Voter Guide/FAQ 

Who can register to vote in Mercer County?

You are eligible to register if:

1. You are a citizen of the United States.
2. You are Mercer County resident 30 days before the election.
3. At least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you have reached the age of 18.
4. A person not serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

How do I register to vote in Mercer County?

You may register to vote by completing a registration application form at the Mercer County Superintendent of Elections office or by mail. Forms are also available at any Municipal Clerks office, or other public agency, or at the Motor Vehicle Commission. You may also register online through the Online Voter Registration at Voter Registration | NJ DOS - Division of Elections . For more information, please call the Superintendent of Elections office at 609-989-6750 between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM.

 

When can I register to vote?

Anytime, however, in order to vote in any election, your registration must be received 21 days prior to the election on which you wish to vote.

How long is my registration valid?

Your registration is valid indefinitely, if you have not moved from Mercer County or have not been disenfranchised. If you move from Mercer County, you must register to vote in your new county.

Must I declare a Party Affiliation when I register?

1. No, choosing a political party is optional, unless you wish to vote in either party’s primary election. Only party members may vote in the primary election. If you are an unaffiliated voter, voting in your first primary election, you must declare a party affiliation at the polls on primary election day. You will remain a member of that political party until you notify the Superintendent of Elections office in writing, otherwise voters are now permitted to return to unaffiliated status.
2. If you wish to change your affiliation prior to the primary election, you must do so, with a party change form found on the New Jersey Division of Elections website at NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form , no later than 55 days preceding the primary election. Once filled out, mail the party change form to 640 South Broad St., PO Box 8068, Trenton, NJ 08650.

 

If I move, how do I change my address?

1. Moving within Mercer County: If you move within Mercer County, you must file a written change of address with this office.
   • If you move from one election district to another in the same town or move from one town to another in Mercer County, before election day, and have not notified the Superintendent’s Office in writing of this change before the deadline date, you must go to your new polling location, in your new town or district and vote on a provisional ballot. You can call your municipal clerk or the Superintendent of Elections at 609-989-6750 to locate your new polling place.
2. Moving from/to another County: If you have moved to another county more than 21 days before an election, you must re-register to vote in your new county. If you have not registered, you cannot vote.
   • If you have moved to another county or state less than 30 days before an election, you may vote in your previous polling location for that election only. If you have not met the registration deadline, you have the right to appeal before a Superior Court Judge on the day of election, or any early voting day. Contact the Superintendent of Elections Office for more information.

 

What if I marry or change my name?

1. If you legally change your name, you must complete a new voter registration form and mark the box Name Change.
2. If you have not changed your name with the Superintendent’s office prior to the deadline, you can still vote, by filling out a provisional ballot, putting your previous and current name and signing with your new name.

I would prefer to register to vote using my business address. Can I do that?

No, the law requires you to register to vote using the address of your domicile. Domicile is defined as where your habitation is fixed (where you physically reside).

 

My child just moved onto their college campus and wants to vote there. Can they do that?

Yes. They should fill out a voter registration form for their new residence and notify this office of the change. If they wish, they may remain registered at his permanent residence, such as your home, and request a mail-in ballot be sent to them. The decision where to register and vote is up to them, nut they can only register and vote in one place.

 

I own two homes, where do I register from?

You must register from the place you actually reside. The words “actually resides”, mean the voter is entitled to vote only from an address where they physically live; the place you intend to return to whenever you are gone from it.

I applied for a Mail- In Ballot but never received it, what do I do?

1. Prior to the elections, you can contact the Elections Division of the County Clerk at 609-989-6464 for information regarding its status.
2. On the day of the election, you can go to your polling place and if your name in marked “Mail-In Ballot,” you must vote on a provisional ballot. If your name is not marked, you may vote in the machine.

What do I do if I receive a sample ballot at my home, for someone who no long lives here?

These ballots should be returned to the Superintendent of Elections Office with a brief not such as “return to sender” or “no longer lives at this address”. Such returned ballots not only include previous home owners, but family members who no longer reside at that address as well.

A returned sample ballot alerts this office that the person may no longer live at that address, prompting an investigation as to where that voter resides.

My name was tagged/missing from the poll book. What do I do?

1. If your name was tagged with “Affirmation of Residence,” it means your sample ballot was returned to our office as undeliverable. If you still reside at the address we have on file, you will need to complete an Affirmation of Residence Form at your polling location. This form can be found in the binder provided at the polling location. Once completed, and if the address matches our records, you will be allowed to vote using the machine. If your current address is different from the one we have on file, you are still entitled to vote, but only by provisional ballot.
2. If your name was missing, you have the right to vote on a provisional ballot only.

Where do I vote?

Voting locations are listed on your Sample Ballot or by using the Polling Place Search Tool on the New Jersey Division of Elections website at NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Day Polling Locations