Vote By Mail Options Available For Primary Election Day

TOMS RIVER, NJ If you can't make it to the polls on Primary Election day on June 5 next week, you still have other ways to cast your ballot,

The Ocean County Clerk's Office and the Board of Elections are providing additional opportunities for anyone who can't get to the polls on June 5.

Staff from both offices will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. So you can apply for a vote by mail ballot and return the ballot to the Board of Elections the same day at 129 Hooper Avenue in Toms River. Parking is free at the county parking garage next to the Board of Elections office.

County Clerk Scott M. Colabella said that May 29 is the last day his office can receive Vote by Mail applications through the U.S. Mail.

“After that date, voters must apply for a Vote by Mail ballot in person," Colabella said. "They have until 3 p.m., Monday, June 4 to do so,” he said. “We set aside Saturday, June 2 to give voters the opportunity on a weekend day to vote using a Vote by Mail ballot. They can fill it out and leave it right at the Board of Elections. We have been providing this opportunity for a number of years and encourage voters to take advantage of it.”

Voters can also apply in person and obtain a Vote by Mail ballot in County Clerk's Office at 118 Washington Street, or at the Southern Service Center, 179 South Main St., Manahawkin, until Friday, June 1. The office hours at both sites are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Voters do not need a reason to use the Vote by Mail option in New Jersey.

The deadline for obtaining a Vote by Mail ballot in person is 3 p.m., Monday, June 4. After 3 p.m. Monday, voters must obtain a court order from a judge allowing them to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot. The County Clerk's Election Office is located in the Ocean County Courthouse, Room 107, 118 Washington St.

As of May 29, the County Clerk's Election Office issued a total of 6,239 Vote by Mail Ballots for the upcoming June 5 Primary Election. Of the ballots issued, 3,442 have been issued to registered Republicans; 2,069 ballots have been issued to registered Democrats and 728 ballots have been issued to unaffiliated voters. There are 131,678 registered Republican voters in Ocean County, in addition to 85,174 registered Democrats, and 183,652 unaffiliated or undeclared voters.

All voters who wish to apply in person for a Vote by Mail Ballot need to sign their name as it appears in the voter registry book. For more information on obtaining a Vote by Mail ballot, individuals may contact the County Clerk's Election Office at (732) 929-2153.

More than 400,000 sample ballots have been mailed in Ocean County providing registered voters with a copy of the official ballot that will appear on voting machines June 5 as well as the polling place location for the 413 County election districts.

Colabella said that a copy of the official sample ballot and polling location addresses for all 33 municipalities are also available at www.oceancountyclerk.com, the County Clerk's web site or voters can visit www.facebook.com/oceancountyclerk the County Clerk’s Facebook page

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