In New Jersey, you must be registered as a voter before you can cast your vote in an election. You can either register to vote through the New Jersey Department of State, or through the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) when you apply for or renew your driver’s license.
Voter Eligibility in New Jersey
In order to register in the state of New Jersey you must be:
- A U.S. citizen.
- At least 18 years old by the next election.
- A resident in your NJ county for at least 30 days prior to the next election.
You are not allowed to vote if you are currently incarcerated, on parole, or on probation for a felony conviction.*
*NOTE: If you’re no longer incarcerated, on parole, or on probation, you’re allowed to vote in NJ if you re-register.
Military & Overseas NJ Voters
In addition to registering to vote using the state’s standard procedures, if you’re a member of the U.S. military or other uniformed services, or a civilian living overseas, you can also register to vote through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
Simply submit a completed Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (Form 76) to your local elections office. You can also utilize the “vote by mail” option above by sending in that application form to your local county clerk.
NOTE: You can also use the online assistant to help you fill out your form.
Registering to vote through this method will allow you to request absentee ballots at the same time. You will, however, need to re-register using the FPCA every year you are out of state or overseas.
Deadline to Register to Vote in NJ
The deadline to register to vote in New Jersey is 21 days prior to any upcoming election date.
If you’re unsure if you’re registered, or to check if your details are up to date, you can check your voter information on the Department of State website.
You will need to provide your:
- First name.
- Last name.
- Month and year you were born.
Name, Address, or Party Change
If you have changed your name or New Jersey address, you can update your voter registration information by completing and submitting a new Voter Registration Application to the Commissioners of Registration office in your county.
If you want to change your party affiliation, you must do so at least 55 days before a Primary Election. Simply submit a completed Political Party Affiliation Declaration form to your local elections office by mail or in person.