NJ Attorney General Hoffman Reminds Public of Voting Rights

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 8:42pm

TRENTON, NJ -  Approximately 170 Deputy Attorneys General will be assigned throughout the state, Tuesday, in order to ensure a fair and smooth-running election, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced Monday. The deputies will be stationed in each of the state’s 21 counties to assist county election officials in resolving any voting-related legal issues.


The deputies are qualified to handle any court applications and will provide timely legal advice to election supervisors. They will be on duty from the time the polls open until they close.

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“By assigning Deputy Attorneys General in every county,
we are helping to ensure the integrity of the voting process,
as well as the prompt and fair resolution of any
voting-related legal issues that may arise,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman.
“The right to vote is one of the foundations of our democracy,
and we are committed to preserving and protecting that right.” 

Hoffman reminded voters that it is a criminal offense for anyone to attempt to solicit votes from voters as they enter or exit a polling location. He noted that a “protective zone” extends 100 feet from the outside entrance of any polling site; anyone suspecting a candidate is interfering with their voting rights within this zone are asked to contact law enforcement officers. 

Voter Registration
All United States citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in elections. New Jersey law requires that a voter be registered to place a vote 21 days prior to the upcoming election day.

• NJ voter registration applications may be downloaded online here
• NJ voters may check to see if they are registered by submitting their information online here 
  

Polling Locations
New Jersey voters are assigned polling locations to place their votes based on their home address 30 days prior to an election. All registered voters are supposed to receive a sample ballot in the mail which lists the names of the candidates in the upcoming election and which also shows the voter's polling location. 

• A NJ voter may be able to find their polling location by submitting their information online here
• If a voter needs further assistance, they can contact their County Board of Election to determine their correct polling booth address.  NJ county boards of election contact information is found online here
  
• NJ voters may also find out their polling location by texting the word VOTE to 69520 
  
  

Voting Hours
All New Jersey election polls are always open from 6am to 8am. 

Voter Identification
Some polling places may require voters to show identification; voters should be ready to produce one of these three items:

• Driver's license
  
• US passport
  
• State issued identification

If a voter does not have one of those items, they may bring with them:

• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck stub
• Government check
  
  

Provisional Ballots
A voter may run into problems at the voting booth, which requires them to ask for a Provisional Ballot. The ballot will be counted after voting officials affirm its eligibility. If anyone is denied the right to vote , they should request a Provisional Ballot especially if:

• their name does not appear on voting lists
  
• they have been declared ineligible to vote by a candidate's challenger
  
• they do not have proper voter identification with them

Voting Assistance
If a voter has difficulty reading the ballots or filling out their vote, they have the right to bring someone along with them to the polls who will offer them assistance or they may also ask the poll worker for assistance. 

Voting Mistakes
If a voter makes an error when voting, they have the right to receive a new ballot. 

Absentee Ballots
If a voter requested an absentee ballot be sent to their home, which they did not mail back, they may fill it out and turn it in at any polling place in their county. 

Long Lines
Once a voter is in line to vote at their polling place, even if the polls close, the voter has the right to stay in line and eventually cast their vote. 

Privacy
All voters have the right to cast their vote in privacy, without any intimidation from anyone. 

Reporting Voting Issues and Election Fraud
Anyone who would like to report any voting-related problem should contact the state’s hotline at 1-877-NJVOTER.   

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote
except the American people themselves,
and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

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