New Jersey primary election 2025: What you need to know before you vote

Can I still register to vote?

The deadline for New Jerseyans to register to vote for the primary election is Tuesday, May 20. New Jerseyans can find out whether they are registered to vote online.

Who can register to vote?

Anyone can register to vote, so long as they are a U.S. citizen, have been a resident of their New Jersey county for at least 30 days before the election and will be at least 18 on or before Election Day.

In 2019, the state restored the right to vote to people on probation and parole.

What does a ‘closed primary’ mean?

New Jersey has a closed primary system, meaning only Democrats and Republicans can vote for their party’s nominees to run in the general election.

Unaffiliated voters, who are not registered as either a Democrat or a Republican, may choose to vote in the state’s primary, but they must declare a party to do so.

“All you’ve got to do is walk in and tell the poll worker on Election Day, ‘I would like to vote in the primary,’” said Beth Thompson, president of the New Jersey Association of Election Officials and Hunterdon County Board of Elections administrator.

If voting by mail, unaffiliated voters may declare a party by selecting either a Democratic or a Republican ballot.

If such voters wish to revert to being unaffiliated, they may request a change of political party application form after the primary.

The voter deadline to switch party affiliation prior to the 2025 primary was April 16.

For future primaries, voters interested in switching parties can fill out a New Jersey Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form and mail or deliver it to the commissioner of registration in their county, or file it with their municipal clerk. These forms are also available at a commissioner of registration office.

Can I still apply for a mail ballot?

New Jerseyans may apply for a mail ballot via mail by Tuesday, June 3, or in person by 3 p.m. Monday, June 9.

Qualified overseas civilian and military voters must apply to receive mail ballots electronically by Friday, June 6.

Can I vote early in person?

New Jerseyans registered to vote may do so in person at their county board of elections offices. Early voting for the primary election will open Friday, June 6, and continue through Sunday, June 8.

Every county will provide registered voters with in-person early voting locations. The list of early voting locations can be found online. Early voting will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. No appointment is necessary.

When must mail or absentee ballots be received?

Voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return their mail ballots to their county board of elections office in person or drop it off in one of their county’s secure ballot drop box locations.

Mail ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the county boards of elections on or before Monday, June 10.

Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be returned to a voter’s polling location.

How will I know if my mail ballot was processed?

Voters can check the status of their mail ballots online.

What if I am a member of the military, other uniformed service or a civilian living overseas?

Qualified military or overseas voters must be registered to vote in New Jersey to obtain a ballot for the June election, either by using a state form or a federal postcard application, or FPCA.

Only the FPCA can be used for both voter registration and ballot requests. Voters who use the state forms must separately submit a New Jersey voter registration form and a New Jersey mail ballot application.

Mail ballots for qualified military or overseas voters can be obtained via a voter’s county clerk’s office or the secretary of state office.

Not sure which county clerk’s office to send your application? Contact the New Jersey Division of Elections or call 1-877-NJVOTER.

Completed mail ballots must be delivered to the appropriate county board of elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Mail ballots sent via mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day.

What if I want to vote in person?

New Jerseyans who want to vote in person on Election Day can do so at the polls, which will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters can find their polling places online.

Where is my polling place?

New Jersey voters can find their polling places online.

What if I received a mail ballot but want to vote in person?

If you have received your mail ballot but have not voted, you may only vote with a paper provisional ballot at your polling place.

What happens if I request a mail ballot and don’t receive it?

Voters who request a mail ballot but don’t receive it, or don’t have it to surrender, may vote by provisional ballot at their polling places. The provisional ballots will be reviewed by the county boards of elections post-Election Day to determine whether they will be counted.

How secure is New Jersey’s vote tabulation process?

Election administrator Beth Thompson emphasized that the state’s voting machines are extremely reliable.

“We do a lot of testing before this equipment goes out to verify that when the voter goes in and pushes that button or fills in the bubble, that is the candidate that is going to get counted for that particular person’s vote,” Thompson said.

In some counties, a voting machine tabulates all votes, after which a paper copy is printed and deposited into a secure lockbox. Other counties have voters record their selection on a paper ballot, then that ballot is taken to a machine that tabulates the result and records a picture of the ballot.

Whichever system is used, Thompson said, the voter is able to verify the choices they have made.

“And every single system in the state allows you to cancel your ballot,” Thompson explained. “You have up to three tries to ensure that you get to vote for the candidates of your choice.”

If a problem arises during the voting process, Thompson says to ask for assistance from a poll worker or “call your local board of elections so that they can help you through the process.”

Are there enough poll workers for New Jersey’s primary?

The state finds it challenging to recruit poll workers, despite the $300 paycheck poll workers earn for working the full primary day.

“We don’t always get enough folks,” said election administrator Beth Thompson. “We are recruiting people, we have people lined up to take classes,” she explained, “and you can’t work without being trained.”

Hunterdon County officials have planned a trip to Raritan Valley Community College in mid-May to recruit college students to work as poll workers, and election officials in other parts of the state are engaged in similar efforts.

Those interested may submit a poll worker application to their local Board of Elections.

What is turnout like for New Jersey’s primaries?

Election administrator Beth Thompson says voter turnout typically isn’t great in a primary election, even in presidential election years. Still, Thompson stressed the importance of residents exercising their right to vote.

“You are picking the candidate that you want to see in the November election,” she said. “If you don’t like who is on the ballot in November and you didn’t vote in the primary, you didn’t have a stake in the game.”

N.J. voter info and resources

• Check to see if you are registered to vote
• Register to vote
• View a sample ballot based on your address
• Sign up to become a poll worker
• Find your polling place
• Find secure drop box locations
• Apply for a mail ballot
• Check the status of your mail ballot