How to vote by mail in New Jersey
Voting by mail is convenient and legal in New Jersey. However, you must be aware of the rules.
How to receive a mail-in ballot
New Jersey law allows any registered voter to vote by mail if they choose.
-
If you have voted by mail in recent elections, you should receive a mail-in ballot; county election offices begin mailing them out Sept. 19.
-
To apply for a mail-in ballot, follow the instructions here.
The ballot comes with instructions for filling it out and returning it. Be sure to follow them exactly!
Three options to return your ballot
The Postal Service is legally required to deliver mail-in ballots.
That said, the Trump administration has made multiple attempts to restrict vote-by-mail. As of this writing, these attempts are still being litigated through the courts.
We recommend not relying on the U.S. Postal Service.
Drop your ballot in a Secure Drop Box.
Locations of those drop boxes will be announced this fall and posted here.
Deliver your vote-by-mail ballot in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8 pm on Election Day. Find your Board of Elections office here.
Vote-by-Mail Do's and Don'ts
Follow the instructions on your ballot exactly.
Ballots that are not filled out, signed and sealed precisely as prescribed can be disqualified and your vote will not count.
If you receive a mail-in ballot, you cannot vote by machine in your polling place on Election Day.
If you lose or do not receive your ballot, you can still vote. You will be given a paper ballot and your vote will be provisional. It will be counted if your mail-in ballot is not received.
Return your ballot on time.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, returned to a secure drop box by 8 pm on Election Day, or returned to your county Board of Elections office by 8 pm on Election Day.
Mailed ballots must be received by Nov. 9 (six days after the close of the polls).
Return your ballot to the right place.
Return your ballot by mail, to a secure drop box, or to your county Board of Elections. You cannot return your mail-in ballot at your Election Day polling place or your early voting location.