Primary Election 2020: Vote By Mail Drop Boxes In Mercer County

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The primary election looks different this year as the coronavirus pandemic has pushed back the date, shuttered polls and made the contest scheduled for July 7 "primarily" vote-by-mail.

"Our goals are twofold," Gov. Phil Murphy said when he made the announcement in May. "To maximize our democracy while minimizing the risk of illness. We want everyone to participate in a safe, fully democratic process."

Murphy also said that there will be polling places open in every municipality to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote and at least 50 percent of the normal locations per county.

Murphy added that voters who have not been able to seamlessly transition to a mail-in process, like those with a disability, will be kept safe when they cast their vote.

"Social distancing protocols will be enforced within these polling locations including the sanitizing of every touch screen, voting machine in between voters," he said.

The Process

All registered Democratic and Republican voters will automatically receive a postage paid vote-by-mail ballot while all unaffiliated and inactive voters will automatically receive a postage paid vote-by-mail application. Those ballots can be sent back by mail or dropped in one of the boxes.
Vote-by-Mail Drop Boxes will be installed in five locations across Mercer County for voters to drop their voted VBM in as opposed to mailing it:

• The boxes will be installed on or about June 15;
• They are all outside and under surveillance 24/7;
• They resemble a USPS Blue Mailbox, but are Red, White & Blue;
• The VBMs will be picked up on a daily basis and brought to the BOE.
• All security measures will be followed when collecting and transporting the VBMs.
• VBM Drop Boxes will be closed at 8 p.m., close of polls on Tuesday, July 7.

• Princeton Municipal Bldg., Princeton, NJ
• Hamilton Call Center – 5 Justice Samuel A Alito Jr Way, Hamilton, NJ (next to the Hamilton Library)
• Hopewell Township Administration Bldg., Hopewell, NJ
• Trenton- Courthouse Annex, 209 S. Broad Street (in front), Trenton, NJ
• East Windsor Police Station (in front), East Windsor

Another key change will be the voting deadline. While all the ballots must still be postmarked by the July 7 election day, Murphy said that the deadline which votes must be received by a county board of elections — to be counted as valid — will be extended from 48 hours after the polls close to seven days after the polls close.

"We expect a greater than normal vote-by-mail turnout the deadline," he said. "And we will ensure that every vote is counted."

With reporting by Russ Crespolini, Patch Staff