NJ Voter Information Portal

A voter may vote-by-mail by completing the Application for Vote-By-Mail Ballot and returning the application to their County Clerk.

NOTE: Your Vote-By-Mail ballot CANNOT be returned to your polling place.

How to Complete and Return Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot

Here are some easy, step-by-step instructions on how to complete your vote-by-mail ballot, to make sure your vote counts.

Look inside the envelope you receive in the mail for these items:
- The ballot
- An inner envelope with an attached certificate
- A mailing envelope
Completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections inblue or black ink.
Fill in and sign the certificate, keeping it attached to the inner envelope.
Place the ballot into the certificate envelope.
Then, place the certificate envelope into the mailing envelope.
Return your ballot. How you return it is up to you.
Select one of the following three ways:
- Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. June 8 and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before June 14.
- Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on June 8. Secure Ballot Drop Box locations
- Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on June 8. County Election Officials

Vote-By-Mail FAQ's

How do I receive my Vote-By-Mail ballot?

Every Active registered voter is eligible to request a Vote-By-Mail ballot.

Please contact your county clerk to submit a request. If you would like to receive your ballot by mail you must request your ballot by Tuesday, June 1st. Otherwise you must get your Vote-By-Mail ballot in-person from your county clerk, the deadline is June 7 at 3 p.m. You have until 8 pm on Election Day to return your ballot to the Board of Elections in person or deposit it in one of your county’s secure authorized ballot drop boxes.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

When will ballots be mailed?

Counties will begin mailing ballots to voters no later than April 24, 2021, but some counties will begin before then.

How do I know if my Vote-By-Mail ballot has been mailed?

You can check on the status of your Vote-By-Mail ballot online here or you can contact your County Clerk.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

Can I track my Vote-By-Mail ballot?

Yes, voters can track their Vote-By-Mail ballot through the Track My Ballot Portal.

First time users have to create an account and will need either a Driver’s License Number, Last 4 digits of SSN, or Voter ID Number to validate voter registration status. (If you don’t know your Voter ID number, you can obtain it by going to "Am I Registered?" or contact your Superintendent of Elections or Commissioner of Registration)

If I am voting by mail, when must the county Board of Elections receive my ballot?

Vote-By-Mail ballots that are sent through the mail must be postmarked by Election Day, June 8, 2021, and received by the county Board of Elections on or before June 14, 2021. Vote-By-Mail ballots that are placed in the county’s secure ballot drop box or delivered in-person to the county Board of Elections must be delivered by 8 pm on Election Day, June 8th.

How can I return my ballot?

Either return your ballot by mail, bring your completed and sealed ballot in-person to your county’s Board of Elections office, or place it in a secure “ballot drop box” located throughout your county.

What is the deadline by which election officials must receive a mailed ballot?

Every Vote-By-Mail ballot that is postmarked on or before June 8, 2021, and that is received by June 14, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. shall be considered valid and shall be canvassed, assuming the ballot meets all other statutory requirements. Additionally, every ballot without a postmark, and ballots mismarked and confirmed by the post office that those ballots were received by the post office on or before June 8, 2021, that is received by the county Boards of Elections from the United States Postal Service within one hundred and forty-four (144) hours (6 days) of the closing of polls on June 8, 2021, shall be considered valid and shall be canvassed, assuming the ballot meets all other statutory requirements.

Do I have to include a stamp on my ballot return envelope?

It depends on your county. Please call your county clerk.

You can find your County Clerk contact information here.

Do Vote-By-Mail ballots require a witness or notary?

No, Vote-By-Mail ballots do not require a witness or notary.

They do require the voter’s signature.

Do voters casting a ballot by mail need to include a copy of ID?

Voters do not need to provide a copy of their ID in order to cast a Vote-By-Mail ballot except under certain circumstances for first time voters. These voters will receive a notice with their Vote-By-Mail ballot.

What should I do if I make a mistake, damage, or lose my Vote-By-Mail ballot?

If you have not already returned your ballot, you may request a replacement Vote-By-Mail ballot from your county clerk here. If you go to your polling location on Election Day, you will have to vote using a paper provisional ballot

What is the difference between absentee and Vote-By-Mail ballot in New Jersey?

The term “absentee ballot” was changed in July 2009 and was replaced by the Vote-By-Mail ballot law that allowed a voter to request a ballot by mail for any reason.

Will my other votes be counted if I choose not to vote for a candidate or question?

Yes, if you choose to leave a race or question blank, your other votes will still be counted.

Do I have to vote for the Party I am registered with?

Yes, this is a Primary Election.

NJ recognizes the Democrat and Republican parties. You may vote for the candidate(s) of your choice representing the party in which you are registered. You may only vote for the number of candidate(s) permitted for the office that you are casting a vote for. Example – Senate - Vote for One- you may only vote for one. Voting for more than one creates an “Over Vote” which disqualifies the vote cast for that office. Please remember to check the back and any additional pages of your ballot to ensure that you have reviewed all offices up for election.

If you are an unaffiliated voter (a voter that has not declared a party) you may be eligible to vote in the Primary Election. You must declare a party when voting at your polling location or select one ballot, Democrat or Republican, if voting by mail.

Will my Vote-By-Mail ballot be counted? I heard that Vote-By-Mail ballots might not be counted.

Every valid Vote-By-Mail ballot is counted.

Be sure to complete and sign the certificate attached to the inner envelope when you return your Vote-By-Mail ballot. Be sure to leave the certificate attached to the inner envelope. Do not put it inside the inner envelope. If you are going to mail your ballot, it must be postmarked ON or BEFORE Election Day, June 8, 2021 and received by your county Board of Elections by 8 pm June 14, 2021. If you are not sure if your ballot will arrive in time, you can drop it off in person at the county Board of Elections or one of the county’s secure authorized ballot drop boxes. Contact your Board of Elections for drop-off locations. If you are dropping your ballot off in-person, you must do-so by 8 pm on Election Day, June 8, 2021.

“Bearers” FAQ's

Can I deliver more than 1 Vote-By-Mail ballot to the Board of Elections office or place it in the ballot drop box?

A person who transports a voted (completed) Vote-By-Mail ballot for someone else is considered a "Bearer". Bearers are limited to three (3) non- household ballots per election, except that an authorized bearer may transport up to five (5) ballots in an election if those voters are immediate family members residing in the same household as the bearer.

Not to exceed (5) ballots in total for any election
The Bearer MUST SIGN the "Bearer Portion" of the outer envelope of the ballot in the presence of the voter when taking custody of the ballot.

Any Bearer Ballots that exceeds the limit must be REJECTED. The Bearer MUST SIGN the "Bearer Portion" of the outer envelope of the ballot in the presence of the voter when taking custody of the ballot. If the Bearer is hand-delivering the ballot to the county Board of Elections, then he/she MUST SHOW ID AND SIGN the Bearer Book. It is against the law for anyone except you, the voter, to mail or transport your ballot unless the outer envelope is sealed and the “Bearer Portion” is completed.