ELECTIONS & VOTING

The County Clerk's office constitutes one third of the election process in Bergen County along with the Superintendent of Elections and the Board of Elections. The County Clerk's Election Division handles the processing and mailing of all Vote By Mail Applications and Mail-In Ballots for any election held in Bergen County. Additionally, for the "big three" elections (April School, June Primary and November General) and for many other Special Elections held throughout the year, this office produces the Mail-In Ballots, Sample Ballots, Provisional Ballots, Emergency Ballots, and the Machine Ballots you view in all voting machines. The County Clerk's office also handles the filing of Campaign Expenditure Reports, which are forwarded to Trenton, and the filing of county level petitions for nominations of candidates, as well as many independent municipal candidates for local elections.

Important: As of July 1, 2011 the State changed the following filing deadlines, since the publishing of the Calendar.

Old date August 26th

New date August 19th by 10:00am - Deadline for Submission of County and Municipal Public questions on the ballot for the General Election at the County Clerk’s Election Division office. (81 days before election).

Old date September 9th

New date September 2nd  by 10:00am - Deadline for Submission of General Election Public Questions Proposed by Electorate and Adopted by Local & County Government to be filed with the County Clerk

(67 days before election).

Old date September 19th

New date September 13th the last day a vacancy can occur for Primary Election Nominees for the General Election. (56 days before election).

Old date September 21st

New date September 15thDeadline for filling the vacancy for Primary Nominee for General Election

(54 days before election).

 

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Bergen County Board of Elections
One Bergen County Plaza
Room 310
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 336-6225
website: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/paboe

CDS OR CASSETTE TAPES FOR THE BLIND

CDs or cassette tapes are available in English and Spanish for every election. To order please call the County Clerk's Election Division at (201) 336-7020.

ELECTION RESULTS

To see the results of recent elections, click on the links to view or download a PDF report.

2011 General

2011 Primary

2011 School Election

2010 GENERAL Election
2010 Primary
2010 School Election
2009 General Election
2009 Primary
2009 School Election

ELECTION SCHEDULE

The following is a schedule for when elections are held in Bergen County organized by the type of election.

General Elections

Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November to elect various National, State, County and Municipal officials. Polls are open from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm.

Primary Elections

Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. The Primary Election is held to nominate party Candidates for the General Election. Polls are open from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm.

Non-Partisan Elections

Held on the 2nd Tuesday in May.

School Board Elections

Held annually on the third Tuesday in April. They are non-partisan elections to elect members to the Board of Education and to approve the proposed school budgets. You must be a registered voter in order to participate in school board elections. Polling hours may vary in each school district, but all polls are required to be open between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Polling times are printed on your sample ballot. You may also check the times with your local school board.

Special School Elections

May be held on the 4th Tuesday in January, the 2nd Tuesday in March, the last Tuesday in September and the 2nd Tuesday in December.

PETITIONS

For information on candidate petitions for Federal or Statewide offices, please contact:

New Jersey Division of Elections
PO Box 304
Trenton, NJ 08625-0304

Office location:
225 West State Street, 5th Floor
Trenton, NJ

Tel: (609) 292-3760
Fax: (609) 777-1280
 http://nj.gov/state/elections/index.html

 

Petitions and Ballot Position forms for Countywide and Local offices can be obtained at the County Clerk's office Election Division, at your local Municipal Clerk's office, or by clicking on the link below. Please call us for more information and to determine how many signatures will be required on your petition. (201) 336-7020.

not available at this time click here: Petition Nominating Candidate Public Office County Level

SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS

You may register to vote by contacting the Superintendent of Elections office or your local Municipal Clerk's office. For more information, please contact:

Superintendent of Elections
One Bergen County Plaza
Room 380
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 336-6100
website: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/elections/default.html

VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATION / MAIL-IN BALLOT

The County Clerk's office handles Mail-In Ballots (formerly known as Absentee Ballots) for Bergen County residents during all local, state and national elections.

The Vote By Mail Process involves two separate steps:

  1. Vote By Mail Application - First you must complete and submit a Vote By Mail Application.
  2. Mail-in Ballot - You will then receive a Mail-in Ballot packet which you must complete and submit. This ballot represents your vote in the election.

Please click the Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more.

Questions

How do I apply to Vote By Mail?

How do I fill out the Application?

I am a US citizen living overseas. How can I still vote?

I have received a letter from the County Clerk's office saying my Application has been rejected. What do I do?

If I am a candidate, may I still serve as an Assister or Authorized Messenger?

If I cannot sign my name due to illness or injury, how do I authorize my Application?

If I help someone fill out an Application, what should I do?

If I serve in the Military, what are my voting options?

What is an Authorized Messenger?

When are elections held in Bergen County?

Who can Vote By Mail in Bergen County?

Answers

  • Q. How do I apply to Vote By Mail?
  • A. You must submit an application to the County Clerk's office Election Division. These applications are available at the County Clerk's Election Division and also at your local municipal clerk's office. You may also download and print an application using the link below.
    click here: Vote By Mail Application

    Applications must be received in the County Clerk's office (not postmarked) by close of business no later than seven days prior to Election Day. Applications may also be submitted at any time prior to this deadline for any Election in the calendar year. Your ballot will be sent to the address provided on your application.

    You, or an Authorized Messenger acting on your behalf, may also apply for a Mail-In Ballot in person at the County Clerk's office at any time up until 3:00 pm on the day before an election. If a circumstance should arise after the 3:00 pm deadline, and you still wish to vote, you or your Authorized Messenger must come to the County Clerk's office before close of business. Arrangements will be made to have you to appear before a Judge, who will issue a Court Order for the County Clerk to issue you a ballot for that election.
  • Q. How do I fill out the Application?
  • A. The Vote By Mail Application includes several sections that require information such as your name, address, date of birth, phone number, etc. In addition to this information you can choose one (1) of the following options.

