OCEAN COUNTY – In the days leading up to Election Day, the Ocean County Clerk’s Office and the Ocean County Board of Elections will be offering extended office hours for those who may not be able to make it to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5
“It’s important every registered voter have the opportunity to cast a ballot during the general election,” said Scott M. Colabella, Ocean County Clerk. “We anticipate that by extending hours at our different sites it will allow some people to vote who might not have been able.”
On Nov. 2 and 3, registered voters will be able to apply, obtain and cast their ballot in person at the Ocean County Board of Elections located at 129 Hooper Ave., Lower Floor (Basement Level), Toms River. Free parking is available in the Ocean County Parking Garage adjacent to the Board of Elections office. County Clerk/Election Board staff will be available to assist voters from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.
“By providing weekend hours we can reach those voters who may have to work on Election Day and may not be in the area,” Colabella said. “We have offered this service for several years now and it has worked out well.”
If Toms River is a bit too far for you, voters in the Southern Ocean County area can visit the Ocean County Southern Service Center located at 179 South Main St., Manahawkin from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Nov. 1. County Clerk/Election Board staff will be available to assist voters with in-person ballots.
In addition, you can visit the Ocean County Clerk’s Office at the Ocean County Courthouse, 118 Washington St., Toms River, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Nov. 1, when County Clerk and Election Board staff will be available to assist voters.
On Monday, Nov. 4, the Washington Street office will be open for in-person ballots from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“The Ocean County Clerk and Election Board are working in partnership to give everyone the opportunity to vote,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gary Quinn, who serves as liaison to the County Clerk’s Office. “From weekend hours, use of the Ocean County Southern Service Center and more availability at the Courthouse, every effort is being made to make voting accessible and convenient for those citizens who can’t get to the polls on Election Day.”
The deadline for all Vote by Mail Ballots is Tuesday, Oct. 29. After that date, voters must apply in person to obtain a ballot. Voters do not need a reason to obtain a Vote by Mail Ballot. The deadline for obtaining a ballot in person is 3 p.m., Monday, Nov. 4. After 3 p.m. on Nov. 4, voters must obtain a court order from a Superior Court judge allowing them to apply for a ballot.
[adrotate banner="278"]As of Oct. 24, the County Clerk’s Office issued 39,311 Vote by Mail Ballots, up nearly 25,000 from 2015. Of that figure, 16,855 have been issued to registered Republicans; 11,410 have been issued to registered Democrats and 11,046 to unaffiliated voters.
“A portion of the increase in Vote by Mail ballots can be attributed to the new election laws instituted in 2018 and this year, which mandates that a vote by mail ballot be issued to all those that were issued them in the November 2016 general election and all elections in 2017 and 2018,” Colabella said. “Unless a voter notified our office in writing stating they do not want a vote by mail ballot for this election, they received one as part of the new state initiatives.
“Voters who opted not to vote the Vote by Mail ballot can go to the polls and vote a provisional ballot on Election Day.”
There are over 400,000 registered voters in Ocean County of which 142,066 are Republicans; 87,840 registered as Democrats and 177,377 are unaffiliated voters.
You can view a sample ballot and polling location addresses for all 33 municipalities at oceancountyclerk.com or facebook.com/oceancountyclerk.
For more information on Voting in Person, registered voters may contact the County Clerk’s Office at 732-929-2018 or 732-929-2153.
