Key 2020 Voting Deadlines In New Jersey

NEW JERSEY - Ever since Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the November election would be primarily vote-by-mail, there has been a flurry of concern about the voting process and confusion about the various options.

To help, we've compiled a list of deadlines for the upcoming election and gotten some clarity on the process.

Register To Vote

The deadline to register to vote in an election in New Jersey is 21 days before that election. For the Nov. 3 general election, the last day to register to vote is Oct. 13. You may get an application to register online.

Mail-In And Absentee Voting

This year, every voter will be mailed a ballot that they can fill out and mail back. Because of delays in U.S. Postal Service deliveries, however, election advocates advise people to send them back no later than Oct. 22. The ballots will be mailed by Oct. 5. You will receive it from your county clerk. Mail-in ballots must bear a postmark on or before Election Day or they won't be counted. They must be received by 8 p.m. Nov. 10.

Traditionally, this type of ballot is an absentee ballot and is used for:

• Students attending college out of the county
• People whose work or vacations take them away from home
• Those with physical disabilities or injuries
• Members of the military
• People with a religious holiday conflict
• Inmates who have not been convicted of a felony

Voting In Person

Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. To find your polling place, with one polling location per municipality and at least 50 percent capacity per county. But the voting machines will only be ADA compliant machines for those who need assistance. All other voters will be given a provisional ballot to vote with. Voters can also submit the voter-by-mail ballot at a polling place on Election Day.

Vote Drop Boxes

Drop boxes will be set up if you'd rather avoid the U.S. Postal Service. You can find drop boxes here, but officials plan to expand the number of them.

Since the change to this year's election was announced by Murphy, there have been many questions about how the process will work. Below is some further reading on the Nov. 3 election process:

• Here's How NJ's Mail-In General Election Will Work: What To Know

A primarily vote-by-mail election means a lot of changes to election day. See what you can expect this November.

• What's A NJ Provisional Ballot? How Does It Work? Patch Found Out

Those not needing an ADA compliant booth will need a provisional ballot to vote in-person. Here is what that will look like.

• How Are Election Signatures Verified In NJ? Patch Found Out

Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.

• How To Register, Track Your General Election Vote Online In NJ

Need to register for the upcoming election? Want to track your vote once you do? Read on to learn how.

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