Make a Voting Plan 2020

Make a Voting Plan

As the pandemic affects our lives and our elections, it is more important than ever to know how to participate in the upcoming election. The 2020 General Election will be a paper ballot election with multiple options for casting a ballot. There is a lot of misinformation regarding this election circulating, so voters are encouraged to fact check information and seek out reliable resources. The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area is working to ensure voters get accurate, nonpartisan, and trusted election information.

Eligible voters can now register to vote online. The voter registration deadline is October 13th. If a voter is already registered to vote, they should check that their voter registration status is correct and active. Links to register to vote and to check voter registration status can be found at LWVNJ.org.

For this election, all active registered voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot without needing to apply. Voters can return vote-by-mail ballots using a ballot drop box, through the U.S. postal system, or in-person at their County Board of Elections or at their polling place on Election Day. All ballots returned through the mail must be postmarked by November 3rd and received no later than 8 pm, November 10th. Ballots returned in-person or in drop boxes must be returned by 8 pm on Election Day, November 3rd.

Voters are encouraged to vote and return their vote-by-mail ballots as soon as possible and to track their ballots using the “Track My Ballot” tool on the New Jersey Division of Elections website. If a ballot is tentatively rejected due to a signature issue, either the signature does not match or the signature is missing, the issue can be corrected and the ballot can be counted. This process is known as “curing” a ballot. When the ballot is tentatively rejected, the voter will be sent a notice in the mail, which includes a form that the voter must complete and send back to cure their ballot.

Voters still have the option to vote in person. Municipalities are required to open at least one polling place and counties must open at least half of their total polling places. Voters can expect closures and consolidations so are advised to check their assigned polling location. Voters will receive notification in the mail with their polling place locations and locations will be available at www.lwvnj.org. Any voter who chooses to cast their vote in-person at their polling place will do so using a provisional ballot. Individuals with disabilities will have access to an ADA-conforming voting machine. Polling places will be open from 6 am to 8 pm.

Visit Vote411.org to register to vote, see what will be on the ballot, learn more about candidates' positions, find polling place locations, and more.

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The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is a non-partisan political organization, founded in April 1920 as a successor to the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association. Today the League encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.