Monmouth County 2020
General Election
Frequently Asked Questions for the November 3 General Election
Please be advised that the Governor and Secretary of State may continue to modify the guidelines for this election. We will update this document accordingly.
Introduction
Due to a state mandate the New Jersey 2020 General Election is to be conducted primarily by Vote by Mail (“VBM”), with limited in person polling locations open on General Election Day for provisional ballot voting and for voters to drop off their mail-in ballots. Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about the general election process.
What are my voting options to cast my vote for the November 3, 2020 General Election?
The 2020 General Election is a primarily Vote by Mail Election. Voters have the option to vote early and cast their vote by use of a mail-in ballot or to vote in-person on the November 3, 2020 election day on a provisional paper ballot at their designated General Election polling locations.
If you did not receive a ballot or need a duplicate ballot, you can vote in-person early by coming to the Clerk of Elections Office at 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold to receive, vote, and return your voted mail-in ballot. The Clerk of Elections Office is open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Please be visit our website MonmouthCountyVotes.com as to when in-person early voting shall commence.
Only voters who are disabled or who need an accessible voting device to vote may vote through an accessible voting device at their polling locations. Voters with such needs can also contact the County Clerk’s Office at 732-431-7790 for a vote at home option.
When is the deadline to register to vote?
The deadline to register to vote is October 13, 2020. Registration must be mailed and postmarked by October 13, 2020. You may also deliver your Registration to your Municipal Clerk or to the Monmouth County Superintendent of Elections by 9 p.m. on October 13, 2020.
How to obtain a mail-in ballot
Do I need to apply to receive a mail-in ballot for the 2020 General Election?
All active registered voters will automatically be mailed a VBM ballot without the need to submit a vote by mail application.
An inactive voter can apply to receive a mail-in ballot by filling out a Vote by Mail Ballot Application.
How can I check if I am an “active” or “inactive” registered voter?
You can check your status, by going to the “Voter Information” tab on our website MonmouthCountyVotes.com and click on “Am I Registered?”. You can also call the Superintendent of Elections Office at 732-431-7780.
What does “inactive” status mean?
Your status is set forth in the State Voter Registration System. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the Superintendent of Elections Office at 732-431-7780.
I need my ballot mailed to a mailing address that is not my home residence. How can I change my mailing address?
To change the mailing address for which your ballot will be mailed, please complete a Vote by Mail Ballot Application. In Section 4 of the application clearly print the mailing address as to where to mail your ballot to. Vote by Mail Applications sent by mail must be received by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Elections Office by October 23, 2020.
Is there a deadline to submit a VBM Application to receive a mailed VBM ballot in time for the General Election?
Yes, the deadline for the Monmouth County Clerk’s Elections Office to receive a VBM Application in time to provide a VBM Ballot to the voter by mail is October 23, 2020.
Is there a deadline to request an In-Person VBM Application?
In-person VBM Applications will be accepted by the County Clerk’s Election Office until 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020. The 3 p.m., November 2nd deadline to submit a VBM Application in-person has been suspended for the election.
Do I have to put a stamp to return the VBM Application?
YES.
Will I be notified if my VBM Application is rejected?
YES. Should your Application be rejected, the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office will notify you of the reason(s) and you will be given an opportunity to cure the defect. Once the defect is cured, you will be issued a VBM Ballot. Be advised that if a VBM Application is received too close to Election Day, time may not permit the application to be cured to allow the voter to receive a VBM Ballot by mail. The voter would have to appear in person at the County Clerk’s Office at 300 Halls Mill Road to resolve the issue and obtain a mail-in ballot. Or the voter can go to his or her polling location on election day to vote on a provisional paper ballot.
When will the ballots be mailed?
As per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order, ballots must be mailed out on or before October 5, 2020.
Will I continue to get VBM Ballots for all future elections after this election?
Voters that have previously requested to receive ballots by mail for all future elections will continue to receive ballots for all future elections. Voters who have not previously requested to receive mail-in ballots will receive the VBM Ballot for the November 3, 2020 election only.
How to vote & return my mail-in ballot
What should I receive in my mail-in ballot package?
When you receive your mail-in ballot package enclosed you will find: Your Official General Election Ballot, a “Quick Tips for Voting by Mail” flyer, a Certificate Envelope (make sure to fill out completely; incomplete certificates will void your ballot), and a postage-paid return envelope addressed to the Board of Elections. If you are missing any of these items, please call the County Clerk’s Elections Office at 732-431-7790.
What will the VBM Ballot look like?
Sample ballots will be posted by mid-September on the elections website, MonmouthCountyVotes.com.
What should I do if I lose my VBM Ballot, it is destroyed or I do not believe I received it?
If your VBM Ballot is lost, damaged or you do not believe you received it, you may request a duplicate from the County Clerk’s Office by calling 732-431-7790 or sending in a replacement ballot request form, which is available online for download at www.MonmouthCountyVotes.com. You may also visit the County Clerk’s Elections Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and on Election Day 6 am to 8 pm to request a duplicate ballot.
How do I update my signature?
Your signature can be updated by sending in a new Voter Registration Form to the Superintendent of Elections and checking the “Signature Update” box. Voter Registration forms are on our website, MonmouthCountyVotes.com
How do I return my VBM ballot?
Your ballot will include a return postage-paid envelope, (no stamp necessary) which will be included in the VBM Ballot packet that you will receive. You may mail your ballot through the US Postal Service. You also may deposit your ballot in one of the secure drop boxes located throughout the county, deliver your ballot directly to the Board of Elections, or on Election Day return it at your designated polling location.
Where will the secure drop boxes be located?
