SOMERSET COUNTY URGES VOTERS TO CAST BALLOTS EARLY, IN SECURE DROP BOXES

In Person Voting on Election Day Will Be Extremely Limited, and the Earlier a Ballot is Cast the Earlier it Will Be Tabulated

Somerville, NJ – The Somerset County Board of Elections is urging voters to cast their ballots before election day to help ensure every eligible voter who wants to vote is able to vote. There will be fewer polling places open than in most years, and there will be no in-person machine voting that many voters are accustomed to.

“If voters go to their polling place on Election Day, they will see a very different set up than they are used to. There will be no machines to vote on except for accessible voting, and the only way for most to vote will be to hand in a vote-by-mail ballot, or fill out a paper provisional ballot,” said Somerset County Board of Elections Administrator Jerry Midgette. “It is much more convenient to fill out a ballot at home and place it in a ballot drop box or bring it to the County Administration Building.”

The vast majority of voters will not be able to vote in person at a polling place for the 2020 General election due to COVID-19 restrictions, with no machine voting except for voters in need of assistance due to a disability utilizing an assistive device.

To vote at a polling place, voters must bring their own ballot to their designated polling place on election day and submit it along with ID matching their voting record, or if they do not have a ballot they can cast a paper provisional paper ballot.  Voters cannot bring another voter’s ballot to a polling place as a “bearer”.

Somerset County Steve Peter reminds voters that if they have not received, misplaced, or made a mistake on their ballot they can get a replacement ballot at the County Administration Building during the hours listed below. Ballots can only be replaced prior to being submitted. Once a ballot is cast there is no opportunity to make changes or get a replacement.

“We understand that for many voters this process is unfamiliar, and mistakes might be made filling out the ballot or the required envelopes,” said Peter. “If a voter has misplaced their ballot or feels that they made a mistake or their ballot or envelope has been damaged they can come to us and the Clerk’s office will help them get the replacements they need to cast their ballot.”

The atrium of the Somerset County Administration Building at 20 Grove Street in Somerville has been opened from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day to provide assistance to voters in submitting ballots, or obtaining a replacement for lost or damaged ballots.

Ballots can also be submitted:

• At any of the 13 drop boxes, locations at https://bit.ly/3eeN9FR;
• Via the United States Mail if postmarked by 8 p.m. on November 3 and received by the Board of Elections by November 10;
• At the County Administration Building at the hours above.

Somerset County has compiled information, video tutorials, and other support for the 2020 General Election at http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/2020General.

Any voter who has a question they need answered in encouraged to fill out the form at https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-clerk/2020-election-guide/election-questions and they will receive a response within one business day.

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