NJ: Get A Wrong Or Duplicate Ballot? It Is Probably Your Fault

NEW JERSEY - As vote-by-mail ballots have begun to arrive in mailboxes all over the Garden State, concerns are growing about the inconsistencies seen in some of them.

Patch has received emails, messages and posts about residents receiving duplicate ballots, ballots with their maiden names, for people who have moved and even some for people who have died.

Patch took these concerns to Warren County Clerk Holly Mackey, who explained what is happening with our primarily vote-by-mail Nov. 3 election.

According to Mackey, there are many reasons why these errors occur, but most boil down the a database being only as good as as its source material.

For example, when it comes to married vs. maiden names, the DMV automatic registration system is the culprit of most of them, Mackey said noting that the election board became aware of this and tried to get all of the duplicates merged before the ballots were sent out.

Those efforts were "mostly successful" but didn’t get finished in time, Mackey said.

"Voters that have reached out to me with this issue, when I look them up, have had their voter records merged for the two names and the maiden deleted in the system so if they were to return that ballot it would be able to be scanned in," she told Patch. "Their married name remains active so they should shred the maiden and vote the married."

Mackey said if someone attempted to to commit voter fraud it wouldn't work because the “deleted” (merged) record won’t accept it.

When it comes to deceased people receiving ballots, the election board does get periodic reports from Social Security and municipal clerks, but it’s not a perfect or comprehensive system, Mackey said.

County Clerks throughout New Jersey have voter forms on their websites to help keep the database up to date. A person attempting to forge a dead person's signature and commit a felony would most likely see that ballot rejected during the signature verification process.

Mackey said when it comes to people who move out of state, for whatever reason, the onus is on them to let the Board of Elections know.

"There is no automatic system," she said.

Most County Clerks host those forms on their websites as well.

Mackey also said that her office has received nasty messages, phone calls and rude notes scribbled on ballots and that anger is misdirected.

"If it is a case of no longer at this address tell them to put 'return to sender no longer at this address' and send it back," she said, noting that this should be the case with any official election mail they get for the wrong person.

Like sample ballots.

Mackey said all registered voters get them and if voters were taking them and throwing them out for years, there would be no way for the election board, beyond telepathy, to know about it.

It is a good thing, Mackey believes, that the system works the way it does. Because according to her it protects voters.

"I think it is a good thing that people can’t just be removed because someone calls and tells us they moved or they passed away," she said. "It is for the voter’s protection."

According to Mackey, this system protects against someone with a grudge denying you a right to vote.

"Let’s say I am an evil ex-spouse or a neighbor who hates you. I send your mail back to the election board 'No longer lives here' or 'dead' and they remove you," she said "Then you go to vote and you aren’t registered."

The current system requires a official signed documentation to remove people from the rolls.

"If it was just as easy as a phone call or a scribble on a piece of mail to remove your right to vote," Mackey said. "Imagine that."

Do you have more questions you'd like answered? Concerned your party is labeled on the ballot (it isn't in the general election) or want to hear how your specific county is handling the VBM process? Contact your county clerk.

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.

• Do Mail-In Ballots Force NJ Voters To Lie? Here's The Answer

There was language on the primary ballots asked voters certify they requested the ballot, even if they didn't.

• 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.

• Key 2020 Voting Deadlines In New Jersey

Here is a recap of important dates to remember with upcoming election, all in one place.
Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.