Vote-By-Mail Drop Box Set Up In Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown voters who are concerned about the security of their mail-in ballots may find some solace via the local "drop box" that has been put up for the 2020 general election.

On Wednesday, the Burlington County Clerk's Office released a list of secure ballot box locations for the upcoming election in November.

The drop box in Moorestown is located at town hall, 111 West Second Street. Mail-in ballots can also be dropped off at the Burlington County Board of Elections office on Rancocas Road in Mount Holly.

Those ballots may be personally returned by the voter or delivered by an authorized “ballot bearer” who agrees to hand deliver it to the Election Board. Ballot bearers may deliver no more than three ballots and must provide identification to the Election Board and sign the bearer book recording that they transported the ballots to the office and delivered them.

While limited polling places will be open on Nov. 3, the election is taking place mostly via mail in New Jersey due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Moorestown drop box is one of 13 that have been installed countywide. That’s eight more than the five drop boxes used in the July Primary for Burlington County.

They are all available 24 hours each day through the close of polls on election day. Each location is well-lit, secured and monitored by video surveillance cameras.

“At nearly 820-square miles, Burlington County is by far the largest of New Jersey’s 21 counties in terms of area, so we’re pleased that the county has received the additional drop boxes so our voters have more options to safely cast their ballots,” Burlington County Election Board Chair Joseph Dugan said.

The implementation plan was approved by the County Board of Elections with input from both the County Clerk and Superintendent of Elections Office. It calls for Vote-by-Mail ballots to be sent to all registered voters no later than Oct. 5, and for the county to immediately begin accepting and processing returned ballots delivered to the Election Board or deposited in secure ballot boxes.

Registered voters will automatically receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot by