2018 change in VOTE BY MAIL law

2018 CHANGES IN VOTE BY MAIL LAW

In August 2018, changes were made to the Vote by Mail method for voting in New Jersey.  The law is aimed at expanding voting.  The law now permits a voter to choose to vote by mail for all elections without having to make a written request to do so for each election.  A voter can still choose to ask to vote by mail for a single election. 

There has been confusion about an aspect of the change in the law that affects a particular group of voters:  Voters who voted using a VOTE BY MAIL (VBM) BALLOT in the 2016 General Election, that is, in the last Presidential Election.  IF A VOTER VOTED in the 2016 General Election USING A VBM BALLOT, the voter is presumed to have chosen to vote by mail in the November 6, 2018 General Election and all following elections, such as June primaries.  If you are satisfied with this choice, you do not need to do anything to receive your ballots in the mail.  They will be mailed to you automatically.

IF you do NOT want to use a VBM Ballot in the November 6, 2018 General Election, follow these instructions.

IF you want to use a VBM Ballot in the November 6, 2018 General Election, but not be sent VBM ballots automatically thereafter, follow these instructions.

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE A VBM BALLOT:

The Clerk of Union County mailed a letter to each voter who used a VBM ballot in the November 2016 General Election stating that she must receive by September 14,  2018, a writing from the voter stating the voter’s choice not to use a VBM Ballot for all future elections.  If you did not send her that writing, then you can do ONE of the following: 

• Use the VBM Ballot by mailing it with a postmark no later than November 6, 2018.    
• Use the VBM Ballot by taking it to the Office of the Union County Clerk.  Click here for hours and location. BE SURE TO BRING YOUR NJ DRIVER’S LICENSE OR NJ PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARD. 
• Use a Provisional Ballot at your polling place on Election Day.  If you choose to use this option, be sure NOT TO USE THE VBM BALLOT. 

IF YOU WANT TO USE A VBM BALLOT for the November 6, 2018 General Election, but not thereafter:

To remove yourself from the automatic VBM program, AFTER the November 6, 2018 General Election, write a letter to Joanne Rajoppi, Union County Clerk, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207, stating the following:

My name is ________________.  I reside at this address ________________ and am a registered voter. I DO NOT WISH TO RECEIVE A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT FOR ALL FUTURE ELECTIONS.

SIGN______________________________________    DATE___________________________