The below is a reprint of the FAQs provided on the Union County Votes website.
Due to COVID-19, the November 3rd General Election in New Jersey will be primarily Vote-by-Mail.
Governor Murphy signed Executive Order #177 stating that the November 3rd General Election will be conducted primarily by Vote-by-Mail (“VBM”), with limited in-person polling locations on General Election Day. VBM will be new to many Union County residents. It is important for voters to understand how the new process will work so we can be sure our votes are valid under the new rules. Make sure your vote counts.
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Vote By Mail Ballots are being sent out in SCOTCH PLAINS on: September 28, 2020
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Return your ballot to a Secure Ballot Drop Box: There will be 22 ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. Ballot drop boxes are ADA compliant, under camera surveillance 24/7 and all ballots are picked up by a bi-partisan team of UCBOE employees every day. The deadline to return your ballot to a secure ballot drop box is 8pm on Election Day.
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Ballot drop box locations in Union County can be found here.
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Scotch Plains location: Scotch Plains Public Library, 1927 Bartle Ave
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Return your ballot in person (requires a NJ Driver’s License or NJ Issued ID):
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Union County Board of Elections, 271 No. Broad Street, Elizabeth (8am – 4pm
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Union County Clerk’s Office, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth (8:30am – 4:30pm)
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Union County Clerk’s Annex Office, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield (M/W/F: 8am – 4pm; Tu/Th: 8am – 7:30pm; and Sat., 9am – 1pm)
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Call the respective offices for extended hours and special openings.
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The deadline to return your ballot to the Union County Board of Elections is 8pm on Election Day.
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Return your ballot via the United States Postal Service: Postage for returning your Vote by Mail Ballot has been prepaid. Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Union County Election Board by November 10, 2020. If your ballot is mailed, but not postmarked by the USPS, it must be received by the Union County Election Board by November 5.
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Return your ballot to your designated polling location on Election Day: If you choose to return your ballot to your designated polling location on Election Day, you will be required to stand in line, sign the poll book and hand your ballot to the poll worker. You may not return a ballot at a polling location for anyone else except yourself. The deadline to return your ballot to your designated polling location is 8pm on Election Day.
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Mark your ballot with a black or blue pen by completely filling in the oval next to the candidate for whom you wish to vote.
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Put your ballot in the certificate envelope and seal it.
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Complete and Sign the certificate on the certificate envelope.
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Do not detach the certificate from the certificate envelope.
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Put the certificate envelope containing your ballot in the outer mailing envelope, which is addressed to the Union County Board of Elections.
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If someone assisted you in completing your ballot, they must complete the assistor’s portion of the certificate envelope.
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If someone returns your ballot for you, they must complete the bearer portion of the outer envelope in your presence.
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Review the instructions above for returning your ballot on time to the Union County Election Board, whether by mail, in the drop box or in person!