With multiple elections on the calendar, Burlington County Clerk Timothy D. Tyler alerted “Vote-By-Mail” voters to be on the lookout for two separate Vote-By-Mail ballots in the mail. In the case of Tabernacle voters, that number would be three.
In addition to the regular General Election on November 5th, there is the Special General Election for United States Senate on October 16th, and a Special Fire Election in Tabernacle on October 12th.
“This has been, and continues to be, a very involved election year for residents,” said Tyler. “We are doing everything we can to ensure voters are aware of the Vote-By-Mail deadlines for each election, especially now that some of the ballots are in the mail.”
“We are urging residents to take special care with the Vote-By-Mail ballots since there will be multiple ballots out at the same time,” said Tyler. “Envelopes must match the ballots that they are returned in. If anyone has any questions or concerns, they should contact my office immediately at (609) 265–5229.”
Some Vote-By-Mail ballots have already been mailed, said Tyler. He noted that military and overseas voters for the November General Election are also now in the mail.
Voters still have ample time to apply for a Vote-By-Mail Ballot for all three elections. In order to have a ballot mailed to them, voters need to be sure their completed application is received in the County Clerk’s Office seven days prior to the election. After that, voters may apply in person or by authorized messenger in the Clerk’s office until 3 pm the day before the election. Ballots for the three elections are easily distinguished from each other as well.
Tabernacle Special Fire Election on October 12th
- Deadline to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is October 4th (post-dated)
- Deadline to apply in person for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is October 11th before 3 PM
- Envelopes will be stamped with “Special Fire”
United States Senate Special Election Ballots on October 16th
- Deadline to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is October 9th (post-dated)
- Deadline to apply in person for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is October 15th before 3 PM
- Envelopes will be stamped with “Special”
General Election on November 5th
- Deadline to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is October 29th (post-dated)
- Deadline to apply in person for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is November 4 before 3 PM
- Ballots will have no stamped designation on the envelope.
The outbound and return address labels in each Vote-By-Mail envelope set will indicate the name of the election. Voters are encouraged to open, vote and return each ballot separately as the ballots must be returned in the envelopes provided for each election. Ballots cannot be combined in a single envelope set.
Once a voter receives a Vote-By-Mail ballot, they will not be able to use a voting machine at their polling place. If the voter does go to their usual polling location, they will be required to cast their ballot on a paper Provisional Ballot.
Voters are reminded that they must have the assistor portion (section 11) of the Vote-By-Mail application filled out if they receive any help in completing the application.
Finally, a voter may select one of the options for future Vote-By-Mail ballots in section 10 of the application.
- Option A entitles the voter to receive a ballot for all elections in the same calendar year of their application. This option must be renewed every year by completing a new application.
- Option B entitles a voter to receive a ballot for all future General Elections. This option does not expire until the voter requests they no longer be sent.
The Vote-By-Mail application is available on online at www.co.burlington.nj.us/countyclerk. Once on the County Clerk’s website, click on “Election Services.”
Voters may also have an application mailed to them by calling the Clerk’s Office Elections Section at (609) 265–5229.
