Americans now have more options than ever for casting their ballots after the COVID pandemic changed how we can vote. It's no longer necessary to wait in line at your local polling place in order for your voice to be heard — although that is still an option, too.
With mail-in ballot deadlines and a new early-voting period, it can be a bit complicated to keep track of your options for voting in New Jersey.
MORE: Here's how to find your polling place, cast a vote now and track a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania
Whether you plan to cast your ballot in person on Tuesday, Nov. 5, or mail it in ahead of time, here's what to know about voting in the 2024 election:
Can I still register to vote?
Yes, the deadline to register to vote in the 2024 general election in New Jersey is Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Voter registration applications are available online or by paper. You also can check that your registration status is up to date on the New Jersey Division of Elections website.
Can I vote early?
Not yet, but there is a new in-person early voting period being offered in the state for this election. It will be available throughout New Jersey from Saturday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 3. Each county will designate early voting locations, and those polls will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The state's new early voting option, which was established through legislation passed in 2023, allows registered voters to cast ballots in person using voting machines. No appointment is necessary to participate in the early in-person voting.
What is the deadline to send a mail-in ballot?
If you're voting by mail, your mail-in ballot must be postmarked on or before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, and must be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before six days after Election Day. If you're placing your mail-in ballot in a secure ballot drop box or delivering it to your county's Board of Elections office, it also must be dropped off by 8 p.m. Nov. 5.
Any New Jersey registered voter is eligible to request a mail-in ballot. In 2009, the state enacted the Vote-by-Mail ballot law, which got rid of the term "absentee ballot" and allowed voters to request a ballot by mail for any reason.
To receive your mail-in ballot, you must fill out an application and return it to your county clerk. If you want to receive your ballot by mail, you must apply by Tuesday, Oct. 29. Otherwise, you can pick it up in person from your county clerk by 3 p.m. Nov. 4.
Your mail-in ballot cannot be returned to your in-person early voting poll location or your Election Day polling location, the state's website says. It can only be returned by mail, by secure ballot drop box or in person at your county's Board of Elections office.
Can I track the status of my ballot?
Yes, New Jersey voters can check the status of their mail-in ballots online by logging into or setting up their My Voter Record account, which lets them see when their ballot is received by their county's Board of Elections. The tracker then tells users whether their ballot is accepted and counted.
Where can I find my polling place?
You can find your New Jersey polling location using the state's online search tool, which requires you to input your home street address and ZIP code.
Do I need to bring any identification to vote on Election Day?
If you already verified your identity when you registered to vote in New Jersey, you do not need to show ID when you vote in person.
But if you were unable to provide a driver's license number, state ID card number or Social Security number when registering, you will have to show an accepted form of ID the first time you vote in the state. Accepted forms of ID include unexpired driver’s license, state ID card, passport, current utility bill, bank statement or government document.
When will results be reported?
Unlike in Pennsylvania, New Jersey law allows vote-by-mail ballots to be opened and canvassed up to five days before the day of the election. Each county Board of Elections determines when they will begin opening and counting the mail-in ballots. Results can't begin being reported before 8 p.m. on Election Day.
The New Jersey Division of Elections does not post any results on election night. The best source for election night results will be the local county websites, according to the state.
For any unanswered questions, visit the state's official website.
