Early voting has already started and offers a safe and secure alternative to waiting in line on Election Day, but for Burlington County voters who plan to wait until Nov. 5 to cast your ballots, here are few things you should know before heading to the polls:
Where to vote?
On Election Day, voters should report to their regular polling spot. Voters will find it listed on their sample ballots. They can also search for it online at https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml.
When do polls open and close?
Polls will open at 6 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 have a right to cast a vote, and polling places will remain open until the last voter in line at 8 p.m. has voted.
New voting machines
Burlington County upgraded its fleet of voting machines this year, replacing its older switch-based machines with new ones consisting of electronic ballot marking devices and tabulators.
Regardless of whether you have used the new machines previously or not, all voters are encouraged to watch an online “How to Vote” video that explains the process of voting with new machines. The video is located on the Burlington County Election Services page: https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/593/Election-Voter-Services.
Bring your sample ballot to the polls
Voters are reminded to bring their sample ballots to the polls during early voting or on Election Day for a simpler check-in.
A barcode is printed in the red polling place address box on every sample ballot and can be scanned in on the electronic poll books to allow voters to quickly and accurately check in. If a sample ballot does not scan properly or the voter doesn’t bring the sample ballot, they can still check in the traditional way with a poll worker.
If a voter has any difficulty checking-in at their polling place or their voter registration is incorrect in the poll book, they should contact the Superintendent of Elections at (609) 265-5111. Voters should not leave their polling place without casting a provisional ballot and filling out an affidavit, which is used to verify the validity of the voter’s status.
Do not bring vote-by-mail ballots to the polls
Voters who received a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot can return them in one of three ways:
- Placing them in one of Burlington County’s 29 secure drop boxes (the locations are available at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2102/Secure-Ballot-Drop-Boxes)
- Hand-delivering them to the Board of Elections at 301 Harper Drive in Moorestown
- Mailing them with the U.S. Postal Service
Remember all completed VBM ballots must be placed in a drop box or delivered to the Election Board by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. Ballots returned by mail need to be postmarked no later than Nov. 5 to be counted.
Voters who received or requested a VMB ballot for the General Election will not be permitted to vote with a machine during the early voting period or on Nov. 5, however, if they wish to vote in-person, they will be permitted to vote with a provisional ballot.
Disability assistance
Voters with disabilities and accessibility needs have rights at the polls. Accessible voting machines are available at every polling location and voters can request reasonable accommodations from poll workers. Voters who need help are permitted to bring a family member or friend with them to assist or ask a poll worker to help them. Employers and union representatives are not permitted to provide assistance.
Voters who experience accessibility challenges at a polling location or who are having difficulty obtaining accommodations should call the Board of Elections at (609) 265-5557.
Leave your political attire and signs at home
There is no electioneering permitted within 100 feet of any polling location. This restriction extends to wearing hats, clothing, pins or other materials advocating for a particular candidate, as well as holding rallies, putting up posters or carrying signs that attempt to influence voters.
Residents with questions about the election, voting procedures and regulations can call the Burlington County Elections hotline at (609) 265-VOTE (8683).
