Sample Ballots

A sample ballot is mailed to all registered voters one week before each election and is verification of your registration, contact the County Commissioner of Registration if you do not receive one. Sample ballots contain the following information:

• Location of your polling place
• Hours polls are open
• Public questions (general election only)
• Offices to be voted on, candidates names, district and municipality
• Operating instructions for the voting machines
• Instructions for how to vote for a “write in” a candidate

First Time Voter

If you register to vote by mail for the first time in Union County you must provide your driver's license number or the last four numbers of your social security number. If you do not have a driver's license number or a social security number, you can give a copy of a photo ID and a copy of a document that has your name and address on it.

Example of photo ID:

• NJ driver's license
• US passport
• Military or other government ID
• Student or job ID
• Store membership ID

Example of name and address document:

• Bank statement
• Car registration
• Government check or document
• Rent receipt
• Utility bill

Political Party

In New Jersey you are not required to declare a party affiliation when registering to vote.

There are various political parties in the United States political system, but it is considered is a two-party system because two political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections, the Democrats and Republicans.

Primary Election

Primary elections determine the candidates which a political party nominates for the following general election. Primary elections are closed, that is, voters may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party.

• Presidential Primary - Tuesday after first Monday in February
• State Primary - Tuesday after first Monday in June

General Election

General elections elect candidates to offices and are held on Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. General elections are also when voters respond to public questions.

School Board Election

School Board elections elect School Board members and determine the budget for the next school fiscal year.

Polling Place

Polling places are where voters cast their ballots in elections. In Union County polling places are usually located in public schools, government offices and community centers.

• Union County Poll Finder

The following questions and answers were culled from the Board Worker Training Guide on the Union County Board Of Elections website (downloaded on 01/08/2007). These questions and answers are specific to voting in Union County, NJ.

What polling place does a voter go to if they have moved? 

• If a voter has moved to another adress (district) within Union County, the voter must go to their new polling district to vote. If their name is not in the new polling district book, the voter will have to vote with a provisional ballot.
• If a voter has moved to a municipality outside of Union County within 29 days of the election, the voter can vote in Union County one last time. The voter must complete a “VOTER MOVED OUT OF COUNTY” form.

What is a provisinal ballot?

A provisional ballot is a paper ballot. A ballot that can be cast in paper as opposed to casting an electronic ballot, in the voting machine.

What name should the voter use if their name has changed? 

If a voter's name has changed, the voter must sign the poll book in both their present and former name. The voter must complete a new registration form.

How can a voter inform the Board Of Elections of deceased voters or moved voters?

If a voter states that another voter has moved or is deceased, the voter must complete an “INFORMATION REPORT” and indicate their relationship to the voter in question.

Who can vote in a Primary Election? 

A person can vote in a primary election only if they are registered to vote and are a declared Democrat (DEM) or a Republican (REP). Registered Republicans voters can only vote for Republican candidates. Registered Democrats voters can only vote for Democrat candidates.

For a Primary Election, can a voter switch party affiliations at the polls?

A voter cannot switch party affiliations at the polls. Voters wishing to switch party affiliations must do so in writing to the Board Of Elections 50 days prior to Primary Election.

For a Primary Election, can a voter chose a party affiliation at the polls?

If a voter has not previously declared a party affiliation, there will be no party designation (i.e., blanks) in the poll book above the signature box. The voter can declare themselves a Republican or a Democrat and vote.

Can a voter bring an assistant into the voting booth?

• A voter who is blind, physically disabled or illiterate and requires assistance may bring a personal assistant into voting booth while they are voting.
• Any voter that requests assistance can have two board workers (preferably one Democrat and one Republican) enter the voting booth with the them.
• The personal assistant or board workers who assist the voter must complete a “CERTIFICATE OF ASSISTANCE”.

Can an absentee ballot be cast at the polls? 

An absentee ballot cannot be cast at the polls. In order to be counted, an absentee ballot must be brought by the voter or messenger to the offices of the Board Of Elections by the close of polls.

Can a person vote at the polls if their absentee ballot has been destroyed or misplaced?

If a voter states that their absentee ballot has been destroyed or misplaced, they can only vote by provisional ballot.