Provisional Ballot Basics

As South Orange waits to learn the results of the election for Village President, provisional ballots will be opened and counted. 

From the state website, a brief summary of why provisional ballots are cast and how to find out if yours was counted:

Provisional ballots are paper ballots that are used at the polling place on election day.

You MUST Vote by Provisional Ballot if:

1. You are a registered voter in the County who moved within the County and did not notify the County Commissioner of Registration before election day of your current address; or

2. Your registration information is not complete in the poll book, for example your signature or address is missing; or

3. You are an Active Need ID voter who has not provided identification information; or

4. There is a marking in the poll book that you applied for a mail-in ballot, but you tell the board worker:

• you did not apply for one; or
• you applied for a mail in ballot, but did not receive it; or
• you received it, but did not return it.

How to Vote by Provisional Ballot:

1. The board worker will give you a paper ballot and an envelope.

2. The board worker must provide you with a place to vote the ballot in secret.

3. Put the voted ballot in the envelope and seal it.

4. Sign and complete the Affirmation Statement that is attached to the envelope. DO NOT DETACHthe Affirmation Statement. If you do not sign the Affirmation Statement, your ballot will not be counted.

5. Give the envelope to the board worker.

6. Watch the board worker put the envelope into the provisional ballot bag, or you may put your ballot into the bag yourself.

7. If you spoil your ballot, you have the right to ask the board worker for another ballot.

No provisional ballot is counted at the polling place. All provisional ballots are taken to the County Commissioner of Registration’s office after the close of the polls for verification and counting by the County the County Board of Election.

How does a voter find out if their Vote by Mail or Provisional Ballot was counted?

All voters can call 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837) after the election to find out whether their Vote by Mail or Provisional ballot was counted or the reason it was rejected.