Voting at Your Polling Place

Historically since 1845, all General Elections have been held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Similarly, nearly all Primary elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June, unless altered by NJ law or Executive Order.

Since 2021, New Jersey’s expanded options for voting include Early Voting for both Primary and General Elections. This option allows registered voters to cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during a designated voting period prior to the Primary and General Election. You can now choose to vote, in person, when it’s most convenient for your schedule. Early Voting dates and hours can be found online at Vote.NJ.gov, or by calling (609) 645.5882.

Other Election Information:

Most Municipal Elections are held at the same time as the General Election in November, except for municipalities with a nonpartisan form of government. Nonpartisan elections are held on the second Tuesday in May. In Atlantic County, the following municipalities have nonpartisan elections: Ventnor, Margate and Longport.  On Election Day, hours are normally 6am to 8pm.

School Board Elections can now be held at the same time as the General Election in November or as scheduled historically, on the third Tuesday in April. School Elections are non-partisan elections to elect members to the Board of Education and to approve proposed school budgets. Polling hours may vary by school district; however, all polls are required to be open between the hours of 4pm and 8pm.

It's important to remember that only registered voters can vote by standard ballot in New Jersey, whether Primary, General, Municipal or School elections.  Prior to participating in any election, it’s a good idea to check your voter registration status to ensure you are properly registered and eligible to vote.  You can do this on the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. 

Provisional Ballots – What are these & when are they used?

A Provisional Ballot is issued to a registered voter for various reasons (see below for more info.), including when they have been sent a Mail-in-Ballot but have not yet returned it or when they have moved within the county from one election district to another and have not notified the Commissioner of Registration.  If you have moved to a new district and wish to vote on Election Day, you should go to your new polling location in the municipality of your residence where you will be permitted to vote by provisional ballot. We recommend you call your County Commissioner of Registration at (609) 645-5882, to find out your new polling location.  For Primary and General Elections, you can visit any of the 7 Early Voting locations where again, you can provide your new address within the county and vote by provisional ballot.

A voter may also be issued a Provisional Ballot if their registration information is not complete in the poll book (missing signature, address, DOB, etc.).

Important Information about Moving Outside of the County

A voter who moves outside of Atlantic County is governed under the following regulations:

1. If a voter has moved outside of Atlantic County within 21 days preceding the election, the voter may return to their prior polling place in Atlantic County in order to vote by Provisional Ballot.
2. If the voter has moved outside of Atlantic County beyond the 21 days preceding the election, the voter should contact their new County’s Commissioner of Registration for further information. They should not return to their prior polling site to vote, as they are no longer eligible to vote in Atlantic County.

(The voter may appeal this decision to the office of the Commissioner of Registration for an appearance before a Superior Court Judge.  Election judges are available during all elections to help address eligibility disputes or other election matters.)

Please keep in mind, the County Superintendent of Elections Office is always there to answer any voter or registrant questions.  It is up to every American citizen to register and exercise their right to vote.

How to Vote by Provisional Ballot

1. The board worker will provide you with an Affirmation envelope and a place to fill out this paperwork in private.
2. You will return to the board worker with the completed Affirmation Envelope in order to receive your Ballot Activation Card.
3. You will next take the ballot card to the Voting Machine where, upon insertion, you will make your selections. Once you have ‘cast your vote,’ the Ballot Activation Card will eject from the machine. Fold the ballot card with print on the inside once and place it in the envelope. Secure your vote by sealing the Affirmation envelope.
4. Give the envelope to the board worker.
5. Watch the board worker put the envelope in the provisional ballot bag.

No provisional ballot is counted at the polling place. Provisional ballots are taken to the County Commissioner of Registration's Office after the closing of the polls for inventorying and verification.  Provisional ballots are then counted by the County Board of Elections.

After the election, you can call 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837) to find out if your Provisional Ballot was counted. If your ballot was not counted, you can find out why it was rejected.

Assistance in the Voting Machine

If you are blind, physically disabled or cannot read the ballot on the machine, you will be allowed to have someone of your choice in the voting machine to assist you. Under federal law, however, the person assisting you cannot be a representative of your employer or union for federal elections.

If you are alone and do not have a preferred person, two board members (poll workers) of opposite political parties are available, upon request, to assist you.  If you wish to designate only one of the poll workers, you have the right to do so.  Either way, any assistance within the voting booth must be documented to record your consent.  District board workers must fill out a disability certificate recording this assistance according to New Jersey law.

Election Offenses

Electioneering - It is a crime under state law to electioneer within 100 (and in some cases, 200 feet) from the outside entrance to the polling place up to and including the polling room. There can be no campaign signs or material in this area, and no one can campaign on behalf of a political party of any candidate or public question to be voted upon.

Fraudulent - It is a crime under federal and state law to attempt to vote or vote knowing you are not entitled to vote or to provide false information when registering to vote or voting. You are not permitted to vote more than once in any election.

Conspiracy - It is a crime to conspire to deprive voters of a fair election.

Complaints

There are complaint forms available in the polling place if you have any problems. You may obtain one from the Superintendent of Elections or the Board of Elections.  Call 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837) for further assistance or inquiries.