The New Jersey Department of State issued a directive on Saturday ordering county elections officials to permit New Jersey registered voters displaced by Hurricane Sandy to vote electronically.
The directive also is intended to assist displaced first responders, whose emergency recovery efforts away from home would otherwise make voting a challenge, according to a Saturday afternoon press release.
“This has been an extraordinary storm that has created unthinkable destruction across our state and we know many people have questions about how and where to cast their vote in Tuesday’s election," said New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.
"To help alleviate pressure on polling places, we encourage voters to either use electronic voting or the extended hours at county offices to cast their vote,” Guadagno said in the release. “Despite the widespread damage Hurricane Sandy has caused, New Jersey is committed to working through the enormous obstacles before us to hold an open and transparent election befitting our state and the resiliency of its citizens.”
To vote electronically, displaced voters may submit a mail-in ballot application either by e-mail or fax to their county clerk. Once an application is approved, the clerk will electronically send a ballot to the voter by either fax or e-mail in accordance to the voter’s preference. Voters must return their electronic ballot either by fax or email no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Voters can download a mail-in ballot application for their county by visiting http://nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information-vote-by-mail.html. A list of county clerk websites, phone numbers and fax numbers are available by visiting http://nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html.
Separate directives issued today enable displaced voters and first responders to vote by provisional ballot at a polling place in a county other than the voter’s county of registration. The deadline for county clerks to receive mail-in ballots has been extended to Nov. 19 for any ballot postmarked on or before November 5, 2012. Mail-in ballots post marked later than November 5 will not be accepted.
County elections officials have also been directed to print a sufficient number of provisional and emergency ballots to accommodate voters.
Voters are encouraged to take advantage of extended office hours at county elections offices to cast their vote early and in-person. Registered voters can obtain and cast their ballot in-person at their county elections office up until 3 p.m. on Tuesday. County election offices are to remain open, at a minimum, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the weekend, until November 5.
Voters who have a mail-in ballot and choose to deliver their ballot to the county elections office in person must present their completed ballot to their county elections office no later than the close of polls on Tuesday.
Information is also available by calling 1-877-NJVOTER.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57543181-94/comcast-offers-free-wi-fi-service-to-all-in-sandys-path/ Here are a list of the free hotspots: http://hotspots.wifi.comcast.com/?map_submit.x=0&a=07016&map_submit.y=0 I believe if you can get to a Starbucks that has power you can probably find wifi service there. There are faxing services available at places like UPS stores as well as other locations like Staples which also offers those kinds of services. I'm sure there are some that do have power restored. So there are ways to do it if you just think it out and look for the solutions. Of course if you are reading this you don't need that info or probably already know. In addition the county clerks offices in the State have been ordered to hold extended hours and extended the mail-in ballot deadline through this weekend and election day. If you can get there you can cast your mail-in ballot in person. The clerk's office in Westfield is open from 8:30 to 4:30 today for voting by mail I think the office in Elizabeth has the same schedule but I didn't check. I am thankful that I still have a home left for power to be restored to. Some families no longer have homes to restore power to...they lost everything and my heart aches for them.
http://cranford.patch.com/articles/early-voting-available-in-freehold Voting is important and if you can get there you can do it in person. Perhaps get together with neighbors and figure out a way to carpool if you do not have access to a car. If there is a will there is a way.
"the program is being run on an honor system, relying on voters to only use the system if they truly can't get to his or her polling place."
I completely agree with the frustration about power companies, fema, and various other support agencies all encouraging people to go online, report outages, and to sign up NOW, etc! If you don't have power, cell and internet - how the hell are you supposed to do this? Its really irritating. But not nearly as irritating as trolls who come on these sites looking for a fight by insulting people.
Thank you. The importance of exercising your right to vote is unquestionable. Well done. Fred.