2020 General Election Information

HOW DO I REGISTER?

To register print and complete the Voter Registration Application form at the link below. Mail or, better yet, hand-deliver to One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ. If mailing do not wait until the last minute to mail your form. We recommend you mail it in at least 10 days prior to the deadline to give it time to get there. The form will have the correct mailing address and postage is prepaid. You can also contact the municipal clerk’s office (although Borough Hall is “closed to the public” we are available by phone and by appointment. We will meet you in the lobby to receive your registration form.

Bergen County Voter Registration Application (English)

Bergen County Voter Registration Application (Spanish)

Bergen County Voter Registration Application (Korean)

WHAT IF MY ADDRESS HAS CHANGED OR I NEED MY BALLOT MAILED ELSEWHERE?

If your address has recently changed or you will not be home (ex. overseas active duty military and their families, college students, etc.), contact the Superintendent of Elections right away for special instructions. The USPS is not permitted to automatically forward ballots from your old address to your new address. Instead, it will be returned to the Office of the County Clerk. If you have any questions, please call the Superintendent of Elections for assistance.

WHEN WILL BALLOTS BE MAILED?

As of September 23rd, Vote-By-Mail Ballots have been mailed out to all active registered voters in Alpine. If a voter has not received their ballot by October 1st, please contact the Bergen County Clerk's Elections Division at (201) 336-7020 for a replacement ballot. You can also visit the County offices at One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack to request a vote-by-mail ballot, fill it out and submit it right then and there.

WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILITY?

A disability for the purposes of voting in the machines means your disability prevents you from reading and filling out a paper ballot, such as, you can’t see, can’t use your hands or are illiterate. If you have the type of disability that impedes your ability to vote using a paper ballot and you need an accessible ballot, please contact the county in advance at 201-336-7020. They will provide you with an accessible ballot or direct you to an ADA accessible machine at your polling place. If directed to the polling place, a Board Worker will have you complete a Certificate of In-Person Voter With A Disability form. The Board Workers will still need to call the County themselves to confirm your disability entitles you to vote in the machine.

ALL ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

for the General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2020. We encourage everyone to have a plan for voting. Return your ballot as soon as possible so that you’ll have time to correct any unforeseen errors. Everyone is encouraged to vote early by completing their Vote-By-Mail Ballot and depositing it in a Bergen County Election Drop Box.

The vote-by-mail ballot will be mailed to the address on the voter’s current voter registration on file. Ballots are being mailed by October 5, 2020. If you lose or have not received your ballot within the following ten days contact the Bergen County Clerk’s Elections Division at 201-336-7020. They can issue a replacement ballot. You can also visit the County offices to request a vote-by-mail ballot, fill it out and submit it right then and there.

Sample ballots will not be mailed out. Instead you will receive a postcard with your polling location. Sample ballots will be posted for viewing at bergencountyclerk.org and are available at the County Clerk’s office for any voter who calls to request one.

Don't Wait! When you receive your vote-by-Mail Ballot read the instructions, fill it out carefully and return it to the County as soon as possible.

FILLING OUT YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

Read and follow the instructions carefully. Missing a step may cause your ballot to be rejected.
You will receive a ballot and two envelopes. Your ballot has a bar code on it and that is a match to the Voter ID on record with the State. To correct any spelling mistakes, contact the Superintendent of Elections at 201-336-6100 and they’ll fix it in the system.
To fill out your ballot make sure you completely color in the oval circles for the candidates you choose using a pen or pencil. Do not make a check mark, “X” or any other kind of marks on the ovals other than filling them in for your selections. Be sure to check the left side of the ballot to determine how many candidates you can select. For example, this year there are two seats on the ballot for Freeholder and for that position you can choose two from any of the candidates running or even write in a name. Be sure to look at every position on the ballot from President down to your Local Board of Education.
When you are done filling out your ballot, refold it and place it in the internal envelope that has a Certificate of Mail-In-Voter flap attached. DO NOT DETACH THE CERTIFICATE FROM THE ENVELOPE. You will need to completely fill out AND SIGN the certificate.
If someone assists you, they need to fill out and sign their section of the certificate
Once the certificate is completed and signed, seal the internal envelope keeping the certificate intact and place it into the second envelope that is addressed to the Bergen County Board of Elections. This envelope has prepaid postage so you do not need a stamp.
SEAL the second external envelope and add your return address in the top left-hand corner.
If someone else will be mailing or delivering your ballot for you that person must complete and sign the bearer portion of the external envelope. Be aware that by law a person can only deliver (3)
three ballots in addition to their own. Any more and the ballots may not be counted.

