🗳️ Voter Eligibility & Registration
- Eligibility: U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old (17 for preregistration), resident of New Jersey and the county for at least 30 days, not disqualified due to a felony or court-declared incompetency.
- Preregistration: 17-year-olds may preregister and vote in primary elections if turning 18 by the general election.
- Registration Methods: Online, by mail, or in-person. Deadline: 21 days before Election Day.
Voting Methods
- Election Day Voting: Polls open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Early Voting: Begins 9 days before the election and ends 2 days before. Weekdays: 10 AM–8 PM; Sundays: 10 AM–6 PM.
- Mail/Absentee Voting: No excuse needed. Mail request: at least 7 days before the election. In-person request: up to 3 PM the day before. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days, or dropped off at an official ballot box.
Voter ID Requirements
- During Registration: Provide NJ driver’s license, state ID, or last 4 digits of SSN. If unavailable, state will assign a unique ID.
- First-Time Voting: ID required only if registration lacked ID info—acceptable documents include photo ID or utility/bank bills.
Polling Place Rules
- Electioneering Ban: No campaign materials or political advocacy within 100 feet of polling places or drop boxes.
Ballot Reform
- As of March 2025, New Jersey eliminated the “county line” design for primary ballots. Ballots now use an office-block layout to reduce political favoritism.
Oversight & Automatic Registration
- ELEC (Election Law Enforcement Commission): Monitors campaign finance disclosures and candidate filings.
- Automatic Voter Registration: When applying for or renewing a driver’s license, citizens are automatically registered unless they opt out.
🔍 Summary Table
| Category | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Voter Eligibility | U.S. citizen, 18+, 30-day resident, 17 can preregister |
| Registration | Online, by mail, or in-person; 21 days before Election Day |
| Voting Methods | In-person, early voting (9 days before), mail-in voting |
| ID Requirements | ID only needed at registration or for first-time voters |
| Polling Station Rules | No campaigning within 100 feet |
| Ballot Design | “County line” removed; office-block format adopted |
| Oversight | ELEC manages finance; AVR at DMV |
| Youth Participation | 17-year-olds may vote in primaries if 18 by general election |