FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below, we hope you will find the answers to many of your questions regarding the upcoming election:
- So now that I'm at Princeton, where should I register to vote?
- Am I eligible to vote in New Jersey?
- How do I find out if I'm already registered to vote?
- I am NOT registered to vote anywhere. How do I register to vote in New Jersey?
- What if I already registered in my home state?
- How do I re-register to vote in New Jersey?
- How do I fill out the New Jersey Voter Registration form?
- Will I receive something that confirms my voter registration?
- What if I registered a year or two ago at Princeton, but have not updated my address?
- How do I register to vote in my home state?
- When is the deadline to register?
- Who can request an absentee ballot?
- How do I request an absentee ballot?
- When is the general election?
- What county do Princeton students reside in?
- What legislative district is Princeton in?
- What are the new identification requirements about?
- How does registering to vote in New Jersey influence my chance of being called for jury duty?
- If I have dual citizenship, can I vote in the upcoming general election?
- Where do I go to vote?
- But I don’t know anything about New Jersey politics – how will I know whom to vote for?
- What do I do if I still have questions?
So now that I’m at Princeton, where should I register to vote?
You are allowed to register in your home state or in New Jersey. Some students like to register in their home state because of an important local election. Some students will want to register at Princeton because you can physically go to the polling place, you don’t risk missing your absentee ballot, and you feel like you are a part of the Princeton civic community.
Am I eligible to vote in New Jersey?
To vote in New Jersey you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old before the next election (November 3) and a resident of your present address for at least 30 days. Students meet the residency requirement for the November general election upon enrollment at Princeton University in the fall.
How do I find out if I’m already registered to vote?
In New Jersey, call the Commissioners of Registration at the NJ Division of Elections. Mercer County residents should call (609) 989-6750. Residents of other counties can visit http://www.njelections.org/loc_officials_doe.html for contact information. You can also check your status online at https://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/jsp/UserLogin/Login.jsp.Students who are registered in their home state should contact their local county election’s office.
I am NOT registered to vote anywhere. How do I register to vote in New Jersey?
You can pick up and fill out a voter registration form at the Welcome Desk in Frist and then drop it in the mail (you don't need an envelope or a stamp). You can also fill one out at any of the P-Votes events and we'll mail it for you. To see our schedule, please visit the events page.
Forms are also available online. Please mail correspondence to:
P.O. Box 304
Trenton, NJ 08625-0304
What if I already registered in my home state?
You have two options: you can re-register in New Jersey (see next question) or you can request an absentee ballot for your home state (see “requesting an absentee ballot”).
How do I re-register to vote in New Jersey if I'm already registered elsewhere?
"Re-registering" in New Jersey is similar to registering for the first time… Simply fill out a voter registration card and check “New Registration” in Box 1 of the form. Make sure to fill in line 8 with the address of your previous registration. Please see our registration instructions page for more information. Once your registration is received by the New Jersey Election Commission, your registration will automatically be transferred to New Jersey. Once complete, you are registered and should vote only in New Jersey.
How do I fill out the New Jersey Voter Registration form?
If you are not currently registered in Mercer County, New Jersey, you should check “New Registration,” and fill out boxes 2 – 4 (Princeton is located in Mercer County). Only fill out box 5 if you receive your mail in a Frist Campus Box. Continue to fill out boxes 6 and 9, and then sign and date in box 10. Seal the envelope and return it to a P-Votes volunteer or mail it to the address on the front cover. If you need more information, please see our registration instructions page.
Will I receive something that confirms my voter registration?
Yes. In the state of New Jersey confirmation is sent in the form of a postcard that includes your polling location. If your registration form did not require you to provide identification, you may also receive a form requesting your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your social security number. This information is only used for identification purposes.
What if I registered a year or two ago at Princeton, but have not updated my address?
If you have already registered in Princeton but have since moved (i.e. you have changed rooms or dorms), you should submit a new voter registration form and check “Address Change” in box 1 on the form. This way, the New Jersey Elections Division has your correct mailing address which you will need to verify on election day. Make sure to go to the correct polling place for your new address.
How do I register to vote in my home state?
The National Mail Voter Registration Form (NMVR) can be used to register in most states. The application can be obtained online. Please note that New Hampshire only accepts the NMVR as a request for the NH registration form, North Dakota does not have voter registration, and Wyoming will not accept the form under state law.
Please visit our Out-of-State Registration page for more information.
When is the deadline to register?
Each state has a different voter registration deadline. The deadline for registering in New Jersey is 21 days prior to the election. For the November 2009 election, the deadline is October 13, 2009.
Who can request a vote-by-mail ballot?
By New Jersey state law, any registered voter can request a vote-by-mail ballot (formerly called an absentee ballot). See the Division of Elections' Vote By Mail Ballot Voting page for more information.
How do I request a vote-by-mail ballot?
Complete the vote by mail ballot application. Applications must be received by the county clerk seven days prior to the election. You can also apply in person at the county clerk’s office until 3:00 p.m. on the day before the election. Faxed copies are not accepted and an original signature is required.
When is the general election?
General elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the month of November. The 2009 election will be held on November 3.
What county do Princeton students reside in?
Mercer County, New Jersey
What legislative district is Princeton in?
Princeton is in the 15th legislative district.
What are the new identification requirements about?
New identification requirements are a result of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which requires voters to provide identification on their voter registration application. Most forms have been updated to ask for this information, but some previous forms are still in circulation. If you were not asked to provide identification on your application, you will be asked to provide a form of acceptable ID at the polls. Without ID you will have to vote by provisional ballot, which requires voters to bring identification by 8:00 p.m. on election night to the local county election office. This information will be given to you at your polling location. Either way, bring both a government-issued identification and your prox to the polls.
How does registering to vote in New Jersey influence my chance of being called for jury duty?
All registered voters are included in the database that selects candidates for jury duty, but full-time students are exempt from service. In the event that a student is called to serve, they need only provide proof of their student status. This can include a copy of a PUID. Please call the Mercer County Jury Management office at (609) 571-4896 for additional information or questions.
If I have dual citizenship, can I vote in the upcoming general election?
Registered voters holding dual citizenship in the U.S. are eligible to vote with the same rights and privileges as other citizens, but voters should research the laws of each country where they hold citizenship to verify that voting in a U.S. election will not endanger their citizenship abroad.
Where do I go to vote?
Most students will vote at Trinity Church on Mercer Street. To get to Trinity Church, walk down Nassau Street passing Rockefeller College on your left. After passing University Place on your left, take a left on Mercer Street. Trinity Church is one block down on your right. Some students who live in Forbes College, Whitman College, Butler College, and Scully vote at Icahn Lab. NOTE: After you send in your registration form, you will receive a sample ballot and information about your polling site in the mail.
You can find a map to the polling places here
But I don’t know anything about New Jersey politics – how will I know whom to vote for?
You’re not alone! In fact, most Princeton students aren’t from New Jersey and don’t know much about the key issues in the state. Luckily, P-Votes feels strongly that Princeton students should be engaging the local community, and we will be dedicated to distributing information and hosting events to help you make an educated decision on November 3.
What do I do if I still have questions?
If you have any questions about voter registration, please call the Mercer County clerk’s office at (609) 989-6495, or the New Jersey Secretary of State at (609) 292-3760 or visit www.njelections.org.
You can also email us at pvotes@princeton.edu