Q: When is the New Jersey general Election?
A: The upcoming midterm election is on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
Q: When do I need to register in order to vote in the New Jersey local election?
A: Tuesday, October 18, 2022 is the voter registration deadline for general election.
Q: What type of ID do I need to register to vote?
A: New Jersey’s voter registration form asks for your New Jersey driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number and date of birth. Failure to provide this information could lead to you having to show additional identification when you vote that shows your picture or your name and address. Make sure to provide this information on the registration form so the state can verify your identity and you don’t run into problems when you cast your ballot.
Q: Should I register at home or at school?
A: Students have a choice about where to register to vote.
School address:
- Students attending college in New Jersey may register at their school address. You must plan to return after temporary absences, like summer break, but do not have to plan to reside at that address permanently.
Permanent address:
- Students may choose to register or remain registered at a permanent address in New Jersey or outside the state. In this case, students may need to vote by absentee ballot.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
Q: What type of ID do I need to vote?
A: Most New Jersey voters do not need to show ID at the polls in order to vote. However if you are a first-time voter who registered to vote by mail without providing either your New Jersey driver’s license number, non-driver ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number, you will need to show valid ID before voting. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- A New Jersey driver’s license or other state-issued ID;
- A military or other government ID;
- A student or job ID;
- A store membership card (like a Costco card); or
- A bank statement, paycheck, car registration, rent receipt/sample ballot, government document, or utility bill.
Q: Where do I vote?
A: Polling place locator online at https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml
Voters must cast their ballots in the correct precinct. Sometimes there are multiple precincts in one polling place, so confirm your precinct ahead of time and get in the correct line!
Q: How can I vote?
A: Apply for a vote-by-mail ballot and return it one of the following ways:
- Mail: Vote-by-mail ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by 8:00 pm on Election Day, and received by the county Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls. General Election – November 8, 2022
- Secure Ballot Drop Box: Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Drop box locations can be found at Vote.NJ.Gov.
- Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. County Election Officials’ contact information can be found at Vote.NJ.Gov.
A: In-Person Early Voting for both the Primary Election and the General Election. Each NJ county will hold in-person machine voting. Each county, depending on its size, will designate a minimum of 3 to 10 voting locations for early in-person voting purposes. Early voting locations will be open from at least 10 am to 8 pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and from at least 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Go to Vote.NJ.Gov for your early voting sites. General Election – October 29, 2022 – November 6, 2022
A: In-Person Voting on Election Day, at your polling place, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities. Go to Vote.NJ.Gov for your polling place, listed on the Polling Locations page. General Election – November 8, 2022
NOTE: Vote-by-mail ballots CANNOT be returned to your polling place for this election.
Q: Will voting in New Jersey affect my federal financial aid?
A: Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants and Perkins or Stafford loans or your dependency status regarding FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Q: Will I lose my scholarship if I register to vote in New Jersey?
A: Generally, no. If you receive scholarship money from a state, county, town, or a private entity (i.e., an entity other than the federal government) you should confirm that residency in a particular place is not a requirement of the scholarship and/or that voter registration in New Jersey will not affect your eligibility.
Q: Will registering to vote in New Jersey affect my driver’s license or car registration?
A: To register to vote, you must be a resident of New Jersey. Voting in New Jersey may subject you to other laws that govern state residents, including those regarding driver’s licenses and car registration. For more information, you may wish to contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
Q: Will registering to vote in New Jersey prevent my parents from claiming me as a dependent on their taxes?
A: No. Students are often told that registering to vote in a different state from their parents will make them lose their dependency status. This is not true. Where you register to vote will have no effect on your parent’s tax status.
Q: Does being an out of state student for tuition purposes affect my right to vote in my college community?
A: No. You may choose to vote in your college community or back home regardless of your tuition status.
Q: Are there ways to change their voter registration address online?
A: Yes. If they are registered to vote in New Jersey they can use the new Online Voter Registration Form. It and additional information regarding Voter Registration in NJ can be found here https://nj.gov/state/
Q: Are ballots allowed to be forwarded?
No, ballots will not be forwarded by the US Postal Service. They are returned to the County Board of Elections who will then try to contact the voter to verify if they still reside at the address. If they don’t verify then the registration is made inactive. So it’s very important that a change of address form be submitted.