July Primary Election in NJ to be Primarily a Vote-by-Mail Event

Gov Phil Murphy signed an executive order making the state’s primary election, rescheduled from June 2 to July 7, to be primarily a vote-by-mail election.

All registered Democrats and Republicans will automatically receive a postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot.

All unaffiliated and inactive voters will automatically receive an application to vote by mail.

"As a state at the center of the COVID-19 crisis, New Jersey has to modify to our primary to ensure that our voters have access to free, fair, and safe elections,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “By providing every voter access to a vote by mail ballot, we are protecting our residents and democracy. As our state embarks on the road to recovery, voters will have the opportunity to choose our leaders without risking their health."

The primary election is where NJ Democrats and Republicans will select the candidates they want to represent their political parties in the November general election.

In addition to voting for Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders (which is a moot point since Bernie dropped out of the race), voters will cast votes to select their candidates for the US Senate.

Democrats will choose between incumbent Cory Booker and challenger Lawrence Hamm.

Republicans will select from the following candidates: Rikin "Rik" Mehta; Natalie Lynn Rivera; Hirsh Singh; Eugene T. Anagnos; and Patricia Flanagan.

Candidates for the US House of Representives for District 7 (which includes Montgomery and Rocky Hill) include incumbent Tom Malinowski, Democrat.

Republicans will select from the following candidates: Raafat Barsoom; Thomas H. Kean Jr; and Tom Phillips.

For more information on the primary ballot, visit https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-information.shtml

At least one polling place must be open in each municipality for in-person voting during the July 2 primary. Social distancing will be enforced and booths will be sanitized between each use.

Counties will also be required to establish secure drop boxes as an alternative to the mail for voters to return their completed ballots.

The deadline for ballots to be received by the county boards of elections will be extended from to seven days after polls close, up from two.

All ballots must be postmarked by the day of the election.

Copy of Executive Order No. 144

https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-144.pdf