VOTE 2021 | SCRO

How to VOTE in the 2020 General Election

Governor Murphy has issued an Executive Order mandating the November 2020 General Election to be an all Vote by Mail election (with few exceptions). We understand voting by mail is not preferred by most Republicans. However, we ask that you fill out & return your vote-by-mail ballot because this is the surest way that your vote will be counted in the 2020 General Election. Somerset County GOP wants to make voting easier for you by providing the following important information.

HOW TO GET YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT

As long as you are a registered voter, you will automatically receive a Vote By Mail ballot for the 2020 General Election. All registered voters will begin receiving Vote By Mail ballots in early October. When your ballot arrives, please fill it out immediately and return it as soon as you can. YOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, BRUNO and the BRIANS are on COLUMN 1. The earlier you send in your Vote By Mail ballot, the easier it is to track your ballot and confirm that it has been received and accepted.

THREE WAYS TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT

1) Hand deliver your ballot to one of the secure drop boxes that will be located throughout the county. Ballots must be delivered by 8:00 PM on November 3rd, 2020. The locations of the drop boxes can be found HERE.

2) Send your ballot back via the US Postal Service. The postage will be pre-paid. Ballots must be POSTMARKED by November 3, 2020. However, we encourage you to mail your ballot, as soon as you receive it and properly complete it. This will allow you ample time to track your ballot.

3) Hand deliver to your polling location on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020. The polls are not open for machine voting. Only provisional voting will be taking place there. We strongly recommend you do not use this option, but rather get your ballot in using options 1 or 2 as soon as you receive it.

HOW TO TRACK YOUR BALLOT

Did you know that you can view your personal voter data? Simply login to your New Jersey Voter Registration System account. If do not already have an account, you can set it up easily at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/auth/sign-up.

After you submit your Vote By Mail ballot, simply login at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/auth/sign-in and navigate to your "Election History" or "Mail In Ballot History." When your ballot has been received by your election official, the web page will display the "Ballot Received Date" and once the ballot has been accepted, the "Ballot Status" will show as "Accepted." If your ballot hasn’t been received yet, it won’t be listed.

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT

Make sure you are registered to vote. You can check on the NJ Division of Elections page: https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/registration-check

If you are not registered to vote, you must register to vote by October 13th. If you have recently moved or want to update your address, contact the Clerk’s office right away: 908-231-7006.

WHAT IF I DON'T RECEIVE MY BALLOT?

You should receive your ballot by October 10. If you don’t think you received it, immediately request a duplicate from the County Clerk’s Office: 908-231-7006.

If you lose or accidentally destroy (see below) your VBM Ballot,

immediately request a duplicate from the County Clerk’s Office: 908-231-7006.

VBM ballots will be rejected if you fail to sign the ballot,

if you attempt to tape the ballot, or if it is detached or damaged.

HOW TO FILL OUT YOUR BALLOT

When you get your ballot, open it right away, read all the instructions and DO NOT throw anything away.
YOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES are on COLUMN 1.
Fill out your ballot and use ONLY a pencil or ink pen (black or blue). We encourage you to vote for every Republican race on the ballot. Make sure you fill out the full circle dot, don't just check it off.
You CANNOT vote for more candidates than is permitted or your vote will not count. So read the “Office Title” column carefully– it will tell you if you are voting for one (example, Surrogate) or two (example, Freeholders).
Fold your completed ballot and put inside the inner envelope, and seal it.
Fill out the “Certificate of Mail-in Voter” that is attached to the inner envelope. DO NOT DETACH. This self-certification is required to confirm that you filled out the ballot in secret and is required for your ballot to be accepted and to count. You are allowed an Assistor. If you are using an Assistor, fill that section out.
Be sure you SIGN your NAME on the Certificate
Place the completed inner envelope inside the pre-paid postage outer envelope and seal it.
Submit your completed ballot via USPS, drop box, or in person.
If someone other than the voter is delivering the ballot to the Board of Elections make sure that they fill out and sign the Bearer Section on the left-back side of the return envelope.
Each Bearer may return a maximum of three ballots.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How can I Register to vote?

A: In 2020 the New Jersey Legislature passed online voter registration. That system will go online no later than September 4th.

Until then, you can go to www.njgop.org/register/ and the site will bring you to the correct voter registration form for your county. You can fill out that form on your computer, print it, sign it, and mail it free of charge to your County Clerk.

2. When will I receive my ballot?

A: County Clerks will begin mailing out ballots on a rolling basis starting September 19th. All ballots must be mailed out by October 5th so you should receive your ballot no later than the second week of October. If you do not receive your ballot, contact your County Clerk directly at 908-231-7006.

3. What do I do once I receive my ballot and cast my vote for our Republican candidates?

A: Return your ballot immediately by:

1) Delivering it to a secure drop box in your county.

2) Putting it in your mailbox.

3) Delivering it to your polling location on Election Day (not recommended).

4. Will I be able to vote in person?

A: At least one polling location per municipality must be open to voters who wish to vote in person. Votes will be cast provisionally to prevent voters from voting twice. All registered voters will receive a mailing with the location information, and it will also be posted online. Once all vote by mail ballots are counted, and the Board of Elections confirms you did not vote by mail, your provisional ballot will be counted. We DO NOT recommend voting provisionally. Your vote is safer hand-delivered or sent via USPS.

5. How do I know my vote will be counted?

A: There are an equal amount of Republican and Democrat representatives on the Board of Elections who help process and count each ballot. You can call your County Board of Elections to make sure your ballot has been received or track your ballot to make sure it arrives on time by visiting: https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/auth/sign-in.

6. Can I deliver my ballot in person?

A: Yes, Somerset County residents can hand deliver their ballots to any of the 13 secure drop boxes located throughout Somerset County. You can also hand deliver your ballot to a polling location on Election Day.

SCRO recommends that you return your ballot to the County Board of Elections or to one of the secure drop boxes immediately to ensure your vote is in and counted well before Election Day.

7. Is there a difference between a Vote by Mail ballot and an Absentee Ballot?

A: No. In New Jersey, all ballots for the 2020 General Election are the same.

8. Will my ballot identify my party affiliation on the envelope?

A: No. In the General election, the envelope for your ballot does not identify your party affiliation.

*Remember, your ballot must be mailed and postmarked on or before Election Day.

Visit the Somerset County Clerk’s Website for
full information on voting by mail.