NEW JERSEY ELECTION ENFORCEMENT
COALITION
NEW JERSEY VOTERS' BILL OF
RIGHTS
LONG VERSION | SHORT VERSION
1. On election day, each polling place opens at 6:00 a.m. and
closes at 8:00 p.m. If you are in line at your polling place - or
you are within the polling place (or room) - when the polls close
at 8:00 p.m., YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE in the election.
NJ Stat. Secs. 19:15-2, 19:15-9. For school
elections, polling hours may differ.
2. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE WITHOUT PRESENTING ANY FORM OF
IDENTIFICATION TO ELECTION OFFICIALS. Before allowing you to vote,
an election official will ask for your name and address and will
verify your identity by having you sign your name and comparing
your current signature with the signature that is on file (from
when you registered to vote or appeared to vote at another time).
If you could not write when you registered to vote, or you have
lost your ability to write since you registered to vote (for
example, because of losing your vision or because a disease or
accident prevents you from signing your name), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO VOTE WITHOUT SIGNING YOUR NAME after an election official reads
an identification statement to you and fills out the statement on
your behalf. NJ Stat. Sec.
19:31A-8
3. If you cannot read or write, or you are blind or otherwise
physically disabled, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ASSISTED WITH
VOTING. You can choose to have an election official - or any other
person - help you. Sec. 19:31A-8,
19:50-3
4. If election officials have no record of your registration
and you have not moved since the last election, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO VOTE BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT after filling out a written
affirmation verifying your address. Secs.
19:53C-3(9)(g), 19:31-11(b)
5. If you have not moved since your registered to vote, but
official records incorrectly indicate that you have, YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO VOTE after filling out a written affirmation verifying
your address. Sec.
19:53C-3(9)(f)
6. If you have moved from one residence to another residence
within the same county since you registered to vote, YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO VOTE AT THE POLLING PLACE FOR YOUR NEW RESIDENCE after
filling out a written affirmation verifying your new address.
Secs. 19:53C-3(9)(a), Sec. 19:53C-3(9)(c), Sec.
19:31-11(b)
7. If you have been convicted of a felony, but have completed
your sentence, including any period of probation or parole, and
have registered to vote since that time, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO
VOTE. Sec. 19:4-1; "Restoring Your Right to
Vote in New Jersey," U.S. Dept. of Justice (Dec.
2000)
8. If you have changed your name since you registered to vote,
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNDER YOUR ORIGINAL NAME after filling
out a written affirmation verifying your old and new names.
Sec. 19:31-13
9. If you make a mistake or "spoil" your paper ballot while
voting, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT BALLOT from
election officials. Sec.
19:15-29
10. When you are within 100 feet of a polling place entrance
(or you are inside the polling place or room), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO WAIT TO VOTE (OR TO VOTE) without anyone electioneering or
trying to influence your vote in any other way.
Sec. 19:34-6, 19:34-15
11. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to bring your dependent children into
the voting booth with you. Sec.
19:15-8a
12. If you have a complaint about the way that an election is
being run, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO FILE A WRITTEN COMPLAINT. The
complaint can be filed anonymously, if you want. If 10% or more of
the registered voters in your county speak Spanish, the complaint
form must be printed in English and Spanish.
Sec. 19:32-4.1
13. If an election official challenges your eligibility or
qualifications to vote and you are prevented from voting, YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT TO A HEARING ON ELECTION DAY BEFORE A SUPERIOR COURT
JUDGE. To request a hearing, go to your county courthouse and
speak with the court clerk. If the judge decides that you should
be allowed to vote, s/he will give you written authorization to
vote and you will be allowed to vote. Secs.
19:15-18, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3; Secs. 19:15-19 -
19:15-24
14. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIS BILL OF RIGHTS INTO THE
VOTING BOOTH WITH YOU.
