League Of Women Voters Montclair: 5 Voting Tips For 2020 Election

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following article comes courtesy of the League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Voting in New Jersey for the November 3 general election will be primarily by mail-in ballot.

Due to the pandemic, there are a number of changes in how to register to vote and how to cast mail-in ballots. The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is October 13. Now is the time to take action. To make sure your voice is heard on Election Day 2020, follow these tips and deadlines provided by the League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area.

1. Check to make sure you are registered to vote by visiting https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/registration-check If you are not registered to vote, you can easily complete the process online at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register. If you still have questions, contact the Essex County Board of Elections at (973) 621-5070. Please see the LWV “How to Register to Vote” video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9oOOJbH6tI&t=9s.

2. Every active registered voter in New Jersey will receive a ballot in the mail. Thus, it is important that your correct address is on record. If the ballot hasn’t arrived by October 12, contact Christopher J. Durkin, Essex County Clerk, at (973) 621-4921. Learn the correct way to complete your ballot by watching the brief LWV video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAvTGuAIYpc&feature=youtu.be. If you make an error on your ballot, your vote may not be counted. Plan to fill out the ballot the day you receive it.

3. Vote, sign, and seal your ballot and return it on the same day if possible. To avoid potential issues with regular postal delivery, it is strongly recommended that you drop off your ballot at the secure ballot drop box in your town, or at any secure drop box in Essex County. Visit https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-secure-drop-boxes.shtml to find the location closest to you. Boxes are open 24 hours/day, monitored by security cameras, and collected daily by county election officials.

4. To make sure your vote is counted sign up and track your mail-in ballot status online at https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-track-my-ballot.shtml.

5. Help your friends and family to do the same. You can drop off ballots for up to three people only. You must sign the ‘Bearer” section on the ballot if you do this.

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