TOMS RIVER — Ocean County voters will have several options to cast ballots in the upcoming June 2 Primary Election, including early voting, vote-by-mail and traditional in-person voting on Election Day.
Early voting will run from May 26 through May 31 at 10 locations across the county. Polls for early voting will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 26 through May 30, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 31.
Election Day polling places will be open June 2 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ocean County Clerk John P. Kelly urged residents to review the sample ballots mailed to more than 400,000 registered voters.
“Voters should carefully review their sample ballots, as they contain important information including polling locations, early voting sites, and Vote by Mail drop box locations,” Kelly said. “Poll workers will also be available to assist voters.”
Kelly said registered voters may use any early voting site in Ocean County regardless of where they live.
“For instance, if you live in Manahawkin but work in Toms River, you can cast your vote at the main branch of the Ocean County Library during early voting,” he said.
He added that voting machines are programmed to provide the correct ballot based on a voter’s hometown. However, on Election Day, voters must report to the polling place assigned on their sample ballot.
Deputy County Clerk John Catalano reminded residents that the deadline to apply in person for a vote-by-mail ballot is 3 p.m. on June 1 at the Ocean County Clerk’s Office, 118 Washington St., Toms River.
According to Catalano, as of May 14, the county had issued 45,849 vote-by-mail ballots for the primary election. That total includes 23,795 Democratic ballots and 22,054 Republican ballots. So far, 11,335 completed ballots have already been returned to the Ocean County Board of Elections.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked or returned by 8 p.m. June 2 to count. Ballots may be mailed, placed in official drop boxes, or hand-delivered to the Ocean County Board of Elections at 129 Hooper Ave., Toms River.
Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione said county officials remain focused on maintaining secure and accessible elections.
“The Ocean County Clerk’s Office and the Ocean County Board of Elections work diligently to ensure elections in Ocean County are secure, convenient, and run smoothly for all residents,” Bacchione said. “Voting is a fundamental right, and protecting the integrity of every vote cast remains a top priority.”
The June 2 Primary Election includes contests for United States Senate, Congress, Ocean County commissioner seats, municipal offices and county committee positions.
The county’s 10 early voting locations are:
• Berkeley Township Branch Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville
• Brick Township Branch Library, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick
• Jackson Township Branch Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson
• Lacey Township Community Center Room C, 15 East Lacey Road, Lacey
• Lakewood Municipal Building Courtroom, 231 Third St., Lakewood
• Upper Shores Branch Library, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette
• Little Egg Harbor Branch Library, 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor
• Ocean County Southern Service Center, 179 South Main St., Manahawkin
• Manchester Township Branch Library, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester
• Ocean County Library Main Branch, 101 Washington St., Toms River
More election information is available at clerk.co.ocean.nj.us.
