Summit-area voters who do not want an automatic Vote by Mail ballot for the Nov. 3 General Election have until Sept. 15 to opt out.
The Union County Clerk's office announced Thursday, Sept. 3, that it will mail ballots to registered voters by Sept. 19, following New Jersey state law. Voters who prefer to cast their ballot in person or during early voting can opt out by emailing [email protected] with their full name, address and date of birth, according to the county's press release.
The office will send a confirmation once the opt-out is processed. Voters who change their minds can reapply for mail ballots in future elections.
Why the opt-out exists
The announcement comes amid an unresolved federal legal battle over mail-in voting. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 31 directing the U.S. Postal Service to restrict mail ballot delivery to states that meet new federal requirements. Those requirements include submitting voter lists to USPS and using federally approved envelope designs.
New Jersey joined a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia that sued the Trump administration over the rule. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in August to lift a lower court order that had blocked the rule, siding with the administration on procedural grounds. The court did not decide whether the rule itself is legal.
The county's announcement noted that New Jersey remains in litigation with the federal government and that the outcome is uncertain. As of Thursday, Sept. 3, the Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court to lift a separate block on the rule issued by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, NBC News reported.
In her dissent from the August ruling, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that "states administering elections and the voting public that relies on them to do so deserve clarity, not caginess or confusion."
What voters who keep their mail ballot should know
The county recommends mailing completed ballots at least seven days before Nov. 3. Voters can also drop their ballot in a secure drop box. Locations are listed on the county Board of Elections website and will appear on each voter's sample ballot.
Alternatives to Vote by Mail
New Jersey's early voting period runs from Saturday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 1. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is needed, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Voters can also cast a ballot at their assigned polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3.
The voter registration deadline for the General Election is Oct. 13. Residents with questions can call the Union County Clerk's office at (908) 527-4996.
