Register To
Vote/Absentee Ballots
Forms for
an absentee ballot can be downloaded from the
New Jersey
League of Women Voters . (If you do not have Adobe Reader installed,
go to Adobe site.)
To register to
vote, an individual must be a native-born or naturalized United States citizen
who
is 18 years of age by election day, a resident of the state and county at least
30 days before an election, and not denied right to vote due to either court
adjudication of idiocy or insanity, not serving a sentence, or on parole or
probation for an indictable offense. It is important to note that an individual
must be registered to vote by March 27, 2007 to vote in the April 17
school election.
There are two ways to register to vote:
By mail:
Registration forms are available from the
In person:
Register with the Municipal Clerk or County Commissioner of Registration .
New Jersey residents are permitted to apply for an absentee ballot for the School Board vote if they are unable to vote in person for the following reasons: expect to be absent from the state on election day; illness or disability; observance of a religious holiday; residing at an educational institution; or hours and nature of employment. Also, military absentee ballots are available for those in military service or the spouses or dependents of those in military service, civilians attached to the armed forces and their spouses or dependents, or patients in veterans' hospitals.
To obtain an absentee ballot, apply by mail that is delivered to the County Clerk at least seven days before the election, apply in person by 3:00 p.m. the day before the election, or print the application from the League of Women Voters (click on red link above). The application should include the date of the election, your home address including municipality, address to where ballot should be sent, and reason for request. Sign the application with the same signature used at the polls. After approval of the application, a ballot and instructions will be mailed to you. If application is made in person within the seven-day period before the election, the ballot will be given to you at that time. Absentee ballots must reach the County Board of Elections before the close of polls on Election Day. If you have applied for an absentee ballot, you may not vote at your polling place for that election, regardless of whether or not you completed the absentee ballot. If ill or incapacitated, you may send written authorization with a family member or registered voter within your county to obtain your ballot and return it to the county clerk's office within the above time frame. To obtain a military absentee ballot, the voter, a relative or friend may apply to the County Clerk or Municipal Clerk. Applications can also be requested from the proper military personnel.