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Voting changes enacted by law in August by Gov Phil Murphy has prompted the Asbury Park Democratic Committee to release a vote-by-mail procedural how to ahead of the Nov. 6 elections.

The new law involves allowing a voter to request a mail-in ballot for one election or for all elections every year until the he/she opts out in writing, according to Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. The law also requires all voters who voted by mail in the 2016 General Election be sent a mail-in ballot for the 2018 General Election, even if they did not request one.

Hanlon has said, if these voters do not want to receive a 2018 General Election Mail-In Ballot, they had to notify her in writing to opt out.

“It is important to remember that, according to State law, any voter who receives a Mail-In Ballot will not be permitted to vote on a voting machine on Election Day,” she said in a written statement. “Voters will either have to utilize the mail-in ballot they receive or vote on a paper provisional ballot at the polls on Election Day.”

Questions regarding vote-by-mail can be addressed to the Elections Division at 732-431-7790 or ClerkofElections@co.monmouth.nj.us.

Below find the Asbury Park Democrats Procedural Vote-by-Mail Guide:  

If you have received a Vote By Mail ballot, and you have not yet returned it, we wanted to go over the procedure, since a few things have changed this year. 

After you select your choices and are ready to return your ballot:

Sign the Certificate Affidavit attached to the small envelope, print your name, address, and municipality, and sign, using your normal signature. If you do not sign the affidavit, your vote will not be counted. Leave the affidavit attached to the envelope. If it becomes detached, don’t worry – just tape it back on.

Put your ballot inside the small envelope and seal it. It’s ok to use tape if the envelope is difficult to seal.

Put the small envelope containing your ballot inside the larger envelope that is addressed to the Board of Elections and seal it. It’s ok to use tape if the envelope is difficult to seal.

If you return your ballot by mail:

Your completed ballot should be mailed before Election Day to ensure it gets to the Board of Elections on time. Don’t forget to put a postage stamp on the outer envelope to ensure delivery.

The ballot must be postmarked on or before November 6, 2018.

If you return your ballot in person:

Your ballot must be returned to the Monmouth County Board of Elections Office at 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold, no later than when the polls close at 8 pm Nov. 6, Election Day.

If someone else returns your voted ballot:

A messenger must fill out the messenger portion of the ballot envelopes. Each messenger can only be designated for three ballots. Please call the Board of Elections for any questions or to go over the messenger procedure: (732) 431-7802.

Most importantly, if you run into any problem with voting by mail, or don’t know if you followed the correct procedure, you have the right to vote via a provisional ballot on Election Day at your regular polling location, no matter what. No one can deny you your right to cast a ballot.

If you don’t know where your polling location is, need a ride to the polls, or have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us at this email or call 908-406-1901.

Now more than ever, your vote is your voice.

Joe Grillo              Angela Ahbez-Anderson

Chairman             Vice-Chairwoman

Asbury Park Democratic Committee

[Photo courtesy of the Asbury Park Democratic Committee]

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