Primary Election 2020: Vote By Mail Drop Box In Camden County

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — The primary election looks different this year as the coronavirus pandemic has pushed back the date, shuttered polls and made the contest scheduled for July 7 "primarily" vote-by-mail.

"Our goals are twofold," Gov. Phil Murphy said when he made the announcement in May. "To maximize our democracy while minimizing the risk of illness. We want everyone to participate in a safe, fully democratic process."

Murphy also said that there will be polling places open in every municipality to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote and at least 50 percent of the normal locations per county.

Murphy added that voters who have not been able to seamlessly transition to a mail-in process, like those with a disability, will be kept safe when they cast their vote.

"Social distancing protocols will be enforced within these polling locations including the sanitizing of every touch screen, voting machine in between voters," he said.

The Process

All registered Democratic and Republican voters will automatically receive a postage paid vote-by-mail ballot while all unaffiliated and inactive voters will automatically receive a postage paid vote-by-mail application. Those ballots can be sent back by mail or dropped in one of the boxes.

Vote-by-Mail Drop Boxes have been installed in five locations across Camden County, including:

Audubon
Municipal Building
606 West Nicholson Road

Chesilhurst
Municipal Building
201 Grant Ave., Waterford Works

Camden
Administration Building
600 Market Street
(Former entrance for Surrogate’s Office on Market Street)

Cherry Hill
Camden County College / William G. Rohrer
1889 Marlton Pike East
(Corner of Springdale Road and Marlton Pike East/Route 70 E)

Gloucester Township
Municipal Building
1261 Chews Landing Road

• The boxes were installed on or about June 15;
• They are all outside and under surveillance 24/7;
• They resemble a USPS Blue Mailbox, but are Red, White & Blue;
• The VBMs will be picked up on a daily basis and brought to the BOE.
• All security measures will be followed when collecting and transporting the VBMs.
• VBM Drop Boxes will be closed at 8 p.m., close of polls on Tuesday, July 7.

Another key change will be the voting deadline. While all the ballots must still be postmarked by the July 7 election day, Murphy said that the deadline which votes must be received by a county board of elections — to be counted as valid — will be extended from 48 hours after the polls close to seven days after the polls close.

"We expect a greater than normal vote-by-mail turnout the deadline," he said. "And we will ensure that every vote is counted."

With reporting by Russ Crespolini, Patch Staff