How to vote in NJ: Full guide

FILE IMAGE - "I Voted" stickers are seen on a table during the Midterm Primary Election Day at Engine Company No. 2 Firehouse on June 7, 2022, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

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"I Voted" stickers are seen on a table during the Midterm Primary Election Day at Engine Company No. 2 Firehouse on June 7, 2022, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

NEW JERSEY - Election Day is fast approaching, with New Jersey voters gearing up to choose a new U.S. Senator to represent the state in Congress, along with a new president in the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in New Jersey, including how to register to vote, what time polls open/close, voting information, and key races:

How to register to vote in New Jersey, deadlines

A poll worker collects mail in ballots from a drop box for the New Jersey primary election on June 4, 2024, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

To qualify for voter registration in New Jersey, you must:

A United States citizen
At least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you have reached the age of 18
A resident of the county for 30 days before the election
A person not serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

Online

To get started, you'll need your date of birth and either:

Driver’s License or Non-Driver ID Card: This must be current/valid and issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Your information will be checked with the MVC to confirm your identity.

Social Security Number: If you're registering with your Social Security number, you'll need to be able to sign on-screen or upload a digital signature to complete the process.

By mail

NJ voters who cannot upload a digital signature or prefer to fill out a paper registration application can download a PDF on the state's voter registration website. Each county has its own registration applications, and statewide applications are available in 12 languages.

Once printed and filled out, voters must send the form to their County Commissioner of Registration or county's Superintendent of Elections. Click here to find yours.

In-person

You can register at your county commissioner of registration or superintendent of elections office. Click here to find yours.

In-person early voting

New Jersey voters can cast their ballots in person, using a voting machine, from October 26 to November 3.

Polling locations are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Find your county's designated in-person early voting locations here.

Suburbs see surge in down-ballot candidate signs

In the suburbs, you may notice what seems to be a new phenomenon, lawns where you’ll see signs for down ballot candidates and not for Trump and Harris. FOX 5 NY’s Teresa Priolo has the details.

New Jersey registration deadline

New Jersey's voter registration deadline was Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Am I registered to vote in New Jersey?

New Jersey voters can check their voter registration status online with their name and date of birth.

What time do polls open and close?

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Where do Trump and Harris stand on key issues?

You can expect to see Trump and Harris hitting the campaign trail a lot more in the coming weeks with Election Day exactly three weeks from Tuesday. Both candidates have made some pretty big promises throughout the race. FOX 5 NY’s Sharon Crowley takes a closer look at what they’ve said on some key issues.

What do I bring to vote?

Registered voters in New Jersey do not need to show ID to vote, unless their information cannot be verified.

Click here to find a place to vote in New Jersey.

Acceptable ID includes entering one of the following on your Voter Registration Application:

NJ driver's license, with or without a photo
US passport
Military or other government ID

Vote by mail

Every registered voter in New Jersey is eligible to vote by mail. To receive a mail ballot, contact your county clerk.

How to fill in your vote by mail ballot

Watch the video below, provided by the state of New Jersey:

Return mail ballots

Return the ballot one of three ways:

Mail: Ballots must be postmarked on or before 8 p.m. on Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after polls close
Secure Ballot Drop Box: Ballots must be placed in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Board of Elections Office: Ballots must be delivered to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Vote-by-mail ballots can't be returned to your in-person early voting polling location or your Election Day polling location.