Primary Election Deadlines Are Approaching

TRENTON — Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells and Robert Giles, director of the State’s Division of Elections, remind New Jersey citizens and potential candidates for elected office of several impending deadlines for the June 2 statewide primary.
Candidate Petition Filing Deadline(s)
Critical petition filing deadlines are pending for gubernatorial candidates, all state Assembly candidates and candidates vying for two state Senate seats vacated after the 2008 general election. Those seeking the Democratic or Republican nomination for offices must file their petitions with the State Division of Elections, or their respective county or municipal clerk by 4:00 p.m. on April 6 – fifty-seven (57) days prior to the primary election. Independent candidates unaffiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties must file their petitions for the general election by 4:00 p.m. on primary election day, June 2.
Changing Party Affiliation
For registered voters statewide, the deadline to change party affiliation for the June 2 gubernatorial primary is April 13 – fifty (50) day prior to primary election day. A registered voter not affiliated with a political party may declare up to and including primary election day.
“New Jersey holds closed primaries, which means voters select from candidates within their declared party affiliation. State law requires registered party-affiliated voters who want to change their party affiliation must file with the county commissioner of registration or municipal clerk 50 days before the election,” said Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells. “This April 13 deadline does not apply to voters with no current party affiliation. Unaffiliated voters may declare a party affiliation at any time, including on primary election day.”
Those wishing to change party affiliation may download, print, and complete the required form by visiting the Division of Elections’ homepage (www.NJElections.org.) prior to mailing or delivering it to the county commissioner of registration or municipal clerk. Forms are also available at local commissioner of registration offices. It’s important to note, however, that faxed or electronic transmission is prohibited since an original signature is required by law.
Vote by Mail Using Absentee Ballot
Secretary Wells and Director Giles remind all registered voters that they may choose to vote by mail using an absentee ballot as a convenient alternative to visiting a polling place in the June 2 primary election. An overview of the process, as well as the downloadable application, can be obtained by visiting www.NJElections.org.
“We realize that busy schedules can make it challenging for voters to visit their polling place on primary election day. The process of voting by mail with the absentee ballot is a convenient alternative for citizens to exercise their most fundamental right as Americans,” said Secretary Wells. “Under New Jersey law, registered voters do not need to be out of state on primary election day to use the absentee ballot, and do not need to provide a reason for requesting one.”
Once completed and signed, the absentee ballot application can be mailed to the county clerk up to seven days prior to the June 2 primary election. A registered voter may also apply in person to the county clerk until 3:00 p.m. the day before the election. The county clerk can only accept faxed and emailed copies of an absentee ballot application from military voters and qualified overseas voters. A list of county clerk addresses is also available on the Division of Elections website.
The deadline to register to vote in the June 2 primary election is May 12.
For information on all statewide election matters in New Jersey, visit www.NJElections.org., or call 877-NJVOTER.
To learn more about the diverse array of services and programs offered by the Department of State, visit www.state.nj.us/state.