Category: Public Info

April 2023 is Second Chance Month and the Union County Board of County Commissioners with the American Job Center, would like to announce a free Expungement Clinic and Job Fair on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center in Warinanco Park, located at 1 Park Drive in Roselle.

“The entire expungement process can be overwhelming and there is a lot that goes into removing a conviction, so as part of my Second Chance initiative, through my Chairman’s “Building a Stronger Union County” initiatives for 2023, for the first time ever, we are hosting this expungement clinic to help our residents looking for clean slate,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Too often, even minor convictions can prevent someone from getting hired, obtaining a loan or finding somewhere to live and this event is designed to help those who want a fresh start, learn the different resources out there to help transition them back into the community. I firmly believe in second chances and I am looking forward to attending this event and us helping individuals across our County with not only expungements, but also employment opportunities.”

The event will have volunteer attorneys on site to meet with individuals to obtain free expungement. Employers will be present who are willing to hire second chance individuals. Various positions are available with employers, such as: PepsiCo, NJ Transit, Amazon, Wakefern, ShopRite, FedEx, Newark Airport and the Port Authority of NJ & NY. VET4U will assist with discharge upgrades.

While the event is free, pre-registration is required at www.ucnj.org/job-fair. Walk-ins are welcome, but all attendees must register on site prior to entering the event.

For more information or to register for this expungement and job fair, please visit www.ucnj.org/job-fair or call Carolina Marin at 908-380-6237.

In celebration of National Poetry Month 2023, the Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to present a talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and poet Tina Kelley, on the intersection of journalism and poetry. The event will take place at the Patricia M. Kuran Cultural Arts Center Carriage House at 135 Watson Road in Fanwood on Tuesday, April 18, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The event is free of charge but pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/tinakelley23.

“We are very proud to bring Ms. Kelley to the Union County community. This is a wonderful opportunity for poets of all ages and levels of experience to gain new insights into the creative process, and to hone their skills in communicating through the power of poetry,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados.

Tina Kelley has published four full-length volumes of poetry along with two non-fiction books. Her career in journalism has spanned The New York Times, The Star-Ledger, and New Jersey Monthly among other publications. She was co-awarded the Pulitzer Prize for covering the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.

As both poet and journalist, Ms. Kelley encourages her audiences to explore how journalism inspires creative writing, and how the skills of finding new and engaging topics, choosing key details, weaving narratives, revising and making deadlines are helpful in both fields. 

Tina Kelley’s most recent poetry collection, Rise Wildly, appeared in 2020 from CavanKerry Press, joining Abloom & Awry, Precise, and The Gospel of Galore, a Washington State Book Award winner. Her poems have appeared in Poetry East, Southwest Review, Prairie Schooner, and The Best American Poetry 2009.

Ms. Kelley also co-authored Breaking Barriers: How P-TECH Schools Create a Pathway from High School to College to Career and Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope.

She is currently the senior education reporter nj.com.

Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and poets, marking poetry’s important place in our lives. For more information about National Poetry Month visit poets.org/national-poetry-month.

The National Poetry Month program is presented by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

For more information about this event and other activities and programs of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/cultural, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-558-2550.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing 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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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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The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that a total of 94 school and community gardens have been awarded funding through the Union County Plant a Seed initiative, which supports nutrition, sustainability, civic service and STEM education, and helps to build community connections and improve access to fresh produce as well as social opportunities and outdoor recreation.

“Studies show that when children engage in gardening programs as a part of their school curriculum, health outcomes are improved, school performance is increased, pro-environmental attitudes evolve, and social and emotional interactions benefit. When you connect kids to gardens and allow them to dig in, it helps them begin to think holistically about their food, their schools, their larger communities, and the health of our planet.” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Community gardens also help to bring together residents to build new relationships with each other, through growing fresh produce and tending to the health of the garden and the community, too.”

“Throughout the years, the Commissioner Board has supported and encouraged residents of all ages in appreciating our outdoor spaces, engaging with conservation and environmental preservation topics, and enjoying a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. We are very proud to extend this support to school and community gardens, which reach hundreds of students and gardeners of all ages each year,” said Commissioner Lourdes Leon. Commissioner Leon, Chair of the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

The Plant a Seed program garden grant program began in 2018. It is funded by the Chairman Initiatives and administered through the Trust Fund. It includes the Union County Kids Dig In grant program for schools, and the Union County Means Green community garden grant program. For information on both programs visit ucnj.org/plant-a-seed-garden-grants.

