Below is the latest information available for election 2020. It will be updated frequently.
Visit other MDC pages and ATNJ for more information about voting:
On Friday, August 14, 2020 Governor Phil Murphy announced that the General Election in New Jersey this November will employ primarily a paper ballot system.
Who will get a ballot? All active registered voters will automatically receive a prepaid, return-postage paper ballot. Now is the time to make sure you are an active voter. Visit here to create a voter account. If you have any problems creating your account, call the clerk’s office today and they can help you: 973-285-6120. This account will also let you track the status of your ballot right through to accepted. See our Election Q&A page for step-by-step instructions.
When should ballots be received? Madison ballots were mailed out on September 24th. If you have not received your ballot by 10/5/20, call the Clerk’s office to request a new one: 973-285-6120.
How can ballots be returned? Voters will be able return ballots:
- Drop ballots in a secure drop box – Madison residents can utilize the drop box at the Kings Road commuter lot behind the Public Safety Building. These have video cameras 24 hours a day and are weather- and tamper-proof. They are picked up directly by your county Board of Elections staffers;
- Bring it any time prior to Election Day to the Morris county Board of Elections. You will need to present an ID proving that you are the voter and that’s your ballot;
- Mail it as soon as you receive it through the postal service;
- Hand it directly to a poll worker at a polling place on Election Day;
- Designate someone to take your ballot and deliver it for you at staffed locations. Any time anyone takes your ballot from you, including your spouse or children or relative, they must fill out the “Bearer” portion of your mail-in ballot. This is a security feature that assures your ballot was taken from you with your consent. Any ballots that are delivered by a Bearer without the Bearer portion filled out completely will be rejected and not counted. Bearers may hand-deliver no more than THREE ballots, including their own, during any one election. A candidate running in the current election may not serve as a bearer.
What are the deadlines for ballots? To be counted, vote by mail ballots must:
- Carry a postmark by Nov. 3;
- Be received by the County Clerk no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 10
- Ballots that lack postmarks due to postal error and received by 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5 will be considered valid.
How can I make sure I am registered and track a ballot?
- Check your registration on the Voter Search page
- Find the status of your ballot through the Public Access sign in
- Check to see if you are on the list to receive a ballot
- Track the receipt of your ballot
- Confirm that your returned ballot was accepted
- See our Election Q&A page for step-by-step instructions to create an account and if you are visual, here is a great guide from ATNJ.
What if my signature is old and I want to update it?
Did you know one of the most common reasons ballots are rejected is because the signature didn’t match what is on file? Worried about this? Complete a signature update using the registration form (just tick the signature update box).
What is the best way for a new voter to register? You can use the new online voter registration system. Or visit the County Clerk page and complete the registration form.
Can I Vote in Person?
- Each municipality will be required to open at least one in-person polling site (Hartley Dodge Memorial for Madison);
- All counties must ensure that at least 50 percent of their total polling places are open on Election Day;
- Any voter who chooses to cast their vote in-person will do so on a provisional ballot;
- All individuals with disabilities will have access to an ADA-conforming voting machine.
On Election Day, ALL public schools will close to in-person instruction to facilitate use of the building as an in-person polling place.
What should college students do?
With uncertainty around colleges closing, it may be smart to have ballots sent to a home address. To make this change, complete the address change section of the Voter Registration form by 10/13/20. For a great FAQ for young voters, check out this guide from NJ 11th For Change.
Is it safe to vote in person?
Per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 177, all polling places must meet CDC guidelines including:
- Maintaining a six-feet distance between all voters and poll workers.
- Having signage to show distancing requirements
- Requiring and making available at no charge facial coverings, gloves, hand sanitizing, and other hygiene and sanitizing materials
- Allowing frequent hygiene breaks to poll workers
- Requiring frequent sanitizing of high-frequency use areas
- Denying entry to poll challengers and poll workers who refuse to wear facial coverings when there is no medical exemptions.
Under the order, no voters and their accompanying person(s) will be denied the right to vote if they do not have facial coverings or refuse to wear facial coverings.
Is it secure to vote by paper ballot?
Yes. Voter fraud is rare, isolated, and there are many safety measures in place to minimize instance of fraud. This image shows some of the measures that protect us from fraud and also show what to watch out for to make sure your ballot is not rejected.
