January
January 16 – February 14
Nomination of County Board of Election Members
(30 day period before February 15)
N.J.S.A. 19:6-18
*Under current law, the Democratic and Republican parties are the only “recognized political parties in New Jersey.”
February
February 15
Submission of Evening Voter Registration Plan by County Commissioners of Registration to Secretary of State
N.J.S.A. 19:31-2
**In counties where there is a Superintendent of Elections, that office serves as the commissioner of registration; in all other counties it’s the County Board of Election.
March
March 1
Governor Commissions County Election Board Members
N.J.S.A. 19:6-18
March 1 – March 15
County Boards of Election to Organize
N.J.S.A. 19:6-22; N.J.S.A. 19:6-23
March 24
Deadline for Creating, Abolishing, Dividing or Consolidating an Election District by County Board of Election
(75 days before primary election) (No election districts shall, except with the prior approval of the Secretary of State, be created, abolished, divided or consolidated between January 1 of any year whose last digit is 7 and December 1 of any year whose last digit is 0.)
N.J.S.A. 19:4-15, N.J.S.A. 19:4-15b.
March 27 – April 2; April 3 – April 9
Publication of Notice of Requirements to Vote in Primary Election by County Commissioner of Registration
(notice to be published once during each of the two calendar weeks next preceding the week of the 55th day before the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-45.1
April
April 1
Appointment of District Board Workers by County Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:6-3
April 1
County Committee Chairs to File with Municipal Clerks the Number of County Committee Seats to be Filled at Primary Election
N.J.S.A. 19:23-1
April 1
Municipal Clerks to Submit Certified List of Suggested Polling Places to County Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:8-2
April 1
Secretary of State to Submit Notice to County Clerks and County Boards of Election of Available Offices and Public Questions for Upcoming General Election
(67 days before primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-1
April 4
Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Primary Election
(before 4:00 p.m. on or before 64th day prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-14
April 7
Deadline for Amendments to Defective Petitions for Primary Election Candidates
(3 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-20
April 8
Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Primary Election Candidates
(no later than 4 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-10
April 11
Notice of Federal, State, and County Offices to be Elected at General Election to be sent by County Clerks to Municipal Clerks
(57 days before the primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-3
April 11
Notice of Public Offices to be Elected at General Election to be sent by Municipal Clerks to County Clerks
(57 days before the primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-6
April 12
Publication of Notice of Mail-in Ballot Availability for Primary Election by County Clerks
(prior to the 55th day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-6
April 13
Deadline for Change of Party Affiliation Declaration Forms for Primary Election to be Filed with County Commissioners of Registration
(55 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-45
April 13
Deadline for Filing Certificate to Fill Vacancy of a Primary Election Candidate By the Appointed Vacancy Committee
(55 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-12
April 13
Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenges for Primary Election Candidates
(9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-11
April 14
Deadline for Municipal Clerk to Certify to the County Clerk the Names of the Candidates who filed Primary Election Nomination Petition with Municipal Clerk
(54 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-14
April 14
Transmittal of Secretary of State Certification of Federal and State Primary Election Candidates to County Clerks
(54 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-21
April 15
Transmittal of County Clerk Certification of All Candidates to be Placed on the Primary Election Ballot to Municipal Clerks, the County Clerk Shall also Transmit such List, but for Federal Candidates; to Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC)
(53 days before the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-22
April 15
County & Municipal Clerk Drawings for Ballot Positions for Primary Election Candidates
(53 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-24
April 16
Deadline for Filing in Superior Court to Protect Primary Election Candidate’s Rights
(12 days after petition filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-12
April 17 – May 16
Publication of Notice of Primary Election by County Boards of Election
(within 30 days before close of registration for election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-7
*Under current law the Primary Election is held only for the Democratic and Republican parties. N.J.S.A. 19:5-1
April 18*
Deadline for Preparation of Official Primary Election Ballot for Printing
(50 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-1
County Commissioner of Registration is to provide notice to the two County Chairpersons of the date to inspect voting machines after they have been prepared for the upcoming election. This date will vary from county to county. N.J.S.A. 19:48-6
April 23
Commencement of Mailing of Mail-In Ballots for Primary Election
(45 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-5, N.J.S.A. 19:63-9
May
May 15