Eligible sites for funding through Plant a Seed are for growing vegetables. Fruits, nuts, berries, herbs, spices, and pollinator-attracting plants are also covered, as well as plants that provide natural pest control. Ornamental plants and non-producing gardens are not covered.

With the inclusion of Roselle Park and Summit for the first time in 2023, Kids Dig In has now funded school gardens in all 21 municipalities of Union County.

The 2023 Kids Dig In program awarded grants to the following 69 school gardens:

Municipality	Organization	Option	Awarded Amount
Berkeley Heights	Columbia Middle School	$500	Garden enhancement
Berkeley Heights	Mountain Park Elementary School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Clark	ALJ High School	$750	Raised Bed
Clark	Mother Seton Regional High School	$750	Raised Bed
Clark	Valley Road School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Cranford	Livingston Avenue School	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Winfield Scott School No. 2	$850	Earthbox Garden
Elizabeth	Joseph Battin 4 Annex	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Joseph Battin 4 Main	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Mabel G. Holmes School No. 5	$850	Earthbox Garden
Elizabeth	Toussaint L’ouverture School No. 6	$850	Earthbox Garden
Elizabeth	JVJ STEM Academy	$850	Earthbox Garden
Elizabeth	Jerome Dunn Academy School No. 9	$500	Garden Enhancement
Elizabeth	Elmora School No. 12	$750	Pollinator Garden
Elizabeth	J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy	$500	Garden Enhancement
Elizabeth	Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Abraham Lincoln School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Elizabeth	Terence C. Reilly	$750	Pollinator Garden
Elizabeth	Victor Mravlag	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Madison Monroe School No. 16	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Robert Morris School No. 18	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Woodrow Wilson School No. 19	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	John Marshall School No. 20	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Nicholas M. Butler School No. 23	$850	Earthbox Garden
Elizabeth	Dr. Albert Einstein Academy School No. 29	$500	Garden Enhancement
Elizabeth	Admiral William Halsey Technology Academy	$750	Pollinator Garden
Elizabeth	John E. Dwyer	$750	Pollinator Garden
Elizabeth	Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26	$750	Pollinator Garden
Elizabeth	Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Juan Pablo Duarte School 28	$500	Garden Enhancement
Elizabeth	William Halloran	$500	Garden Enhancement
Elizabeth	Dr. MLK Jr. School No. 52	$750	Raised Bed
Elizabeth	Frances C. Smith School 50	$500	Garden Enhancement
Hillside	A.P. Morris Early Childhood Center	$750	Pollinator Garden
Hillside	Deanna G. Taylor Academy	$500	Garden Enhancement
Hillside	Hurden Looker School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Hillside	Hillside High School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Hillside	Hillside Innovation Academy	$750	Raised Bed
Hillside	Walter O Krumbiegel Middle School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Hillside	Ola Edwards Community School	$750	Raised Bed
Kenilworth	St. Theresa School	$750	Pollinator Garden
Kenilworth	David Brearley Middle & High School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Linden	Sprouts Academy	$850	Earthbox Garden
Linden	School No. 4	$500	Garden Enhancement
Linden	School No. 2	$500	Garden Enhancement
Linden	School No. 5	$750	Raised Bed
New Providence	New Providence High School & Middle School	$750	Pollinator Garden
New Providence	Morris Union Jointure Commission- Developmental Learning Center	$850	Earthbox Garden
New Providence	The Academy of Our Lady of Peace	$750	Raised Bed
Plainfield	Emerson Community Elementary School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Roselle	Grace Wilday Junior High School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Roselle	Washington Elementary School	$750	Raised Bed
Roselle Park	EJF Aldene School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Roselle Park	Roselle Park High School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Roselle Park	Robert Gordon Elementary	$750	Pollinator Garden
Roselle Park	Sherman Elementary School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Roselle Park	Roselle Park Middle School	$750	Pollinator Garden
Scotch Plains	Union County Vo-Tech High School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Scotch Plains	Union Catholic High School	$750	Pollinator Garden
Summit	Summit High School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Union	Franklin Elementary	$750	Raised Bed
Union	Battle Hill Elementary School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Union	Livingston Elementary School	$750	Pollinator Garden
Union	Kawameeh Middle School	$850	Earthbox Garden
Westfield	Crossroads School	$750	Raised Bed
Westfield	McKinley Elementary School	$750	Pollinator Garden
Westfield	Jefferson Elementary School	$500	Garden Enhancement
Westfield	Westlake School	$750	Raised Bed
Winfield	Winfield School	$500	Garden enhancement

