By Erica Hoffman
With the election just a couple of short weeks away, Shore Local wants to make sure our readers’ voices get heard. Below are the most common questions and answers about voting. We hope it helps! Oh yeah, don’t forget to vote!
Q: What was the deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot?
A: Oct. 23.
Q: How do I fill out my mail-in ballot?
A: It may seem confusing, so take a deep breath and take your time. Make sure you follow all the directions on your ballot, exactly how it says. Remember to flip it over and answer the three questions on the back. There are important issues back there!
Q: Any tips to keep in mind when filling out a ballot?
A: Based on the most common reasons for ballot rejections, make sure to:
Complete your ballot early enough to get it to your county in time to be counted.
Make sure to sign the certificate attached to the envelope in which you place your ballot, using your normal signature.
DO NOT DETACH the certificate from the envelope; doing so will void your vote. Remember to enclose your ballot in the inner envelope, seal that and then place it in the outer envelope, which you must also seal.
Q: How do I return my ballot?
A: There are four options:
You can mail it back to the county board of elections. The return envelope is postage-paid (so you do not need to add a stamp).
You can drop it into one of a dozen secure drop boxes placed around each county. You can find your ballot box at this website: www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-secure-drop-boxes.shtml. Note that you can only place your ballot in a box in your county, not in a different county, even if that location is closer (votes are counted at the county level).
You can deliver your ballot in-person to your county board of elections office.
You can deliver it in person on Election Day to your designated polling location. You should receive a mailing from your county alerting you of this location before the end of October.
Q: Can someone else return my ballot for me?
A: Yes. That person, known as a bearer, can only deliver three ballots in addition to their own. The bearer has to fill out the bearer portion of the outer envelope in front of the voter. If the bearer hand-delivers the ballots to the county board of elections (instead of mailing them or placing them in a drop box), they must sign the bearer book and show identification, such as a driver’s license. Please note that a bearer cannot deliver ballots for others to a polling location on Election Day. On that day, each voter must bring their own.
Q: When is the deadline for returning my ballot?
A: If mailing your ballot, you must do so by Nov. 3. Ballots received through Nov. 10 will be counted — provided they are mailed by the 3rd. If delivering your ballot in-person to a polling location, to the board of elections or deposited into a secure drop box — the ballot must be delivered by the 8 p.m. close of polls on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Q: If I don’t want to vote by mail, can I vote in person on Nov. 3?
A: Yes. At least one polling location will be open in virtually every New Jersey municipality between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. Visit www.state.nj.us/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml to find your polling location.
Q: Will I get to vote on a machine?
A: Not unless you have a disability that requires accommodation. Nearly everyone who votes in person at a polling location on Nov. 3 will use a paper provisional ballot.
Q: How do I know my vote counted?
A: You can track your vote at www.state.nj.us/state/elections/vote-track-my-ballot.shtml. You need to sign up for this service before you can use it. It is easiest to sign up with your voter ID, which you can find printed on your mail-in ballot, but you can also do so with information from your driver’s license.
Again, and I can’t stress this enough: don’t forget to vote!
Erica Hoffman was born in Atlantic City and is proud to be writing for Shore Local. She lives in South Jersey and enjoys finding and sharing the lighter side of life.
