Who can vote in New Jersey and how does one register to vote here in Cape May County?

 

You must be a U.S. citizen, at least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you reach the age of 18, and a resident of Cape May County for 30 days prior to the election. You lose the right to vote while incarcerated if you are convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony in New Jersey. If you are on parole, probation, or have fully completed your sentence, you may register to vote and cast a ballot. You can vote while awaiting trial for any charge, even if incarcerated.

Voter Registration Applications are available from the Cape May County (CMC) Board of Elections and online.

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This form will allow you to register, declare a party affiliation if desired, and request Vote-By-Mail, if you wish. The completed form must be returned to the CMC Board of Elections. The registration deadline is 21 days prior to the next election. Additional information may be found at www.elections.nj.gov.

As a committee member, one of your primary functions is to look for new people to register as Democratic voters. This builds the party and works to ensure success in future campaigns. Make sure friends, family and co-workers are registered to vote, and are registered Democrats. Families that have just moved into your ward or district, new citizens and families with children just turning eighteen are all good sources for new registrations as Democratic voters. Don’t be hesitant about approaching folks.

In-Person Registration can be done at the CMC Board of Elections office on or before the 29th day preceding an election. Registration by Mail is convenient: but the postmark must be on or before the 29th day preceding the election. The applicant must provide identification when voting for the first time, either at the polling place or if using the Vote-By-Mail option.

Additionally, if a voter moves from one county to another, they must re-register in the new county. They are only eligible to vote there. A voter who moves within Cape May County may only vote from their new address using a provisional ballot. They are prohibited from voting from their previous address. College students have the option to remain registered to vote from their home address, or they may register to vote from the address where they reside while attending school. Military personnel living on federal bases (for example, US Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May) are allowed to register and vote in state and local elections from those addresses.

 

A person may have more than one home but is limited to only one domicile, a permanent home. That is where they vote from. If a voter changes his or her name due to marriage, divorce or judgment of the court, that voter must file a change of name notice with the county on a “Voter Registration Application--Name Change Block, top of form. However, a woman registrant who subsequently marries or remarries is not required to re-register unless she chooses to adopt the surname of her new spouse. Visit www.elections.nj.gov for additional information.