The 2023 Union County Means Green program awarded grants to the following 25 community gardens:

Municipality	Organization	Option	Awarded Amount
Elizabeth	Jewish Family Services	2- Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Trinitas Hospital	2- Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless	2- Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Elmora Community Garden	2 Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Prevention Links	2 Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Josephine’s Place	2-Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Stephen Samson Center	2-Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	HACE	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Elizabeth	Elmora Public Library	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Elizabeth	PISC	2-Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Elizabeth	Peterstown Senior Center	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Hillside	Township of Hillside	2 Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Linden	CIC Youth and Family Engagement Community Garden	1- Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Plainfield	Richmond Towers Resident Association	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Plainfield	Joanne Hollis Gardens	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Rahway	The Gateway Family YMCA-Rahway	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Rahway	Friendship Baptist Church	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Roselle	Borough of Roselle	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Roselle Park	Roselle Park Environmental Commission	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Scotch Plains	Rotary Frazee House	2-Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Springfield	Springfield Free Public Library	1- Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Summit	Reeves Reed Arboretum	2-Garden Enhancement	$500.00
Union	Township of Union	1 Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Union	Township of Union-Vauxhall Garden	1-Raised Bed Garden	$750.00
Union	The Gateway Family YMCA	2-Garden Enhancement	$500.00

The Commissioner Board will host a kickoff event for the 2023 Plant a Seed awardees at Kean University on April 24. The event will include the announcement of awards, garden workshops for those educators needing continuing education credits, and a light lunch.

For quick links to all environmental programs and activities hosted by the Commissioner Board visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing 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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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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The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites local municipalities, including police and fire departments, to participate in the new Film Ready New Jersey workshop on Friday, April 14, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union Township. The workshop is a certification and marketing initiative of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), in partnership with the Commissioner Board and the Union County Motion Picture & Television Advisory Board.

Representatives from the 21 municipalities of Union County are invited to attend, along with Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties.

“The Film Ready New Jersey program offers Union County the opportunity to grow our presence in the dynamic motion picture and television industry, while learning from the best practices and effective market strategies developed by the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “This is a significant economic development opportunity for Union County and the surrounding area. We thank the NJMPTVC for collaborating with us on this project, and we encourage our 21 municipalities to participate.”

To register for the workshop visit eventbrite.com/e/film-ready-workshop.

To learn more about the Union County Motion Picture & Television Advisory Board, visit ucnj.org/ucfilmtv.

The Film Ready New Jersey program is a five-step certification and marketing program that enables cities and towns to effectively accommodate on-location filming and market their communities as filming destinations.

The April 14 workshop is the first step towards certification. At the workshop, participants will learn about the economic benefits of hosting on-location filming. Training and guidance will be provided by industry professionals as well as local mayors and NJMPTVC commissioners.

The workshop will cover ordinances, permitting, opportunities for small businesses and other elements related to on-location filming.

Participants will walk away with a toolkit to attract and welcome productions to their community and learn about the necessary steps required to become a certified Film Ready Community.

The NJMPTVC launched the Film Ready program as a pilot program in 2022, in Somerset County. The program sets basic standards for attracting film makers, and positions the state as a top production destination.

The Film Ready designation provides certified communities with an elevated platform to promote themselves as filming destinations. The Film Ready program also connects film and TV professionals with skilled and knowledgeable liaisons across the state, who can provide local expertise and support to streamline access to nearby resources and location information.

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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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Update April 24, 2023: The Notary Training Seminar scheduled for May 12 is full. Registrations are no longer being accepted.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will host a Notary Public Training Seminar at the John H. Stamler Police Academy, at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains on Friday, May 12, from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The featured speaker will be Union County First Deputy County Counsel Moshood Muftau, Esq. A limited number of seats are available.

