By Gauri Patel
Staff Writer
With the presidential election approaching on Nov. 5, it is essential for voters in New Jersey and nearby states, especially college students, to be prepared, whether they are voting by mail, taking advantage of early voting or heading to the polls on Election Day. This guide provides an overview on how to vote and the various options available to make sure each vote counts.
Before voting, an individual must be properly registered. They should first check if they are registered to vote by visiting the voter registration search portals for their respective states. The requirements to register are that individuals must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day and meet the residency requirements of their respective states. College students can choose to register to vote in either their hometown or where they attend college.
In New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, voter registration can be completed online, in-person or by mail.
For New Jersey residents, individuals can check if they are registered through the state’s online Voter Search portal. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 15, according to the state Division of Elections.
Individuals can register to vote online through the New Jersey Online Voter Registration website, or they can register in-person at their local election offices or a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission location while applying for or renewing their driver’s license.
If registering by mail, individuals should obtain a paper application for the county in which they are registering, available from the New Jersey Voter Registration page, which should be signed and mailed back to their respective County Clerk’s office.
Pennsylvania residents can check if they are registered through the state’s Registration Status form. Individuals can register to vote online through the Pennsylvania Online Voter Registration page.
They can register in-person at their county election office or by mail, by printing and mailing an application from the Pennsylvania Voting & Elections agency website to their county election office. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 21.
In New York, residents can check their registration status through the New York Voter Lookup page. They can register to vote online through the Online Voter Registration portal or the Department of Motor Vehicle website if they already have DMV-issued identification.
They can register in-person by visiting their local county election offices or at a DMV location. Residents can register by mail by requesting a registration form by entering their name into the state’s Voter Registration Form Request mailing list or by calling the state’s voting hotline to request an application. They can also find the form on the New York State Board of Elections page, which should be printed, signed and mailed to their local county board of elections. The deadline to register to vote in New York is Oct. 26.
Once an individual is registered to vote, there are multiple ways to participate in the election, whether through voting in-person on Election Day, mail-in ballots or early voting.
For in-person voting on Election Day, every registered voter is assigned to a specific polling location where they can cast their ballot. Locations can be confirmed from an individual’s state election website or local county election office.
In New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, most voters are not required to show ID; however, first-time voters who registered by mail or those voting for the first time at a new polling location will need to present identification, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport.
Voters can also request a mail-in ballot in case they are unable to vote in-person. Certain states require a valid excuse to vote via a mail-in ballot.
New Jersey allows no-excuse mail-in voting, meaning any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot without needing a specific reason. An individual can fill out an application for a vote-by-mail ballot specific to their county from the New Jersey Division of Elections website and return it to their County Clerk.
The completed vote-by-mail ballot should be mailed back, placed in one of their county’s Secure Ballot Drop Box locations or returned to the County Board of Elections Office. If the ballot is mailed back, it must be “postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls,” according to the New Jersey Division of Elections.
For those who prefer to vote in-person but avoid Election Day crowds, New Jersey offers in-person early voting. Early voting will take place as designated in-person early voting locations that will be open from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.
Pennsylvania allows no-excuse mail-in voting for all registered voters. Mail-in ballot applications must be received by an individual’s county election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Completed mail-in ballots must be returned to the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, as a postmark by 8 p.m. Nov. 5 is not sufficient, according to the Pennsylvania Voting & Elections agency. Ballots can be mailed back or hand-delivered to the county election office or designated drop boxes.
Pennsylvania does not have traditional in-person early voting, however, voters can apply for, receive and submit their mail-in ballots in-person at their county election offices, making it a de facto early voting option for those who wish to cast their ballot before Election Day.
Unlike New Jersey and Pennsylvania, New York requires an excuse to vote by mail, such as being out of the county on Election Day, or having a disability. Residents of New York can apply for an absentee ballot if they meet one of the qualifications specified on the New York State Board of Elections website.
Absentee ballot applications must be received by the county board of elections no more than ten days before Election Day if requested by mail, or one day before if applying in-person. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the appropriate county board of elections no later than Nov. 12 to be counted.
New York offers early in-person voting for nine days before Election Day. Designated polling locations are open across the state, allowing voters to cast their ballots early without needing an excuse.
Whether voting by mail, early or at the polls, it is essential to stay informed about deadlines, polling locations and any identification requirements. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, voters are encouraged to check their state’s official election websites or contact local election offices.
