertarian Vic Kaplan and Joanne Kuniansky of the Socialist Workers Party. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy cannot run for a third term.
Historically, Democrats have been more inclined to vote by mail and this year is no exception. About 63% of the ballots returned so far, or 255,000, were from Democrats, compared with about 22%, or 88,000, from Republicans and the remaining 61,000 from independents and voters not affiliated with any party.
Roughly equal percentages of Democrats and Republicans who received a ballot have returned it – about 48%. Some 29% of those not attached to either major party have sent back their ballots. More than 520,000 ballots have yet to be returned.
Non-federal elections typically have a lower turnout, averaging about 40% of registered voters in a gubernatorial year. That would mean about 2.6 million ballots cast. Voter enthusiasm, or a lack of it, could affect turnout.
This year’s primary saw the largest number of voters casting ballots in a gubernatorial primary in state history, but there were large fields of well-known and well-financed candidates of both parties contributing to that.
The number of those voting early in-person could provide a hint as to overall turnout. This is the fifth year in which people can vote early on a machine at one of the open polling places.
The first year was the last gubernatorial election, which Ciattarelli lost to Murphy. About 208,000 people voted early in person in 2021, representing less than 10% of the total turnout. It wasn’t until last year’s presidential race that a large portion of the electorate voted early in-person, with the number exceeding mail-in balloting for the first time.
Early voting locations are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily starting Saturday, with shorter hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. It ends Nov. 2.
Those who want to use a mail-in ballot and have not received one can still do so by requesting one from the clerk in the county in which they live.
Polls also will be open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide. Anyone wishing to vote in person on a machine on Election Day must cast a ballot at their local polling site.
Only those already registered can vote in the election. The registration deadline has passed.
The entire state Assembly is also on the ballot this year, along with one state Senate seat and hundreds of county, municipal and school offices.