Certification of Polling Places by County Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:8-4
May 15
Filing of Certification of Accessible Polling Places to the Secretary of State by the County Boards of Election
N.J.S.A. 19:8-3.4
May 17
Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Election
(21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-6
May 17
Mandated Evening Voter Registration Available for Primary Election in Offices of County Commissioners of Registration
(optional for Municipal Clerk) (21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-2
May 24
Deadline for Filing of Challenger Appointments for Primary Election
(second Tuesday preceding election)
N.J.S.A. 19:7-3
May 29 – June 4
Publication of Notice of Primary Election by County Boards of Election
(once during the calendar week prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-7
May 31
Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for Primary Election by County Boards of Election
(7 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-9
May 31
Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for Primary Election
(not less than 7 days prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
June
June 1
Mailing of Sample Ballots for Primary Election
(on or before 12 noon on Wednesday preceding the start of the early voting period for the primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-34
June 3 – June 5 Early Voting Period
(start on the 4th calendar day before a non-presidential primary election and end on the second calendar day before that non-presidential primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:15A-1
June 3
Deadline for Application to Receive Primary Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters
(4th day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:59-4
June 6 – by 3:00 p.m.
Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for Primary Election
(up to 3:00 p.m. on the day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
June 6
Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for Primary Election by County Boards of Election
(1 day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-9
June 7
Primary Election Day
(Tuesday after first Monday in June)
N.J.S.A. 19:2-1, N.J.S.A. 19:23-40
June 7
Last day for Testing of Electronic Scanning Equipment for Tabulation of Paper Ballots for Primary Election
(day of election) (notice to be given 48 hours prior to the start of testing)
N.J.S.A. 19:53A-8
June 7
Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the Primary Election
June 7
Deadline for in Person Submission of Primary Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election
(by 8:00 p.m. on the day of election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-16
June 8 – June 24
Impoundment Period for Voting Machines Used in the Primary Election
(17 days following election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72)
June 9
Deadline for Receipt by County Boards of Elections of Mail-In Ballots by delivery of the United States Postal Service that DO NOT Bear a Postmark of Delivery
(no later than 48 hours (2 days) after the time of the closing of the polls for the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-22
June 10
Deadline for Municipal Clerk to Canvass Statements of the District Board for Members of the County Committee of Any Political Party
(not later than 3 days after the results of the election for members of the county committees are received)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-54
June 13
Deadline for Receipt of Timely Mailed Postmarked Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election
(no later than 144 hours (6 days) after the time of the closing of the polls for the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-22
June 14
Deadline for Filing of Acceptance of Nomination by Successful Primary Election Write-in Nominee
(7 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-16
June 14
Filing of Acceptance of One Nomination where Primary Election Nominee Receives More Than One Nomination for Same Office
(7 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-9
June 18
Deadline for Receipt of Cure Form to County Boards of Election
(no later than 48 hours (2 days) prior to the final certification of the results of the election) (an exact deadline date cannot be provided as certification date varies by county)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-17
June 19
Deadline for Filing of Election Contest Petitions for Primary Election
(up to 12 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:29-3
June 20
Deadline for Municipal Clerk to Certify to County Clerk and County Board of Elections the Names of Duly Elected County Committee Members
(within 13 days after primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-54
June 20
Deadline for County Clerk to Certify to County Board of Elections the Names of Duly Elected County Committee Members
(within 13 days after primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:23-54
June 20
Canvass of Primary Election Votes by County Clerks
(Consistent with N.J.S.A. 19:23-54 and to comply with P.L. 2021, c.108)
June 24
Deadline for Preparation of Emergency and Provisional Ballot Reports by Each County Board of Election for the Primary Election
(within 17 days after the election or 3 days after the certification of the results of the election)
June 24
Deadline for Recount Applications for Primary Election
(within 17 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:28-1
June 24
Deadline for Applications for Recheck of Voting Machines Used in the Primary Election
(within 17 days after election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72)