    • For an Upcoming Election - By filing out Sections 1 through 9 and checking off the box in Section 1 for the upcoming election you wish to vote in, you will receive a Mail-In Ballot for just that particular election.
    • For the Calendar Year - By checking off Box "A" in Section 10 and filling out Sections 2 through 9, you will receive a ballot for every election to be held during that calendar year. From then on, in January of each year you will receive a new application from the County Clerk's office. You must fill out and return it to the County Clerk's office. You will then receive Mail-In Ballots automatically for all elections during the year, until you request otherwise in writing. Note that this option must be renewed each January.
    • For all future November General Elections - By checking off Box "B" in Section 10 and filling out Sections 2 through 9, you will receive a Mail-In Ballot for all future November General Elections. You will continue to receive Mail-In Ballots for each November General Election until you request otherwise in writing.

    Click the link for detailed instructions on How to fill out the Vote By Mail Application.
    Vote By Mail Application Instructions
  • Mail-In Ballot Video Mail-In Ballot Video
    Please note: Once your Application has been approved by the County Clerk's Office, and the ballot has been mailed out to you, you will not be permitted to vote at your polling location for that election.
  • Q. I am a US citizen living overseas. How can I still vote?
  • A. If you are a U.S. citizen living overseas either temporarily or indefinitely, you can still vote. You will need to fill out and send us a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) which you can obtain from the website: www.fvap.gov or by clicking on the link below. In Section 1 of this form, you must indicate if you are residing outside of the U.S. temporarily or indefinitely. This application must be renewed every year, in January.
    click here: Federal Post Card Application
  • Q. I have received a letter from the County Clerk's office saying my Application has been rejected. What do I do?
  • A. Call the County Clerk's Election Division immediately. There are many reasons why an application can be rejected. Usually, this happens because the signature on the application does not match the signature on file in voter registration, or because there is some other discrepancy with your registration. These problems are usually resolved easily, but we can only help if you call the office at (201) 336-7020.
  • Q. If I am a candidate, may I still serve as an Assister or Authorized Messenger?
  • A. NO. Candidates in an election for which a voter is requesting a Mail-in Ballot cannot be an Assistor or Authorized Messenger.
  • Q. If I cannot sign my name due to illness or injury, how do I authorize my Application?
  • A. If you are unable to sign your name the way it appears in the Voter Registry, you may indicate your mark, such as an X, in Section 8 of the Application. Place this mark on the line provided for your signature. Your name must be printed next to the mark. Any person assisting you with the Application must fill in the box and sign his or her name as an Assistor.
  • Q. If I help someone fill out an Application, what should I do?
  • A. In Section 11, you must provide your name, address and signature, thereby identifying yourself as an Assistor.
  • Q. If I serve in the Military, what are my voting options?
  • A. You may submit a Military Vote By Mail Application for any election if you are a registered voter in Bergen County and are any of the following:
    • An active member of the armed forces
    • A spouse or dependent of a member of the armed forces
    • A patient in a veteran's hospital
    • A civilian attached to or in service with the armed forces out of state, or a spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying that person
    • You can also obtain a Federal and/or Military Vote By Mail Application from the Bergen County Clerk's office, your local municipal clerk's office, from the proper military personnel or from the website: www.fvap.gov. The Application is only valid for one (1) year and must be renewed every year.

    You will receive a Mail-In Ballot for each election held in your municipality during that year.
  • Q. What is an Authorized Messenger?
  • A. Any registered voter may apply to Vote By Mail using an Authorized Messenger. The messenger must be a member of the voter's family or a registered voter of Bergen County. The voter must provide the authorized messenger's name and address in Section 12 of the Application, and must sign the Application on the line provided. The authorized messenger must show Photo ID and sign the Application in the presence of a County Clerk Election Official and deliver the Mail-In Ballot directly to the voter. An authorized messenger will be permitted to serve as a messenger for not more than ten (10) qualified voters per election.
  • Q. When are elections held in Bergen County?
  • A. See the "Elections Schedule" section for further information.
  • Q. Who can Vote By Mail in Bergen County?
  • A. Any registered voter with a primary residence in Bergen County may use a Mail-In Ballot.

VOTER REGISTRATION

Information on how to register to vote and other aspects of the election process is available from a variety of State and County sources. You may register to vote by contacting the Superintendent of Elections office or your local Municipal Clerk's office.

You can also view a NJ Voter Registration Form by clicking on the link.
click here: http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voter-registration-application.html

VOTER REGISTRATION (DRU) / MAIL-IN BALLOT LISTS

The Office of the County Clerk keeps a number official reports and lists associated with voting and elections. Copies are available to the general public for the fees listed below.

To obtain a copy of a report you must submit a written request to the County Clerk's office. To pay for copies, you may keep funds on deposit with the County Clerk Election Division and have the cost automatically deducted from your balance. If you have such funds on deposit, your requests can also be faxed to your location at a cost of $0.50 per page.

Campaign Expenditure Reports   $0.25 per page
Lists of Registered Voters   $0.25 per district
Mail-In Ballot Lists   $0.25 per page

VOTING LOCATIONS

To find a polling place, or to apply to be a poll worker, please contact:

Bergen County Board of Elections
One Bergen County Plaza
Room 310
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 336-6225
website: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/paboe


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