Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters to be aware of changes they may encounter when participating in the upcoming General Election. Election Day 2018 is Tuesday, November 6.
Under a recent state law, voters who used a Vote-by-Mail ballot in the 2016 General Election will automatically receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the 2018 election, unless they opted out.
“State elections officers have reached out to these voters to inform them of the change, and give them the opportunity to opt out if they wish,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “However, in case the message was not received by some voters, it is important to know that every eligible voter has the right to come to their polling place and fill out a provisional ballot.”
Ms. Rajoppi emphasized that all eligible ballots – whether provisional, Vote-by-Mail or cast in person at the polling place – are included in the final, official election results.
“The results for machine voting at the polls can be viewed on unioncountyvotes.com within a matter of hours after the polls close on Election Night. However, the election results are not certified until the provisional and Vote-by-Mail ballots are reviewed and included in the voting totals,” Ms. Rajoppi explained. “This can take up to a week.”
Voters who plan to vote at the polls are advised to check the location of their polling place on the sample ballot they will receive at the end of October. Recently, the state made changes to some polling places.
The format for school board elections has also changed this year. School board candidates may now be bracketed along with other candidates of their choosing.
All up-to-date elections information for Union County voters is available online through the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, and through the Union County Votes mobile app.
“If you can’t find the answers online, professional staff at my office is always happy to help with any questions or concerns,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Please don’t hesitate to call, email or walk in to receive informed, reliable guidance.”
The Main Office of the County Clerk is located in Room 113 at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, in Elizabeth. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The County Clerk’s Westfield Annex is located in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
The County Clerk’s Elections Division may be reached by phone at 908-527-4996 or by email at ucvote@ucnj.org.
For more details about all County Clerk programs and services including passports and deed recording, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787
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