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CASTING YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

Return it to the County. Again, Do NOT Wait Until the Last Minute! You have several options:

Place your sealed ballot in an Official Bergen County Election Ballot Drop Box. This is the most efficient way to return your Vote-By-Mail ballot. Drop it in one of 18 secure drop boxes located throughout Bergen County. The drop box located closest to Alpine is located at the Demarest Borough Hall 118 Serpentine Road. Another box will be located at the Bergen County Administration Building located at 1 Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack. These boxes are under 24/7 surveillance and will be emptied daily by a team comprised of a Republican and a Democrat accompanied by a Bergen County Sheriff’s Officer. Ballots are brought directly to the Bergen County Board of Elections. Click here for a complete list of locations: www.bergencountyvotes.com. Do NOT place a ballot in any other type of drop box (ex. FedEx, UPS or municipal tax collection drop boxes) as it won't be counted! The ballot must be in the box before 8 PM on Election Night
Bring it directly to Bergen County (One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack) You can do this at any time during regular hours by asking the guard to call an official down to collect or 24/7 using the Official Bergen County Election Ballot Drop Box. You must do so before 8 PM on Election Night. Closer to election, we also recommend you call call the Board of Elections at 201-336-6225 as they may be moving their physical location to a larger building to accommodate this years anticipated unprecedented volume in ballots to process. We will also update this section as we learn more. While Vote-By-Mail is the only vehicle to cast your vote prior to Election Day, if you did not receive your ballot or lost it you also have the option of going to the Bergen County Clerk’s office at 1 Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack to request a ballot. You can fill it out there and place it in the official Bergen County Election Drop box located outside the same building.
Mail it through the U.S. Post Office Mail early to ensure that your ballot gets there on time. Ballots must be postmarked by November 3^rd and must be received at the Board of Elections office by November 10^th at 8 PM to still be counted. All ballot packages will contain peel-and-seal, first class postage-paid envelopes. Remember – if you use the mail make sure the post office affixes the postmark no later than November 3^rd! If you mail it late, say in a mail slot or mail box the day of the election, the USPS may not postmark it until November 4^th and your vote will not count. Doublecheck!
Bring your Vote-By-Mail ballot to the Polling Place on Election Day (You can Only Bring Your Own Ballot – you can NOT bring anyone else’s for them and they can NOT bring yours.) For the General Election you will also have the option of bringing your Vote-By-Mail Ballot to your Polling Place from 6 AM – 8 PM on Election Day. The County Clerk’s office is sending out a notification postcard to each registered voter telling you where your designated polling place will be. For Alpine, the polling place will remain at the Borough Hall. Complete your Vote-By-Mail ballot as described above. At the polling place you will need to wait on line with the other voters. The Board Worker will have you sign next to your name in the voter book and check off that you are delivering YOUR Vote-By-Mail ballot. Watch the board worker put the envelope into the special blue ballot box, or you may ask to put your ballot into the box yourself. The box will be returned to the County after the polls close at 8 PM on Election night.

TRACK YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

Click Here to Setup an Account & Track Your Ballot

If you don't already have an account, you'll need to set one up. It's easy and takes less than two minutes. Not only can you see if you're already registered, you can see where you are registered , your voter history, and most importantly, if your ballot for the November 3rd election has been received. Or, you can call your County Election Officials to track your Mail-In Ballot.

Voting By Mail is just as safe as voting in person. The Superintendent of Elections as well the Board of Elections puts safeguards in place to guarantee the integrity of our elections. Both of these offices consist of members of both major political parties and their focus remains maintaining fair and well-monitored elections.

Unlike past elections, results will not be available that night. The County will be operating under a State order to certify election results no later than November 20, 2020. However, the earlier you can get your VOTE-BY-MAIL ballot back to the County the sooner they will be able to verify the ballots and begin counting these votes to ensure they can meet the deadline.