Once the drop box locations are available from the County Board of Elections, the information will be listed on our webpage, MonmouthCountyVotes.com. Voters can also contact the County Board of Elections at 732-431-7802 for information regarding drop boxes.
May I return my VBM Ballot to the polling location on General Election Day?
YES. Voters may also deliver their own completed mail-in ballot in-person at their assigned 2020 General Election polling place on Election Day, November 3 by 8 pm, but may not return any other voter’s ballot.
What is the deadline for returning your VBM Ballot?
If you are using the US Postal Service, the ballot must be postmarked on or before November 3, 2020.
If you are using one of the secure drop boxes, the deadline for delivering your ballot is 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020.
If you are delivering your ballot in-person, you may deliver it and submit your completed ballot to the Board of Elections Office up until 8 pm on November 3rd; the night of the General Election. If someone other than the voter is delivering the ballot to the Board of Elections make sure that the bearer fills out and signs the Bearer Section on the left-front side of the return envelope in the presence of the voter.
Voters may also deliver their own completed mail-in ballots in-person at their assigned 2020 General Election polling place on Election Day, November 3 by 8 pm, but may not return any other voter’s ballot.
Does the Board of Elections require identification if I choose to deliver my VBM Ballot directly to them?
YES. A voter delivering their own ballot is required to produce identification. If a Bearer is delivering the voter’s ballot, that person must produce identification. Contact the Board of Elections at 732-431-7802 to find out what identification is acceptable.
Who counts the ballots?
The County Board of Elections counts the ballots. The Board of Elections is overseen by Commissioners who represent the two major political parties. In Monmouth County, the Board of Elections is overseen by three Republicans and three Democrats.
Do all VBM Ballots get counted?
Ballots that are properly cast are counted by the County Board of Elections. Two common errors causing ballots to be rejected are: 1. neglecting to sign the Certification, and 2. the tampering of the Certificate of Mail-in Voter. Do Not Detach the Certificate and attempt to tape it. If your Certificate is detached or damaged, request a new Certificate by contacting the County Clerk’s Election Office at 732-431-7790.
Will I be notified if my VBM ballot is rejected?
YES. The Board of Elections will notify you of the reason why your ballot was not counted.
Voting at the Polls on November 3, 2020 Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know where my polling place will be located?
The Board of Elections will be choosing a limited number of Polling Places available for voters on Election Day, where only Provisional Paper Ballots will be available for voting unless the voter is disabled. A Provisional Paper Ballot is similar to voting on your VBM Ballot, but is counted after all the mail-in ballots are counted. You will be receiving a post card notifying you of the polling location in your municipality. The Board of Elections has until September 15th to certify the polling locations.
Will I be receiving a Sample Ballot?
NO, because this is a primarily vote by mail election, you will be receiving a VBM ballot, which will be the ballot that you will cast your vote. Samples of the mail-in ballot will be available by mid-September on the County Clerk’s website at www.MonmouthCountyVotes.com to view and will be available at the polling location.
Will I be permitted to vote in-person on a voting machine if I go to my polling place?
Only disabled voters will be permitted to vote on voting machines on election day. All other voters will be given paper provisional ballots.
A Provisional Paper Ballot is similar to voting on your VBM Ballot, except that it must be verified after the election and is counted only after all of the mail-in ballots are counted.
We urge you to use your VBM Ballot, as Provisional Ballots are counted last and must be checked against the VBM Ballots that have already been cast before they are accepted and canvassed.
Do all provisional ballots get counted?
ALL provisional paper ballots that are properly cast are canvassed and counted, after all of the mail-in ballots are counted.
Will I be notified if my provisional ballot is rejected?
YES. The Board of Elections will notify you of the reason why your ballot was not counted.
How will I vote if I am disabled and require an accessible ballot?
If you have a disability and need an accessible ballot for voting at home, please contact the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office at 732-431-7790 or you may go to your assigned General Election polling place, which will provide access to an in-person accessible voting device on General Election Day.
When will we know the results of the November 3, 2020 General Election?
Due to the challenges of this unprecedented election process and the time allotted to receive ballots and counted by the Board of Elections, the results may not be available on election night. Every effort will be made to provide results as quickly as possible. The Governor’s Executive Order gives the County Board of Elections until November 20, 2020 to count the ballots.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Clerk of Elections:
* Preparation of all Ballots – Vote by Mail Applications & Mailing of Ballots – Candidate Petitions – Tabulation of Totals – Certification of Results*
- County Clerk: Christine Giordano Hanlon, Esq. Deputy of Elections: Judith D. Ricci
- Location: 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold NJ 07728 Phone: 732.431.7790
- E-mail: ClerkofElections@co.monmouth.nj.us
Board of Elections:
*Polling Locations – Poll Workers – Challengers – Counting of Vote by Mail Ballots – Redistricting*
- Chairperson/Commissioner: Chantal Bouw Secretary/Commissioner: Allan C. Roth, Esq. Commissioner: Eileen Kean, Esq.
- Commissioner: Patricia A. Bennett, Esq. Commissioner: Mary Pat Angelini Commissioner: Robert Napoli
- Chief Clerk: Tracee Johnson Administrator: Robin Major
- Location: 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold NJ 07728 Phone: 732.431.7802
- E-mail: Tracee.Johnson@co.monmouth.nj.us
- E-mail: Robin.Major@co.monmouth.nj.us
Superintendent of Elections:
- *Registration – Party Affiliation – Voting Machines*
- Superintendent of Elections: Mary DeSarno
- Location: 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold NJ 07728 Phone: 732.431.7780
- E-mail: Mary.DeSarno@co.monmouth.nj.us
