The number was tallied following the close of voter registration on Oct. 7. The overall number reflects registrations submitted to the State Division of Elections, County Superintendents of Election and Commissioners of Registration.

Of those registered, 1,170,475 persons declared themselves Democrat, 900,969 declared themselves Republican, 13,425 registered as Independent, 2,570,402 declared themselves unaffiliated and 581 persons registered as alternative party voters.

Director de la Cruz noted that the current number of registered voters reflects an increase of 57,946 voters since the General Election of 2001.

"This increase is an encouraging sign. Through community outreach and other voter registration awareness efforts -- and by making it more convenient to register -- we have been working to get more people who are eligible to vote involved in the process," de la Cruz said.

Registrants were able to obtain registration forms from county commissioners of registration, the Division of Motor Vehicles, WIC offices, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, the Commission on the Blind and Visually Impaired and the offices of the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) Lifeline Special Benefits Program. Registration forms were also available from municipal clerks, Armed Forces recruitment offices, the Division of Taxation, worker's compensation offices, the Division of Employment Services, state psychiatric hospitals, the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, National Guard recruitment offices, public libraries and New Jersey Transit offices.

Deadlines for Obtaining Absentee Ballots Announced

Director de la Cruz also announced that the deadline for submitting an application for an absentee ballot by mail is Tuesday, Oct. 29. The deadline for obtaining an absentee ballot in person is Monday, November 4, at 3 p.m.. Any voter wishing to obtain an absentee ballot must apply at the County Clerk's Office. Any voter who is sick or confined may have an authorized messenger apply to the County Clerk on his or her behalf.

Absentee ballots are only available to applicants who:

• expect to be absent from the State of New Jersey
• are suffering from an illness or physical disability
• are permanently disabled
• will be observing a religious holiday
• are a resident attendant at a school, college or university on Election Day
• cannot vote in the polling place on Election Day because of the nature and hours of his or her employment.

For those who will be submitting their applications using an authorized messenger, the messenger must sign the application in the presence of a county clerk or county clerk designee. The messenger must be a family member or a registered voter of the county in which the voter lives.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by the county Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on the day of the election.