COVID-19 REMINDERS

Due to COVID-19 we are asking your help to minimize people traffic at the Borough Hall polling place on November 3^rd. You can help by…

Submit your vote-by-mail ballot EARLY using an Official County Election Ballot Drop Box or the U.S. Mail. Must be dropped or postmarked by Nov. 3rd 8 PM.
To reduce non-election traffic in the lobby please try to wait to collect your personal mail the day of the election. Get the day before or day after.
If you have other in-person business with the Borough again try and handle it the day before or after. You can quickly drop off taxes in the tax collector’s box by the elevator but remember that drop box is NOT for ballots – they won’t be counted.
Don’t linger or loiter in the lobby. Come to the lobby only as your polling place. After you have waited on line and voted please leave promptly. Take any conversation outside and away from entrances and exits. Continue to wear a mask and socially distance on Boro grounds.

Still Need/Intend to Come to the Polling Place to Vote --- Know What To Expect ….

COVID 19 Precautions Will Still Be In Effect

Where a cloth or disposable face mask. Federal election law prohibits us from making you wear one but we ask that you do out of respect and courtesy to protect Board Workers, staff and you the public.
Social distancing is mandatory. Staff will be on hand to direct the line as needed to ensure voters are properly spaced on the line to maintain six feet social distancing from Board Workers and each other. Please be patient.
Hand Sanitizer will be available at entrance/exits and on tables – please use it!

THERE ARE ONLY THREE WAYS YOU CAN CAST YOUR BALLOT AT THE POLLING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 3RD

All three will involve waiting on line and signing the voter book

1. Drop Off of your own Vote-By-Mail Ballot You will need to wait on line, at your turn the Board Worker will ask you sign the book and will check off that you are delivering your OWN vote-by-mail ballot. Watch the board worker put the envelope into the special blue ballot box, or you may ask to put your ballot into the box yourself. The blue ballot box will be delivered to the Board of Elections after the polls close on election night.

2. Provisional Ballot You can only vote by provisional ballot at the polling place. The only exception is if a disability prevents you from filling out a paper ballot (see below). You will fill out a paper ballot similar to what you would have done using vote-by-mail. Your vote will NOT be counted at the polling place that night. All provisional ballots are taken to the County Commissioner of Registration’s office after the close of the polls for verification and counting by the County Board of Elections. The Board typically verifies and counts provisional ballots AFTER Vote-By-Mail ballots.

How to Vote by Provisional Ballot:

The board worker will ask you to sign the voter book, check off that you are voting by provisional ballot and write your voter ID on the ballot envelope they provide.
The board worker will then give you a paper ballot and the envelope.
The board worker must provide you with a place to vote the ballot in secret.
(A table with cardboard privacy screen will be provided)
Fill out your ballot making sure you completely color in the oval circles for the candidates you choose using a pen or pencil. Do not make a check mark, “X” or any other kind of marks on the ovals other than completely filling them in to make your selections. Be sure to look at the left side of the ballot to determine how many candidates you can select for each position. For example, this year there are two seats on the ballot for Freeholder and for that position you can choose two from any of the candidates running or even write in a name. Be sure to look at every position on the ballot from President down to your Local Board of Education.
Put your voted ballot in the envelope and seal the envelope.
Completely fill out and sign the Affirmation Statement that is attached to the envelope. DO NOT DETACH the Affirmation Statement. If you do not sign the Affirmation Statement, your ballot will not be counted.
Give the envelope to the board worker.
Watch the board worker put the envelope into the orange provisional ballot bag, or you may ask to put your ballot into the bag yourself.
If you make mistakes or “spoil” your ballot, you have the right to ask the board worker for another ballot.

3. Disability Voting A disability for purposes of voting in the machines means your disability prevents you from reading and filling out a paper ballot such as you can’t see, can’t use your hands or are illiterate. If you have the type of disability that impedes your ability to vote using a paper ballot and need an accessible ballot please contact the county in advance at 201-336-7020. They will provide you with an accessible ballot or direct you to an ADA accessible machine at your polling place. If directed to the polling place, a Board Worker will have you complete a Certificate of In-Person Voter with A Disability form. The Board Workers will still need to call the County themselves to confirm your disability entitles you to vote in the machine.