Registration is required in advance in order to attend. A registration fee of $10.00 applies. The registration form and payment instructions are available for download at ucnj.org/county-clerk.

The registration deadline is Friday, May 5.

“The notary training seminar is designed to enable all the Notaries Public in our community to perform their duties with skill and confidence, including updates for experienced notaries as well as instruction for new or prospective notaries,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “We offer this opportunity as a professional course that benefits the whole community, and all are welcome.”

Ms. Rajoppi will make opening remarks and review the application process.  Mr. Muftau will speak about the legal aspects of the functions of notaries public.

The seminar will cover the Notary Public application process and new legal requirements and responsibilities.

It will also cover the steps for proper notarization and other topics, including how to complete a notary journal and how to examine identification documents.

Please note that no confirmation notice will be sent. Attendees should arrive in time to check in.

Attendees should also note that the dress code at the John J. Stamler Police Academy is strictly enforced. Business casual is recommended. Jeans and sneakers are not permitted, and men must wear shirts with collars.

For questions about the Notary Seminar event contact Anna Lima in the Office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4787.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents and bird watchers from all over the world to tune into the free Union County Falcon Cam livestream at ucnj.org/falcon. The Falcon Cam provides an up-close look at two peregrine falcons, who are nesting on the roof of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

The falcons are keeping watch over four newly laid eggs. The eggs will hatch towards the end of April.

“The Falcon Cam provides a window into the world of a fierce, fascinating bird that has been restored to our area through the efforts of preservationists. We are very proud to participate in the restoration effort and help foster an appreciation for environmental protection and conservation. In Union County we work towards significant contributions to preserve and protect endangered wildlife,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados.

The population of peregrine falcons in the U.S. was decimated in the 20^th century by pollutants including the pesticide DDT. They were put on the federal endangered species list in 1973. Following improvements in many parts of the country, the falcons were removed from the federal list in 1999. However, they remain an endangered species in New Jersey.

Union County has participated in the restoration effort in 2006, when County personnel affixed a nesting box to the Courthouse Tower roof under the guidance of state wildlife experts.

Every year since then, a pair of peregrine falcons has laid eggs in the nesting box. Cameras were also added in 2016 to provide the 24/7 Falcon Cam livestream of the interior and exterior of the nest.

The Commissioner Board has also partnered with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation in education and public outreach programs related to the Falcon Cam.

For more news and updates from the Falcon Cam, visit Conserve Wildlife Foundation, at conservewildlifenj.org/education/uc-falconcam.

Quick links to all environmental programs and activities hosted by Union County are available at the Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, 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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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

• Lifeguards at Ulrich Pool
  • Current lifeguard certification preferred, but will train if needed.
  • Weekends and holidays are mandatory.
  • Season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Attendant and cashier positions at Ulrich Pool and Wheeler Spray Park
  • Weekends and holidays are mandatory.
  • Season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Laborer positions available within Park Maintenance

Text or call 908-868-2725.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that the ballot position drawing for the June 6, 2023 Primary Election will be both in-person and livestreamed on Facebook. The drawing will be held on Thursday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. in Courtroom 401 in the Union County Courthouse, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.

A link for the livestream will be posted prior to the drawing on the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

“The ballot drawing will take place in person as provided for by statute, and we also offer the opportunity to view the proceedings online for those who wish to follow along remotely,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Ms. Rajoppi also reminds voters who wish to vote by mail that they must apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot by Tuesday, May 30.

According to a recent state law, unaffiliated voters who wish to vote in the Primary Election by mail must declare their affiliation with either the Democratic or Republican Party by Wednesday, April 12. Party declaration forms are available for download at state.nj.us/state/elections/voter-party-affiliation-declaration.shtml. The completed and signed form must be returned to the Union County Board of Elections in Elizabeth. The new law does not apply to overseas voters.

Voters who wish to vote in person may do so on Election Day, June 6 at their regular polling place, or they may vote early from June 2 to June 4 at polling locations designated for early voting.

The early voting polling locations are posted on unioncountyvotes.com.

