It’s primary election day in New Jersey and polls are open, but Gov. Phil Murphy is counting on most of us to have already mailed in our ballots to help avoid long lines and make it easy to social distance at the polls during the coronavirus pandemic.
This year’s election is unlike any other. Six million voters in New Jersey were either sent a postage-paid mail-in ballot or were sent an application that would allow them to request one.
“We will ensure every vote is counted,” Murphy said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton when he announced the switch. “Our goals are twofold: to maximize our democracy while minimizing the risk of illness. We want everyone to participate in a safe and fully democratic process.”
It’s unclear how many ballots have already been received by county election offices, but some officials have reported receiving more than double that they normally would.
Here’s what you should know.
President. While President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have sewn up their parties’ nomination, both them and the names of their convention delegates will appear on the ballot. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will be on the Democratic ballot as well.
Senate. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, who initially sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, instead is running for re-election. He faces a primary challenge from community activist Lawrence Hamm, who ran Sanders’ New Jersey campaign. Five Republicans are seeking their party’s nod.
House. Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s switch to the Republican Party set up the state’s hottest congressional race in South Jersey’s 2nd District. Five Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination: Brigid Callahan Harrison, a Montclair State University political science professor; educator Amy Kennedy, wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.; veteran congressional aide Will Cunningham; former FBI agent Robert Turkavage, who ran as a Republican for the seat two years ago; and John Francis, an environmentalist and professor.
Several supporters of Sanders are running on the Not Me. Us. ballot line against several long-time incumbent Democrats. Other progressives have entered congressional primaries as well, including the first Muslim woman, writer Amani Al-Khatahtbeh.
Two Republicans, business executive David Richter and union official Kate Gibbs, want to run against Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., and four GOP candidates are seeking the nomination against Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., who has a primary of his own.
State Legislature. There will be a special election for 25th Legislative District (Morris and Somerset counties).
Local Races. There are primaries for mayor, council and other municipal and county offices throughout the state. About 70 races are contested. Some of those challenges also are being waged by Sanders backers on the Not Me. Us. ballot line.
Yes, but not at a machine except if you have a disability.
Instead, you’ll fill out a provisional paper ballot that will be checked to make sure the signatures match and that you didn’t also send in an absentee ballot.
Polls will be open until 8 p.m., but don’t expect to go to your regular polling place. Only about half as many sites will be in use. Click here for a list of in-person voting places, compiled by the League of Women Voters.
And Murphy urged New Jerseyans not to go to the polls if they feel sick and are awaiting the results of a test to see if they have the coronavirus.
“If you’re sick and you’re awaiting a test, as much as I want you to vote, I’m not wild about you going out into a public place,” he said.
He told them to call their county clerk instead to “get their advice.”
I FORGOT TO MAIL IN MY BALLOT. WHAT DO I DO?
You can still drop it off at the post office, as long as it’s postmarked by today, and it will count as long as it’s received by July 14.
Or you can drop it off at one of the dropboxes in your county or at the county board of elections by 8 p.m. You cannot drop it off at a polling place. Here’s where the dropboxes are.
If you’re not enrolled in a political party and decide at the last minute that you want to vote, you have until 8 p.m. to go to your county clerk’s office and request a ballot.
WHAT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY BALLOT?
If you forget to sign your mail-in ballot or your signatures don’t appear to match, you will be contacted and asked to supply additional information. You have until 2 p.m. July 23 to supply the additional documentation in person, by fax, or by email. If you mail it in, the information must be received by the board of elections by the end of the day.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY BALLOT IS REJECTED?
Your signature on the paper ballot will be matched with your signature on file. If there is a question as to whether they match, you will be contacted by mail and have until July 23 to verify that you submitted the ballot and offer additional identification, which could be a driver’s license number, the last four Social Security digits, or a state-accepted form of identification with a name and address. If you forget to sign the ballot, the same verification process will apply.
WHEN WILL THE RESULTS BE ANNOUNCED?
County election offices have until July 14 to accept mail-in ballots postmarked on or before July 7. Provisional ballots will be counted last. County election offices have until July 24 to certify all results.
NJ Advance Media will be reporting results for all county and municipal races, as well as U.S. Senate and House seats, starting as soon as the results come in at 8 p.m on Tuesday. There are approximately 70 contested county or local races in the state this year.
WHAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM AT THE POLLS?
The Secretary of State serves as the state’s chief election official. If you have concerns about voting and elections, call the state Division of Elections’ voting information and assistance line at 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837).
Separately, the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigates public corruption and election crimes. To report a potential crime, call 844-OPIA-TIPS. The Attorney General’s office has an anti-corruption reward program that will offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. For more details, see http://nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html.
NJ Advance Media also created a tip line to report any election-related issues to us to look at.
MORE ELECTION COVERAGE:
See if your county leans Republican or Democrat as coronavirus clobbers push to register voters
Tuesday’s primary features N.J.‘s 1st Muslim woman candidate for Congress
N.J. is still holding a presidential primary (and Chris Christie is on the ballot)
Biggest NJ primary battle features a Kennedy for the right to face party switcher backed by Trump
Bernie Sanders Movement lives in N.J. as allies challenge veteran Dems
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