New Jersey Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s New Jersey Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of New Jersey voting rules and options. It focuses on New Jersey-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about New Jersey voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-New Jersey voting tools. It's an all-in-one New Jersey voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- on-line
- at a motor vehicle agency
- at some public assistance offices
You must have resided in your county at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 6am to 8pm on Election Day.
Find my polling place
Early Voting
Early voting begins in person nine days before Election Day. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Early voting is now available for primary elections as well as general elections in every county.
Absentee Voting
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot. You can return your ballot by mail, by secure drop box, or in-person at your Board of Elections office.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in New Jersey if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of New Jersey
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
You are NOT eligible to vote in New Jersey if:
- You are in prison or detention or jail or penal institution
- You were disqualified from voting due to a court order
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
You may preregister to vote in New Jersey
- At the age of 17
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in New Jersey if:
- You reside in New Jersey but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in New Jersey
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in New Jersey you should provide one of the following:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your New Jersey Driver's License Number
- Your New Jersey non-driver ID number
If you use your Driver's License or Non-Driver Id, your info will be shared with the NJ MVC to validate your ID and get a copy of your digitized signature. If you use your SSN, you must be able to sign on-screen or upload your signature to finalize your registration. If you are unable to provide a digital signature, you cannot register online.
If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Document showing Proof of Address
You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.
Voting In-Person
If you registered to vote in New Jersey, you may be required to present valid ID if you are voting for the first time or your registration is incomplete. You can use any ID from this list:
- Other Government ID
- Valid US Passport
- Store Membership Card
- Rent Receipt
- Valid Employee ID
- Valid New Jersey Driver's License
- Valid Student ID
- Valid Military ID
- Valid New Jersey Non-photo Driver's License
- Sample Ballot mailed to you
- Valid New Jersey Vehicle Registration
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
Am I Registered?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Ballot?
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Vote In Honor of a Veteran
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |