Are You Ready For Election Day?

You can still register to vote in NJ if you’re not yet set up. But act soon—time’s running out!
Cheryl De Leon,
4 Election Day

Soon after calendars flip at the end of the month, many of us will face a big civic responsibility. Election Day is Nov. 5, and it’s a large one. OK, you already knew that—but did you know that there’s still time to register to vote in this election?

Eligible New Jersey residents can sign up to vote through Oct. 15. To register, you must be:

  • a United States citizen
  • at least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you have reached the age of 18
  • a resident of the county for 30 days before the election
  • a person not serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States

If you’ve met these requirements, you can fill out an online registration form today! This is an ideal way for college students to cast a vote: If they’re eligible, students can submit an online registration using either their college address or their parents’ address—it’s their decision. In about a week, he or she will receive a sample ballot with their polling location based on the address they choose. For those who’d rather complete a paper registration form, download and print it out here and then send it to the Bergen Superintendent of Elections.

Of course, you need not do anything if you’re already registered. Not sure of your voting status? You can check your registration record through the New Jersey Division of Elections’s website.

Once you’ve determined your voting status, your next step is to cast a ballot. This year, there are three ways to vote:

Vote By Mail

The Bergen County Clerk’s Office has sent out official mail-in ballots to all active vote by mail requests. To request a mail-in ballot, contact the clerk’s office at 201.336.7020. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29.

Early Voting

Registered voters may cast their ballots ahead of Election Day from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays at the following locations:

  • Fort Lee: Jack Alter Community Center, 1355 Inwood Ter.
  • Garfield: Nutrition and Senior Citizen Center, 480 Midland Ave.
  • Hackensack: County Administration Building, 1 Bergen County Plz.
  • Paramus: Bergen Community College, Technology Building, 400 Paramus Rd.
  • River Vale: River Vale Community Center, 628 Rivervale Rd.
  • Teaneck: Richard Rhoda Center, 250 Colonial Ct.
  • Woodcliff Lake: Tice Senior Center, 411 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
  • Wood-Ridge: Senior Center, 495 Highland Ave.
  • Wyckoff: Public Library, 200 Woodland Ave.

 Vote on Election Day

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Click here to check your specific polling location.

To find out more about this year’s election process, visit the Bergen County Clerk’s Office website.

 

Categories: Bergen Health & Life