Oct. 20, 2024

ELECTION GUIDE 2024

Welcome to the 2024 Election Guide, your go-to resource for all things related to voting this election season! Inside, you’ll find important dates and deadlines, tips for registering to vote, and key information on early voting options. Whether you're a first-time voter or a seasoned pro, this guide will help ensure you’re prepared and informed when it’s time to cast your ballot. Let’s make your voting experience as smooth and easy as possible —because every vote counts! -- Ewing Municipal Clerk Kim Macellaro

Get ready for a smoother voting experience this year! In-person early voting opens for nine days before Election Day, so you can skip the long lines. Fewer crowds on Election Day mean poll workers can focus on assisting voters, fixing any registration issues, and addressing system glitches earlier. Cast your vote early and help make Election Day more efficient for everyone! Mercer County has also instituted a Voter Hotline at 609-278-2719 (also available thru an email option at MercerVotes@mercercounty.org).  Additional language options for vote by mail instructions are available:  these include English, Spanish, Gujarati, Polish, and Urdu.

Important Dates for the General Election

• Sept. 21 – Vote by Mail Ballots for the General Election begin mailing
• Oct. 15 – Last day to register to vote for the General Election
• Oct. 29 – Deadline to apply, by mail, for a Mail-In Ballot for the General Election
• Oct. 26 – Nov. 3 – In-Person Early Voting Period
• Nov. 4 by 3 p.m. – Deadline to apply for In-Person Mail-In Ballot at your County Clerk’s office
• Nov. 5 – Election Day – Polls are open from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Three ways to vote: By Mail, Early (in person), on Election Day Nov. 5 (in person)

By Mail

Mail-In Ballots will be mailed out to requesting applicants beginning Sept. 21, 2024. Request one here:  https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-vote-by-mail/vote-by-mail-english.pdf

Instructions for completing the Mail in Ballot

1. Look inside the envelope you receive in the mail for these items:

• The ballot
• An inner envelope with an attached certificate
• A mailing envelope

2. Completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections in blue or black ink.
3. Fill in and sign the certificate, keeping it attached to the inner envelope.
4. Place the ballot into the certificate envelope.
5. Then, place the certificate envelope into the mailing envelope.
6. Return your ballot. How you return it is up to you.
   Select one of the following three ways:

Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8 p.m. Nov. 5 and be received by the County Board of Elections on or before Nov. 11. Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of your county’s secure Ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. The County Board of Elections will be picking up these ballots. In Ewing Township there is a Ballot box in front of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Mercer County Office Park at 1440 Parkside Avenue and the TCNJ Administrative Services Building at 1872 Pennington Rd. in front of the campus side. (Full list of Mercer County Secure Ballot Box locations)  Ballot boxes will open for you to deposit your ballots starting Monday, September 23, 2024. Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 at 930 Spruce Street, Lawrence Township, NJ. Note: If you have received a vote by mail ballot but choose to vote at the polls instead, please note that you will have to vote provisionally.

Early Voting (in person)

Saturday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 3

Open Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All registered voters may now cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during a nine-day period prior to Election Day. You can choose to vote when it's most convenient for your schedule.

No matter where you live in Mercer County, you can vote your specific ballot at any of our county's designated in-person early voting locations.

No matter where you live in your county, you can vote your specific ballot at any of our county's designated in-person early voting locations.

There are seven Early Voting sites located throughout Mercer County.  The locations are as follows:

Early Voting Process

Step 1 – Check in with election day staff via the ePoll book (bring your sample ballot with you and give to your board worker).

Step 2 – Receive a voting authority slip and hand it to the board worker, who will then pull up your ballot on the ballot marking machine.

Step 3 – After you have selected your choices to vote, you will review your ballot to ensure accuracy and then print your ballot.  Once exiting the ballot marking machine, you will then grab a privacy sleeve and put your ballot inside the sleeve. 

Step 4 - Take your ballot to the tabulator next to the ballot marking machine and insert your ballot in any orientation into the machine.  The scanner will read the ballot and deposit it into a secure internal compartment within the device.  Please make sure you hear a click, which means that your vote was counted and “ballot successfully cast” appears on the screen. You may now leave the polling place

At the Polls on Election Day

Polls are open on Election Day, November 5, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.  PLEASE NOTE YOUR POLLING PLACE ON YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT. There is also a list of Ewing designated polling places available on the Municipal Clerk’s Elections and Voting page.   *Note* Your Vote by Mail ballot CANNOT be returned to your In-Person Early Voting Poll Location or your Election Day Poll Location. Voting has now moved electronic, and Mercer County has moved to a marked paper balloting system with a verifiable paper trail.  Election Day Process Step 1 – Check in with election day staff via the ePoll book (bring your sample ballot with you and give to your board worker). Step 2 – Receive a voting authority slip and hand it to the board worker, who will then pull up your ballot on the ballot marking machine. Step 3 – After you have selected your choices to vote, you will review your ballot to ensure accuracy and then print your ballot.  Once exiting the ballot marking machine, you will then grab a privacy sleeve and put your ballot inside the sleeve.  Step 4 - Take your ballot to the tabulator next to the ballot marking machine and insert your ballot in any orientation into the machine.  The scanner will read the ballot and deposit it into a secure internal compartment within the device.  Please make sure you hear a click, which means that your vote was counted and “ballot successfully cast” appears on the screen.  You may now leave the polling place.

Track Your Ballot

Voters can now track their vote by mail ballot through the Track My Ballot Portal.  First-time users need to create an account and will need either a Driver’s License Number, Last 4 digits of SSN, or Voter ID Number to validate voter registration status. (If you don’t know your Voter ID number, you can obtain it by going to "Am I Registered?" or contact your Superintendent of Elections.  Your Voter ID number will also be on the ballot that you receive in the mail, so you can follow its progress to ensure that it was received.

Download the Mobile App Download the NJ Elections Mobile App on  Apple or Google Play

Questions?

Contact the County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello
By Mail: 209 S. Broad St., Election Dept. PO Box 8068, Trenton, NJ 08650
By Phone: 609-989-6495
By Email: vote@mercercounty.org

Contact the Superintendent of Elections Walker Worthy
By Mail: 640 S. Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08650-0068 
By Phone: 609-989-6750 
By Email: superintendentofelections@mercercounty.org

Contact Municipal Clerk Kim Macellaro
By Mail: 2 Jake Garzio Drive., Ewing, NJ 08628
By Phone: 609-538-7609
By Email: kmacellaro@ewingnj.org