This year’s General Election is on Nov. 4, but voters don’t have to wait until then to exercise their right to vote.
Vote-by-mail ballots are still available for any voter who would like to use that method to vote. More than 52,000 vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots have already been sent to voters who requested one, and voters can still apply to receive one before the election.
VBM applications are available online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/996/Vote-by-Mail-Information .
Completed applications must arrive at the Burlington County Clerk’s Office no later than October 28, for ballots to be mailed to a voter.
After that date, register voters must go in-person to the Clerk’s main office at 50 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly, or the Clerk’s office at the Burlington County Elections Building, 301 Harper Drive, Moorestown, to apply and receive a VBM ballot.
“Vote by mail is a simple and secure way for voters to cast their ballot when it’s most convenient for them and their schedule,” said Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz. “For students away at college or others who are homebound or traveling on Election Day, it’s particularly important, which is why we want to remind voters who want to request a VBM ballot to submit their applications to our office before Oct. 28 so we can get their ballot mailed out to them in time.”
For those planning or considering vote-by-mail, here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the process:
Question: I attend college away from home, is it too late to request a vote-by-mail ballot?
Answer: No. As long as the County Clerk’s Office receives a vote-by-mail application no later than October 28, a ballot can be mailed to your address.
Question: I requested a VBM ballot but mine hasn’t arrived yet, what should I do?
Answer: Please call the Burlington County Clerk’s Office at 609-265-5229 to check your status and potentially request that a new ballot be sent to you.
Question: My VBM arrived but I lost it, what should I do?
Answer: Please call the County Clerk’s Office to request a duplicate ballot be sent to you.
Question: I received my VBM ballot but marked it wrong, what should I do?
Answer: Please call the County Clerk’s Office to request a duplicate ballot be sent to you.
Question: I received my VBM ballot but would prefer to vote in-person with a machine, what should I do?
Answer: Every vote-by-mail voter may vote in-person during the early voting period or on Election Day, but they will have to cast a provisional ballot so the Board of Elections can verify that only one ballot was cast per voter.
Question: My VBM ballot arrived but appears to have been damaged or already opened, what should I do?
Answer: Please call the County Clerk’s Office to request a duplicate ballot be sent to you.
Question: A family member has died but a VBM ballot with their name arrived in the mail, what should I do?
Answer: The ballot should be shredded, recycled, or otherwise destroyed. Then, please call the Superintendent of Elections Office to have your family member’s voting record updated. The Superintendent of Elections can be reached at 609-265-5111.
Question: I don’t remember requesting a VBM ballot but one arrived in the mail, what should I do?
Answer: Please call the County Clerk’s Office to check your status.
Question: I completed and returned my VBM ballot but can’t remember if it signed it, is there a way to check?
Answer: Please call the Board of Elections to check your ballot’s status and find out how to resolve your signature issue.
Question: A family member wants me to pick up their vote-by-mail ballot; what should I do?
Answer: The person requesting a vote-by-mail ballot should complete the vote-by-mail application, including the Authorized Messenger portion (section 11). Then, whoever is picking up the ballot should bring the filled-out application and a government-issued photo ID to the County Clerk’s Office. The Clerk’s Office will process the application and return the ballot to the person serving as the “messenger.”
Question: I am or will be out of the country for this election. How can I get my ballot?
Answer: Go to FVAP.GOV and fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Choose to have your ballot emailed to you. Submit the completed FPCA to osballot@co.burlington.nj.us by October 31, and the Clerk’s Office will email your ballot to you.
For other questions about vote-by-mail, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 609-265-5229 or email votebymail@co.burlington.nj.us .