Find nonpartisan voter education and local coverage for New Jersey. A summary of New Jersey voting rules is below, and each county on the map has its own page.
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All 21 New Jersey counties (A–Z)
Voting in New Jersey
Voting rules are set by each state. This is a summary of New Jersey voting rules, checked Nov. 4, 2026, from Vote.gov (U.S. government), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Ballotpedia. Rules and dates can change, so confirm with New Jersey’s official election website or your local election office before each election.
Registering to vote
- Online: by 21 days before Election Day.
- By mail: must be postmarked 21 days before Election Day.
- In person: by 21 days before Election Day.
- Register or check your registration (New Jersey on Vote.gov)
Primary elections
New Jersey has closed primaries: only voters registered with a party can vote in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters can declare a party at the polls on primary day.
Voter ID
New Jersey does not require most voters to show an ID document to vote in person; election workers confirm identity in other ways, such as checking a signature or personal information. First-time voters who registered by mail may need to show ID under federal law.
Early voting
Starts: Ten days before the election. Ends: Second calendar day before election. Locations and hours are set locally.
Voting by mail
Any New Jersey voter can request an absentee/mail ballot. No excuse is needed.
Your local election office
Find contact information for your local election office on New Jersey’s official election website.
Sources: Vote.gov (registration deadlines); NCSL voter ID (updated Sept. 3, 2026), early voting (updated Aug. 11, 2026) and absentee voting (updated July 17, 2026); Ballotpedia primary types (as of Aug. 2026).