Important General Election Dates

New York General Election Guidelines and Deadlines

2008 GENERAL ELECTION DEADLINE
Oct. 10, 2008        Last day to register by mail
Oct. 14, 2008        Last day for address change filing
Oct. 24, 2008        Last day for in-person registration at Board of Elections
Nov. 3, 2008        3 p.m. deadline for obtaining an absentee ballot application in person at the County Clerk’s office for the general elections
Nov. 4, 2008        General Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

MAIL REGISTRATION – Sec. 5-210(3)
Applications must be postmarked not later than October 10th and received by a board of elections not later than October 15th to be eligible to vote in the General Election.

IN PERSON REGISTRATION – Secs. 5-210, 5-211, 5-212
You may register at your local board of elections or any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, on any business day throughout the year but, to be eligible to vote in the November general election, your application must be received no later than October 10th except, if you have been honorably discharged from the military or have become a naturalized citizen since October 10th, you may register in person at the board of elections up until October 24th.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS – Sec. 5-208(3)
Notices of change of address from registered voters received by October 15th by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for the general election.

ABSENTEE BALLOT
Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot
•        unavoidably absent from your county on Election Day;
•        unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability;
•        a patient in a Veterans’ Administration Hospital;
•        detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony;

How to Vote by Absentee Ballot
•        Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at your county board of elections.
•        You may also download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form. (  55KB)
•        Upon completion, applications must be mailed to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election or delivered in person no later than the day before the election.
•        You may also request an Absentee Ballot by sending a letter to your county board of elections. The letter must be received by your county board no earlier than 30 days and no later than seven days before the election. The letter must contain the following information:
o        the address where you are registered
o        an address where the ballot is to be sent
o        the reason for the request, and
o        the signature of the voter
An application form will be mailed with your ballot. The application form must be completed and returned with your ballot.

If you cannot pick up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.
If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee Ballot for each subsequent election without further application. Simply file an application with your board of elections containing a statement which describes the particulars of your illness or disability. The Board will review the facts stated, and if satisfied, will mark your registration record. You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled.

New Jersey General Election Guidelines and Deadlines

NEW JERSEY GENERAL ELECTION DEADLINE
Oct. 14, 2008        Last day to register or change voting address for general elections
Oct. 28, 2008        Deadline for receipt by County Clerk of mailed application for absentee ballot for the general election
Nov. 3, 2008        3 p.m. deadline for obtaining an absentee ballot application in person at the County Clerk’s office for the general elections
Nov. 4, 2008        General Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

October 14
Last Day to Register to Vote for the Upcoming General Election
(21 days before the General Election)
Last day to register for upcoming General Election. N.J.S.A. 19:31-6

October 27 – November 1
Notice of General Election
(Once during the calendar week before the week in which the General Election is held)
Each county board shall cause a general notice to be published providing information on the upcoming general election. N.J.S.A. 19:12-7

October 28
Absentee Ballot Application By Mail
(Not less than 7 days prior to election)
Last day to receive mail applications for military service and civilian absentee ballots. At any time not less than seven days prior to an election, a military service or civilian absentee voter may apply to the county clerk for an absentee ballot. N.J.S.A. 19:57-4. N.J.S.A. 19:57-6