Get Ready to Vote: Your Guide to the Nov 4th Election in NJ
- Visions
- Oct 8
- 4 min read
Written/Images by Johanna Foudy
In a country that is divided politically, voting has become more important than ever. However, many people still choose not to vote.
This year's election day is November 4th. Although not a presidential election, this year's election is just as important as ever. In New Jersey, we are voting to elect a new governor.
As an election poll worker in Passaic County, I can attest that I have encountered a fair share of people who don’t know much about voter registration, how to check their registration, or where to vote. The purpose of this article is not to guide you on who to vote for, but rather where to vote and how to register.
Information and Deadlines
To begin, here are a few important informative deadlines for this election cycle:
General Early Voting: October 25th through November 2nd (Monday – Saturday 10 am-8 pm, Sunday 10 am – 6 pm)
Last Day to Register: October 14th
General Election Vote by Mail Application Deadline: October 28th
Election Day: November 4th (6 am – 8 pm)
Registering to Vote and Checking Registration
There are a few things to keep in mind when registering to vote. The criteria to register to vote in NJ are:
One must be a U.S citizen
At least 17 years old, but cannot vote until the age of 18
A resident of the county for at least 30 days before the election
A person not serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or the United States.
As mentioned above, the deadline to register to vote in NJ is October 14th, 2025, 21 days before the election. There are many ways to register, including both online and in person.
Online and in-person applications can be accessed through this link: NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Register to Vote!
Some of you may have registered to vote when you received your driver's license; however, it is important to verify your registration, as there have been some issues in the past regarding voter registrations when registered in this way. However, regardless of how you register(ed), it is always a good idea to ensure all your information is up to date.
Remember, your voter registration is ONLY valid in NJ and will NOT automatically change if you have moved, changed addresses, or moved from out of state
Voter registration can be checked through this link: NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Voter Search
If you are a resident of Passaic County and have any issues with your current voter registration, you can contact the Board of Elections office:
Board of Elections 401 Grand Street, Room 123 Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4780 (973) 523-9121 Fax
Election Day only (973) 569-2181
Participating in Voting and Elections
After you are registered and have confirmed registration, there are a few ways to vote. In Passaic County, mail-in, early, and in-person voting are available for the November elections.
Early Voting
Early voting locations for Passaic County are as follows:
Clifton — Clifton Public Library 292 Piaget Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011 | Haledon — Haledon Recreation Building 83 Roe Street, Haledon, NJ 07508 |
|---|---|
Hawthorne — Louis Bay 2nd Library Community Center 345 Lafayette Ave, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 | Passaic — Passaic City Hall 330 Passaic Street, Passaic, NJ 07055 |
Paterson — The Heritage Center at Alexander Hamilton 685 E 34th Street, Paterson, NJ 07504 | Paterson — Paterson Fire Dept. HQ 300 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ 07501 |
Wanaque — Passaic County Community College, Wanaque Campus 500 Union Ave, Haskell, NJ 07420 | Wayne — Wayne Main Library 461 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 |
West Milford — West Milford Township Library 1470 Union Valley Road, West Milford, NJ 07480 | Woodland Park — Boys & Girls Club 8 Memorial Drive, Woodland Park, NJ 07424 |
Election Day Voting
To find your election day polling location, use this link: NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Polling Place Search
Remember, your early voting location may NOT be the same as the location you vote at on election day. If you are not at the correct location, you will be asked or sent to the correct voting location.
Mail-In Voting
Mail-in voting is always an option if you are out of state during the elections, away at school, or cannot access a voting or polling site.
To request a mail-in ballot, visit: NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Vote-By-Mail
Each of the mail-in ballot request forms is different depending on your county. When you visit the NJ DOS website, please ensure you select the correct county before filling out your mail-in ballot.
Any important dates and deadlines for voting can be found under the “Information and Deadlines” section of this article.
With this information, we hope more people will register to vote and participate in politics. Voting is a privilege, one that we should all participate in. Although it may not always feel like it, your vote and voice matter! It is up to us to vote and work towards a better tomorrow, and that tomorrow begins today.
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