Union County, NJ — Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to announce that the popular One Stop Vote-By-Mail service is available for the New Jersey Primary Elections. Eligible voters can visit the County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth and Westfield to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot, fill it out, and cast it in person.
The Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 7. Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m.
“Interest in the primary election season is particularly high this year with the 2016 Presidential race, and Vote-By-Mail helps to ensure that every eligible voter gets an equal chance to participate,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “In addition, our One Stop service helps to ensure that Vote-By-Mail users can cast their ballot as soon as they obtain it.”
In New Jersey, any eligible voter can apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot. To receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot, voters must fill out an application form and submit it to the County Clerk’s Elections Division. They are not required to provide a reason for using the ballot.
“We offer three ways to obtain an application form, so you can choose the one that is most convenient for you,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “If you choose to apply by mail, be aware that the application must be received by my office by May 31st. That will provide enough time for you to receive your ballot, vote it and return it to the Board of Elections by the deadline.”
The deadline to apply in person for a Vote-By-Mail Ballot is 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6.
The options to receive an application for a Vote-By-Mail ballot in Union County are:
- Have an application form mailed to you. Call the County Clerk’s Election Division at 908-527-4996 in order to have a form mailed to you, or request one through the County Clerk’s free Union County Votes mobile app.
- Download a form and print it out. Applications for Vote-By-Mail ballots are available for download from the County Clerk’s website at org/Vote-By-Mail, and from the Union County Votes app. The application must be received in the office by May 31st to be valid for the Primary Election.
- Pick up a form in person at the County Clerk’s Elizabeth or Westfield offices. Applicants can fill out their application and submit it while in the office, if desired.
“After you receive your Vote-by-Mail ballot, you have the opportunity to cast it by mail or in person,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “The choice is a matter of your personal preference and convenience. Rest assured, every vote is counted provided it is returned to the Board of Elections by the close of polls on Election Day.”
Voters who choose to cast their Vote-By-Mail ballot by mail are advised to allow at least 3-5 days for delivery, to ensure that it is received by the close of the polls on Election Day.
Voters who choose to cast their Vote-By-Mail ballot in person can do so by visiting the County Clerk’s Elizabeth or Westfield offices during regular business hours, before 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6.
Voters who choose to cast their ballots in person and leave it in a secure lockbox must present a current driver’s license or state-issued identification card with their full address and signature, as required by a new state law which took effect in 2015.
The County Clerk’s One Stop service provides a convenience for voters who choose to visit the Elizabeth or Westfield office to pick up their Vote-By-Mail application in person. In the same visit they can complete the application form, receive their Vote-By-Mail ballot, fill it out, and cast it.
“Our One Stop service has proved to be very popular with Union County voters,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Just remember to bring your driver’s license or state ID card, so you can cast your Vote-By-Mail ballot during your visit.”
The County Clerk’s Westfield Annex is located in the Colleen Fraser Building at 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 Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth at 2 Broad Street, Room 113. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
As an added convenience for voters, the Elizabeth office has added an extra day of service before Primary Day. It will be open on Saturday, June 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
“No matter which way you choose, Vote-By-Mail is an easy, convenient way to avoid a last minute rush and ensure that your vote is counted for this important primary election,” said Ms. Rajoppi.
# #
Connect with Union County on social media.