En español | New Jersey allows any registered voter to vote by mail, and early in-person voting was introduced in 2021.
The 2022 midterms decided races for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The next statewide election is in 2023.
Several voting laws will change in New Jersey starting in 2023. Among them:
Redistricting in 2022 changed the boundaries of some of the state’s legislative and congressional districts.
Register online, by mail or in person:
Check if you are registered to vote through the online New Jersey Division of Elections voter search tool.
Yes, you can only vote in the primary for the party with which you’re affiliated.
Unaffiliated voters need to declare party affiliation to vote in a primary election. You can only vote by mail in a primary if you declare before the deadline (55 days before that election). Otherwise, you'll receive a political party affiliation form and instructions for voting in person on Election Day.
Any registered voter can request a no-excuse vote-by-mail ballot and vote from home.
You also may request that an authorized messenger pick up your vote-by-mail ballot. Include the authorized messenger’s name at the bottom of your application. The authorized messenger must either be a family member or a registered voter in your county. No one can be an authorized messenger for more than three voters per election unless they’re immediate family living in one household.
To return your completed ballot, fill out and sign the certificate. Make sure it remains attached to the inner envelope. Place your ballot inside the inner envelope, then insert the inner envelope into your mailing envelope. Some county elections officials may require postage on your mailing envelope. Contact your county clerk for more information.
Return your vote-by-mail ballot by mail or in person:
A vote-by-mail ballot cannot be returned to your polling place. Track the status of your ballot through the Track My Ballot portal.
Yes, you can vote early at a polling place designated by your county. More information is available at the secretary of state’s website.
You may vote as long as you’re in line before the polls close. Use the state's voter information portal to find a polling place near you.
Most voters won’t need identification to vote in person. If your voter information cannot be verified, you may be asked to show ID at the polls or provide a copy of your ID to vote by mail.
Without an ID, you may be able to cast a provisional paper ballot.
Acceptable forms of ID include your New Jersey’s driver’s license, a U.S. military ID or student ID. You also may provide another document proving your name and address, such as a bank statement or utility bill.
Editor’s note: This guide, originally published on Aug. 14, 2020, was updated on Dec. 7, 2022, with more information about voting in New Jersey.
This story is provided by AARP New Jersey. Visit the AARP New Jersey page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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