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There’s an App for That: Teens Can Pre-Register to Vote at Age Seventeen

 

UC VOTES APP are you 17 UC VOTES APP party declarationUnion County, NJ – County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced that high school students in Union County who are seventeen years old can now use the Union County Votes mobile app to download a form to pre-register to vote. Ms. Rajoppi also unveiled a new Party Declaration button for the app.

“It’s important to engage young adults in the electoral process and let their voices be heard,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “With these new buttons, Union County Votes will provide a valuable service and help young adults to enhance their civics studies in high school during the excitement of a presidential election year.”

The new Are You 17? button is labeled “17” with a forward arrow to resemble a Parkway sign. It enables seventeen-year-olds to determine their eligibility to vote when they turn 18, by answering questions about their age, residency, and citizenship. They can then request a registration form. Once they return the form, they will automatically be registered to vote on their 18th birthday.

New Jersey State Law allows a person who will be 18 on or before Election Day to register to vote before their 18th birthday.

The Party Declaration button is designed to provide voters with a convenient way to access a Political Party Declaration Form, if they wish to change or declare their party affiliation in time to vote during a Primary election. Under New Jersey State Law, voters currently affiliated with a political party must change their affiliation 55 days before a Primary election. Unaffiliated voters may declare their affiliation at any time up to and including Primary Day.

The Union County Votes app is a free download for mobile devices. It was introduced by Ms. Rajoppi in fall 2014 to enable voters and election-watchers to access critical information, including emergency-related polling place changes and other alerts.

Any Union County resident can confirm their registration and party affiliation status by using the Am I Registered? button on the Union County Votes app.

For all Union County Clerk programs and services visit online at ucnj.org.county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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