Middlesex County To Open Three New Voter Information Centers

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Middlesex County on Thursday announced it was opening three new Voter Information Centers beginning Oct. 19.

The three centers will be located at Highland Park, Monroe and Sayreville. They will open on Oct. 19 through election day, Nov. 3.

These centers will provide voting services including replacement ballots, signature verification, and instructions on how to participate in the upcoming general elections.

Here are the addresses to the new locations:

• Highland Park Borough Hall ,
  221 South Fifth Ave, Highland Park

• The Monroe Township Library,
  4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Township

• Sayreville Borough Hall,
  167 Main Street, Sayreville

All three centers will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. On Nov. 3 they will open at 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visitors will be screened for temperature and are required to wear a mask at all times.

“Once again, Middlesex County is going above and beyond for its residents. Not only did Middlesex County commit to providing Vote By Mail ballots to residents with postage included and far surpassed the number of ballot drop-box locations required by the state – 32 locations compared to the state’s mandated 10 - but the County is now offering unique Voter Information Centers throughout the County to assist our residents in casting their ballot,” Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said in a statement.

The centers will be staffed by County Clerk Election Officials. They can immediately access voter registration data and determine if the voter has been issued a Vote by Mail ballot, and whether or not a ballot has been received by the election officials.

Voters can also apply for a ballot at the center. They will also be able to apply for and receive a replacement ballot — these duplicate ballots are issued in in case a ballot has been lost, damaged, or the voter does not receive it.

The information centers are not polling locations. All ballots need to be dropped off at the Middlesex County Drop Box.

The county will operate 97 polling locations on Nov. 3

Representatives from the Board of Elections will also be available to contact virtually at the centers, to answer questions on registration updates and how to ensure a ballot is properly cast.

The county also announced that the County Clerk – Division of Elections Office located in the County Administration Building in New Brunswick will be open to the public Monday to Saturday, ]11 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Oct.19.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic has required us to restrict public access to the County Clerk’s Office for the sake of the health and safety of our staff, we welcome the opportunity to bring the public back into our office, practicing all necessary safety measures, to assist them in exercising their right to vote,” said Middlesex County Clerk Elaine Flynn.

“This election cycle may be unique in the way our residents vote, but what is not unique is our commitment to ensuring they have all the necessary information and tools to do so,” said Flynn.

How to vote in Middlesex County this November:

• Voters can mail the ballots via the United States Postal Service at any time before Nov. 3 (ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov.3). Postage is included at no cost to residents.
• Voters may place the ballot in one of the secure drop boxes located throughout the County until Tuesday, November 3 at 8 pm. For a list of secure drop box locations, please visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020.
• Voters may drop the ballot off at the Middlesex County Board of Elections located at 11 Kennedy Blvd, East Brunswick until Tuesday, November 3 at 8 pm. If someone other than the voter is delivering the ballot to the Board of Elections, make sure they fill out and sign the Bearer Section on the left-front side of the green return envelope and review the guidelines on the back of the green envelope.
• Voters may vote in person on November 3 via a provisional, paper ballot only. A limited number of machines will be available only for voters with a disability.
• Accommodations will be made for voters with a disability at their polling location. If you are a disabled voter and need access to an ADA accessible ballot marking device to vote on November 3, please call the Middlesex County Board of Elections at 732-745-3471.
• Voters may submit their own completed and sealed Vote By Mail ballot at their assigned polling location in-person on Election Day, November 3. For a list of polling locations, please visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020.

• Bearers will be prohibited from submitting another individuals ballot at polling locations

If your Vote By Mail ballot is lost, damaged or you do not believe you received it, you may request a duplicate. Please fill out the replacement ballot form on the middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020 website and submit it to the County Clerk’s Office. The deadline to request a replacement ballot to be sent to you via the mail is Oct. 23, though voters may request a replacement ballot in-person at a Voter Information Center or the County Clerk’s Office through election day.

For election information and general questions, please visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020. If you have any questions regarding applications or the sending of mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 general election, please call the Elections Division of the County Clerk’s Office at 732-745-4202. For all other questions, please call the Board of Elections at 732-745-3471.