New Jersey voting deadlines for the November 3, 2026 election

New Jersey voter registration closes Oct 13 for the November 3, 2026 election. Every deadline — registration, mail ballot and early voting — with the official source for each.

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Every date

Saturday, September 19, 2026
Mail ballots start going out — November 3, 2026 general election

New Jersey county clerks start putting vote-by-mail ballots in the mail on Saturday, Sept 19, 2026 for voters who have a mail-in ballot on file or have requested one. The state notes that some counties begin mailing a little earlier than this.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Voter registration deadline (online, by mail and in person) — November 3, 2026 general election

Register online by Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (21 days before the election). Online registration needs an NJ driver's license/ID number or SSN plus a digital signature. Mailed paper registration forms count if postmarked on or before Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (21 days before the election). You can also hand-deliver the form to your county Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections by that date. Register in person by Tuesday, October 13, 2026. County Commissioner of Registration offices have mandated evening hours that day from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Saturday, October 24, 2026 – Sunday, November 1, 2026
Early voting — November 3, 2026 general election

In-person early voting starts Saturday, October 24, 2026. In-person early voting ends Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM. Statewide dates and hours: Mon–Sat 10 AM–8 PM, Sun 10 AM–6 PM. You can vote at any early voting site in your county. No appointment needed. Sites are chosen by each county.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Last day to request a mail ballot — November 3, 2026 general election

Any registered voter can get a mail-in ballot. Your county clerk must receive your application (by mail or online) by Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 7 days before the election. After that, apply in person at your county clerk's office by 3:00 PM Monday, November 2.

Sunday, November 1, 2026
Last day to vote early in person — November 3, 2026 general election

In-person early voting ends Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM. Statewide dates and hours: Mon–Sat 10 AM–8 PM, Sun 10 AM–6 PM. You can vote at any early voting site in your county. No appointment needed. Sites are chosen by each county.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Mail ballot return deadline — November 3, 2026 general election

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by 8:00 PM on Election Day (Nov 3) and received by your county Board of Elections by Monday, November 9, 2026. Ballots delivered in person to the county Board of Elections or put in a secure drop box must be in by 8:00 PM Nov 3. Ballots cannot be returned at polling places.

Thursday, February 25, 2027
Last day to file as a candidate — Regular nonpartisan municipal election

Nominating petitions for the May 2027 municipal election must be filed with the municipal clerk by 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2027.

Monday, March 29, 2027
Last day to file as a candidate — Primary election

Primary nominating petitions must be filed by 4 p.m. on Monday, March 29, 2027.

Tuesday, April 20, 2027
Voter registration deadline — Regular nonpartisan municipal election

You must be registered by Tuesday, April 20, 2027 to vote in the May 2027 nonpartisan municipal election.

Tuesday, May 11, 2027
Regular nonpartisan municipal election

New Jersey statute fixes this date: municipalities governed by the Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law hold their regular municipal election on the second Tuesday in May, which in 2027 is Tuesday, May 11. A municipality may move its regular municipal election to the November general election by ordinance, so check whether your town votes in May or November.

Tuesday, May 18, 2027
Voter registration deadline — Primary election

You must be registered by Tuesday, May 18, 2027 to vote in the June 2027 primary.

Tuesday, June 8, 2027
Primary election

New Jersey holds its primary on the Tuesday after the first Monday in June. The first Monday in June 2027 is June 7, so the primary is Tuesday, June 8, 2027. This primary nominates party candidates for General Assembly, county offices, and the municipal offices that are elected on a partisan basis in November.

Tuesday, October 12, 2027
Voter registration deadline — November municipal elections

You must be registered by Tuesday, October 12, 2027 to vote on November 2, 2027.

Tuesday, November 2, 2027
November municipal elections

Municipalities that adopted an ordinance moving their regular municipal election off the May date vote instead on the day of the general election, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which is Tuesday, November 2, 2027. Many New Jersey towns also elect council members on a partisan basis in November after the June primary.

How voting works in New Jersey

If you received a mail-in ballot but haven't voted it, you can vote only by paper provisional ballot at your Election Day polling place. Voters set up to receive mail-in ballots must opt out through their county clerk to vote on a machine at early voting. Mail-in ballots with no postmark count only if the USPS delivers them within 48 hours after polls close (by Nov 5). Polls are open 6:00 AM–8:00 PM on Election Day.

What we could not confirm

We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:

Where these came from

Every date above was read from the New Jersey election office's own published material, last checked Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Confirm anything you are relying on with your local election authority.

https://nj.gov/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml

Voter Registration Deadline for the General Election is October 13, 2026.

https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/publications/voter-restore-handbook-2022-0824.pdf

Yes, the registration deadline is 21 days before the election. A mailed voter registration form that is postmarked on or before the 21st day before the election is considered on time.

https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/chrons/2026-chron-general-election-0109.pdf

October 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mandated Evening Voter Registration Available for General Election in Offices of County Commissioners of Registration

https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/806/Vote-by-Mail-Ballot

Applications must be received in the County Clerk's Office at least 7 days before an election for a ballot to be mailed to the applicant.

https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-by-mail.shtml

Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before 6 days after Election Day.

https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-early-voting.shtml

They will designate in-person early voting locations that will be open October 24, 2026 – November 1, 2026 (the in-person early voting period). Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/chrons/2026-chron-municipal-non-partisan.pdf

Voter Registration Deadline for Municipal Non-Partisan Elections (21 days before election)

https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/chrons/2026-chron-primary-election.pdf

Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Election (21 days before election)

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