Pandemic restrictions have lifted; Vote-by-Mail users advised on how to request a ballot.
Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises Union County voters that COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are being lifted. Many more polling places will be open for in-person voting for the 2021 Primary Election on Tuesday, June 8 compared to last year.
“Many voters prefer to cast their ballot by voting machine in person, and others prefer to vote by mail. With the lifting of pandemic restrictions, in-person voters can once again use the polling place specified on the sample ballot,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “In addition, the secure drop boxes that were installed last year are still available to voters who plan to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot.”
Last year, elections in New Jersey were held primarily on a Vote-by-Mail basis in order to help stop the spread of the virus. Most local polling places were closed except for a limited number in each municipality. Drop boxes were installed in each municipality to provide Vote-by-Mail users with an additional contact-free option for casting their ballot.
Voters who plan to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot are advised that the County Clerk has automatically mailed ballots to those on the permanent list of Vote-by-Mail users in Union County. The mailings began on April 23 and concluded on April 29. The ballots were enclosed in bright yellow envelopes in order to stand out from other mail.
Voters who were expecting to receive a ballot automatically can check the status of their ballot by calling the County Clerk’s Elections Division at 908-527-4996.
Those who are not on the automatic list can obtain a Vote-by-Mail ballot by submitting an application form. Any eligible voter can use a Vote-by-Mail ballot. The application process does not require voters to submit a reason.
Vote-by-Mail application forms in English and Spanish are downloadable from the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com. Forms can also be requested by email to ucvote@ucnj.org, or by calling the Elections Division at 908-527-4996.
There are three options for returning a Vote-by-Mail ballot. Voters should be aware that Election Day deadlines are in force for the 2021 Primary Election:
- Send it by U.S. Postal Service. All ballots must be postmarked on Election Day, June 8, at the latest.
- Deposit it in a secure drop box. There is at least one drop box in each of the 21 municipalities in Union County. For a list of locations visit com. All drop boxes are closed and locked when the polls close on Election Day, at 8:00 p.m.
- Bring it in person to the County Clerk’s main office in Elizabeth in the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, or to the annex office in Westfield at the Colleen Frasier Building in the County Complex at 300 North Avenue East. Both offices will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Union County residents who are eligible to vote but have not yet registered to vote until Tuesday, May 18, to register in time to participate in the Primary Election.
Voters who plan on voting in person on Election Day can check the location of their assigned polling place by looking at their sample ballot or by visiting the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.
For more information about voter registration and all other County Clerk election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.
For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.
For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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