MONMOUTH COUNTY – Major changes in voting have been announced for this year’s general election.
Mandated by Governor Phil Murphy, registered voters in the state of New Jersey are to vote primarily through mail-in ballots. With this being the first time in history that a general election for president will be conducted by mail, some voters are frustrated and confused as to how this all works.
County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon explained the major changes to this year’s November General Election, per State law. Monmouth County has about 450,000 registered voters, and this year 90 to 95 percent of voters are expected to vote by mail.
Ballots were scheduled to be mailed out to residents no later than October 5. Hanlon encouraged that as soon as you receive your ballot, to fill it out and submit it. Residents can return their ballot through the regular mail, the county’s drop boxes or dropping it off at the Board of Elections in Freehold.
Limited polling locations will be open with voting machines for disabled voters only who need accessible voting devices. Locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Anyone who wishes to vote at a polling location will be given a paper ballot. This ballot, known as a provisional ballot, will only be counted after every single mail-in-ballot has.
“If you feel strongly about going to polling places it’s best to bring your completed mail in ballot and drop it off,” County Clerk Christine Hanlon said.
If you’d like to drop of your mail-in-ballot at a secure drop box, below are the locations throughout Monmouth County which will be available:
Aberdeen: Aberdeen Municipal Building,1 Aberdeen Square, Aberdeen
Allentown: Allentown Borough Hall, 8 North Main Street, P.O. Box 487, Allentown
Asbury Park: Asbury Park City Hall, City Council Chambers (Bangs Avenue Entrance), 1 Municipal Plaza, Asbury Park.
Belmar: Borough of Belmar Municipal Building, 601 Main Street, Belmar.
Eatontown: Eatontown Borough Municipal Building (Rear Entrance), 47 Broad Street, Eatontown.
Freehold: Board of Elections Office, Special Services Complex Building (Side Entrance), 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold.
Hazlet: Hazlet Agency NJ Motor Vehicle Commission, 1374 Highway 36 Airport Plaza, Hazlet.
Howell: Howell Township Municipal Building (Rear Entrance), 4567 Route 9 North, Howell.
Long Branch: Long Branch City Hall, 344 Broadway, Long Branch.
Manalapan: Manalapan Township Municipal Building, 120 County Rd 522, Manalapan
Middletown: Middletown Municipal Building, 1 Kings Hwy, Middletown; Croydon Hall, 900 Leonardville Road, Middletown.
Neptune: Neptune Township Municipal Building, 25 Neptune Boulevard, Neptune.
Ocean Township: Ocean Township Town Hall, 399 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst.
Red Bank: Red Bank Borough Municipal Building, 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.
Rumson: Rumson Borough Hall (Front Parking Lot), 80 East River Road, Rumson.
Wall Township: Wall Township Municipal Building, 2700 Allaire Road, Wall.
