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How do I know if I can vote?
You can vote if you are:
- A U.S. citizen,
- At least 18 years old on or before the next election, and
- A resident of New Jersey and your county for at least 30 days before the day of the election.
You cannot vote if:
- You are serving a jail sentence or you are on parole or probation for an indictable criminal offense under state or federal law. But, once you serve your sentence and complete probation or parole, you can register to vote. If you are a pre-trial detainee or you are on bail pending an appeal, you do not lose your right to vote.
- A judge has determined that you lack the mental capacity to vote.
What do I have to do if I want to vote?
In order to vote, you must first register. In order to register, you must complete a registration application. You can get a voter registration application from:
- Your local County Commission of Registration,
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Office,
- County Board of Social Services,
- Your local library, or
- Other public assistance agencies.
The registration form is also available online. Voters must register at least 21 days before voting in an election. To vote in the Primary Election on February 5, 2008, you must have registered by January 15, 2008. You can call 1-877-NJVOTER toll-free to get contact information for your County Commission of Registration (CCR). You can also call this number to request that a voter registration form be mailed to you, and to get information that is available in Spanish.
Once you complete your registration application, you must then submit it to your CCR in person or by mail. You cannot register electronically or by fax because an original signature is required. Once registered, you can vote in person at the polls on Election Day or by absentee ballot (this is when you mail your vote).
If you register by mail, the CCR will send you a request for identification form. This form will ask for your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have a license or a Social Security number, you will be asked for another form of identification (for example, a photo ID, bank statement, utility bill, or an official document addressed to you).
How do I vote, once I am registered?
Once you are registered to vote, you can either vote in person at a polling place (public place where people go to vote, such as a school) or you can vote by using an absentee ballot (this lets you vote by mail).
Your CCR should send you information about where you will vote on Election Day after you register. Shortly before the election, you should receive a sample ballot (this is a printed list of the people running for office) and information about where you should go to vote. If you have not received any information a few weeks before the election, you should call your CCR to find out the location of your polling place.
It is a good idea to bring identification and proof of address with you when you go to vote, especially if you are voting for the first time. If you registered by mail, you may need to bring a photo ID, utility bill, paycheck, or other document showing your name and address. Call your CCR if you have any questions about what ID is acceptable. Polls are open between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Can I vote with an absentee ballot?
Recent changes to the law allow you to vote by absentee ballot, even if you do not have a reason or excuse. You can call 1-877-NJVOTER for an application, or go online. You can also get contact information for your County Clerk. You must be a registered voter and send your absentee ballot application to your County Clerk prior to Election Day. Absentee ballot applications can be sent by mail to the County Clerk up to seven days before the election. You can also bring your absentee ballot application in person to the County Clerk until 3:00 p.m. on the day before the election.
After your application has been received and accepted, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you. You must complete and submit it as indicated on the ballot. Once you request an absentee ballot, you must vote by absentee ballot. You cannot vote in person at the polls. The actual absentee ballot must be received by the County Board of Elections before close of polls on election day.
In which party (Democrat or Republican) primary election can I vote?
You must be "affiliated" with a party to vote in its primary election on February 5, 2008. You can declare a party affiliation when you register to vote. If you did not chose a party affiliation when you registered to vote, you can do so the first time you vote in a primary at the polls. However, if you want to switch a previously declared affiliation (i.e., Republican to Democrat or vice versa), you must do so 50 days before the election.
What if I have a disability?
State and federal laws require that polling places and voting machines be accessible to people with disabilities. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires that people with disabilities must be given the same access and ability to participate in the voting process as non-disabled people. For example, if a non-disabled person is given privacy when voting, a person with a disability must be given the ability to vote in private as well.
People with mental illness are allowed to vote unless a judge determines that they lack the capacity to vote. Individuals do not lose the right to vote if they have a guardian, unless the guardianship order says that the person lacks the capacity to vote.
If you believe that you were improperly denied the right to vote on Election Day, you can apply to the New Jersey Superior Court in your county for relief. Each court has a duty judge available on Election Day who can hear your complaint and give you an order allowing you to vote. To find your local New Jersey Superior Court, check online or call 1-877-NJVOTER for more information.
If you feel that your rights under HAVA have been violated, you can file a complaint in court or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Department, Voting Division, at 1-800-253-3931. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has a voting accessibility concern and complaint process, and can be contacted at 1-609-292-3760.
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