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2007-2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION INFORMATION
Important Dates for Voters:
December 17, 2007:
Deadline for filing to change political party affiliation. Click
here
for form (see procedure in Question 7 below).
January 15, 2008:
Deadline to register to vote. Click
here
for registration form.
January 29, 2008:
Deadline to apply by mail for an absentee ballot. Click
here
for absentee ballot request form.
January 30, 2008:
Sample ballots must be mailed by County Clerks to
registered voters.
February 2, 2008:
Deadline for submission by fax of federal post card
application by military and overseas voters.
February 4, 2008:
3:00 p.m. deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in
person at the County Clerk's office.
*** FEBRUARY 5, 2008: PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION DAY ***
Other Important Primary Election Dates:
December 10, 2007:
Deadline for nomination petitions for delegates for the
national conventions and "Choice for President".
December 16, 2007 - January 14, 2008:
County Boards of Election will publish notice of the
upcoming Presidential Primary Election, and include
voter registration information.
December 19, 2007:
Deadline to fill vacancy of party candidates.
Attorney General certifies nominees for the Presidential
Primary.
January 14, 2008:
Deadline for certification of polling places by the
county boards of election.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can vote in a primary election?
Registered voters may only vote in a primary for one party's candidates
and they must have declared an affiliation with that party.
If you declared a party affiliation when you registered, you may vote in
that party's primary. If you did not declare a party
affiliation when you registered, you may do so at the polls the first
time you vote in a primary election. After that, you will
retain this party affiliation unless you file a form to change your party
declaration.
- What candidates will be on the ballot on February 5th?
Voters will choose a slate of delegates who will vote at either the
Republican or Democratic state convention. The delegates
will be committed to one of the candidates running for either the
Democratic or Republican nomination for President.
- Will there be any state races on the ballot on February 5th?
No. The February 5th primary is only for the Presidential
race. The state primary will be held on June 3, 2008.
- What parties qualify to run candidates in a primary election?
Currently in New Jersey, only the Democratic and Republican parties
qualify for primary elections.
- Do you have to declare a political party choice when you register
to vote in New Jersey?
No. You may declare a party affiliation when you register
but you are not required to do so.
- What if I did not declare a party when I registered to vote?
If you did not declare a party when you registered to vote (or checked
the box that said "unaffiliated"), you may declare a party the first time
you vote in a primary election. Thus, if you did not declare
a party when you registered, and have not voted in a primary election
before, you may declare a party at the polls on February 5th and vote
in that party's primary.
- What if I want to change my party affiliation?
To change your party affiliation, you must declare in writing your new choice
with your county clerk, commissioner of registration or municipal clerk.
This party affiliation must be filed at least 50 days before the
primary election. In the case of the Presidential Primary
Election in 2008, the deadline for filing the change of party affiliation is
December 17, 2007.
Click
here
for the Party Affiliation Declaration form. You may also use the
current voter registration form by checking off Political Party
Affiliation or Non-Affiliation Change in Box 1 and name the party
of your choice in Box 10. Make sure you include your name and
address and sign the form. Both forms are available from your
county clerk, commissioner of registration or municipal clerk.
- What if you registered as a member of an alternative political
party or put the word "independent" in the party designation line when
you registered to vote?
You will not be able to vote in the presidential primary unless you change
your party affiliation by the December 17, 2007 deadline. Only the
Democratic and Republican parties meet New Jersey's "political party"
designation. Those are the only two parties that select their candidates
through a primary election process. Thus, if you registered as a member
of an alternative party or put the word "independent" in the party designation
line, you must change your party affiliation if you wish to vote in either
the Republican or Democratic primary election on February 5th.
- Why is the Presidential Primary being held in February? Isn't it
usually held in June along with the state primary?
The New Jersey legislature voted in 2007 to move the Presidential Primary
from June to February.
- When will the general election for President be held?
The general election for President will be held on November 4, 2008.
- Who can vote in the General Election?
All registered voters are eligible to vote in the General Election and
voters may vote for candidates of any party in the General Election.
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