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VOTER REGISTRATION

You must complete a New Jersey Voter Registration Application form. These forms may be obtained from the Division of Elections, Somerset County Board of Elections Office, any Municipal Clerk’s office, or simply downloaded from this website.

You must provide an original signature. The form cannot be faxed or electronically submitted.

You must provide a valid ID in the form of a driver’s license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number if you have one.

You must return the completed form at least 21 days prior to the next election to be eligible to vote in that election. The address for the Somerset County Board of Elections (also found on the form) is:

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HOW TO VOTE BY MAIL

You may now vote by Mail-in Ballot for any election. Please note some changes under the new "Vote By Mail" Bill signed in August by Governor Corzine.

You must apply for a mail-in ballot by completing the new Mail-In Ballot Application (this link is to the Somerset County website, www.co.somerset.nj.us/clerk). The ballot application must be received by the Somerset County Clerk’s Office 7 days prior to the election - not postmarked but physically received. You may also apply in person and receive the ballot in person at the County Clerks Office until 3 p.m. the day before the election or send an authorized messenger up to 3 p.m. the day before the election. A voter no longer has to be sick or confined to do this. A single messenger can only pick up 10 ballots statewide for an election and cannot be a candidate in that election.

The address is:

The Somerset County Clerk cannot accept faxed copies or electronic submissions, as an original signature is required.

Once your ballot is voted and sealed, it must be returned to the Somerset County Board of Elections by 8:00 PM on the day of the election.

The application gives a voter the options of receiving a mail-in ballot automatically for all elections in remainder of a calendar year or for all future November general elections or just to vote by mail-in ballot this election.

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VOTER INFORMATION CHANGES

If you change your name due to marriage, divorce, or by judgment of the court, you may notify the Somerset County Board of Elections in a written statement with an original signature at least 21 days prior to the election. If you do not notify the Board of Elections at least 21 days prior to the election, you will be permitted to vote at the polls under your original registration by signing both your registered name and your new name before voting.

If you move within Somerset County and do not notify the Somerset County Board of Elections at least 21 days prior to the election, you will be permitted to vote in your new district by provisional ballot.

If you move out of Somerset County after the close of registration date and are not eligible to vote in your new county, you may return to your previous voting district to vote. You must then register to vote in your new county.

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PARTY AFFILIATION

You do not have to affiliate with a party when registering to vote. If you do not choose a party, you will be classified as “UNAFFILIATED”.

In order to vote in a Primary Election, you must declare the party you wish to vote in. If you are “UNAFFILIATED”, you may declare your party either by filling out a State of New Jersey Political Party Declaration Form and submitting it to the Somerset County Board of Elections 50 days prior to the election or simply by declaring your party at the polls on the day of the election.

If you have declared a party and wish to change that affiliation, you must submit a State of New Jersey Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form 50 days prior to the Primary Election.

VOTER ASSISTANCE