For more information on voting in Union County elections, including applying for a Vote-by-Mail ballot, visit the County Clerk’s Elections Division online at unioncountyvotes.com or call 908-527-4996.

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 free vaccination, free testing, 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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The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that the Fresh Start program will visit the Elizabeth Public Library on Thursday, April 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fresh Start brings a mobile shower, laundry and restroom facility to those in need. The program is organized by the Union County Department of Human Services, and staff will be available on site to provide in-person guidance on additional programs and resources that help foster self-sufficiency.

The shower, laundry and restroom facilities are available on a first come, first served basis.

“I am proud to kick off our Fresh Start program once again for the 2023 season,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados, also Liaison to the Union County Human Services Advisory Council. “Bringing essential services to individuals in our community who may not always have access to laundry or restroom facilities is very important. It gives them an extra boost of confidence in getting back on track. In addition, we have other resources on hand including housing information, employment opportunities and supportive services that can help them in future days. I am so glad we are bringing this back to the communities across Union County and hope our residents will spread the word to those who may want to utilize this program.”

The Department of Human Services launched Fresh Start in 2021 as the first program of its kind, in recognition of the need to reduce the travel costs, time constraints and other barriers that prevent individuals from availing themselves of resources at centralized locations. The program brings basic personal care services to individuals in their communities.

The centerpiece of Fresh Start is a mobile trailer equipped with bathroom and shower units as well as laundry facilities. The trailer serves as a portal and contact platform for a continuum of resources leading to self-sufficiency, including emergency shelter and clothing in addition to ongoing resources including mental health, housing, and employment assistance.

Fresh Start coordinates a wide variety resources within County government including the Division of Social Services and the Division on Aging, in coordination with community partners including:

• Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services
• Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless
• Family Promise (Headquarters & Union County office)
• Community Access Unlimited
• Covenant House NJ
• Iris House
• Plainfield Action Services
• Prevention Links
• PROCEED, Inc.
• The Gateway Family YMCA
• The Salvation Army (Elizabeth, Union & Plainfield)
• Urban League of Union County
• YWCA Union County

The Fresh Start trailer will visit the Elizabeth Public Library and the Plainfield Public Library on a regular basis throughout the spring, summer and fall. For a schedule of upcoming visits and additional details visit online at ucnj.org/dhs/fresh-start.

For information on all Department of Human Services activities, visit online at ucnj.org/dhs or call the Action Line, 908-677-5405.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing 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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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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April 12 is the deadline for voters who plan to change parties before the 2023 Primary Election on June 6.

Union County, NJ — March 28, 2023 — The Union County Board of Elections reminds voters who plan to change their party affiliation that they must do so by April 12, in order to participate in their new party’s Primary Election on June 6.

“Voters often do not realize that the deadline to change their affiliation is set long before Primary Day,” said Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “If you plan to change parties ahead of the June 6, 2023 Primary Election, please be aware that party declaration changes must be received by the Election Board by April 12.”

Ms. DiRado also wishes to highlight a new law which goes into effect for the first time in this year’s primary elections.  Any unaffiliated voter, who has previously voted in a Primary Election and who has opted to receive a vote by mail ballot for all future elections, or for the June 6 primary election, must declare their party by April 12 in order to receive their vote by mail ballot.  Only voters who have never voted in a primary election or first time voters can receive a vote by mail ballot after completing a party affiliation form beyond the April 12 party affiliation deadline.

Ms. DiRado reminded voters that they can call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123 to confirm their party affiliation, as voters who conduct business with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Office often inadvertently change their party affiliation during their transaction, and may not have even noticed it.

Party Affiliation changes are easy and can be done in several ways. Voters can:

• Update their party online at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register;
• Request that a Party Declaration Form be mailed to them by calling 908-527-4123, or emailing ucboe@ucnj.org;
• Request a form through the Union County Votes App; or
• Download a form at https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-party-affiliation/party-affiliation-form.pdf for an English form.
• To download a form in Spanish, use https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-party-affiliation/party-affiliation-form-spanish.pdf

Calling the Election Board is the best way for voters ensure they are ready to vote for their party’s candidates in the June 7 primary.

The April 13 deadline does not apply to voters who are currently unaffiliated. They may declare their party at the polls on June 7.

For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.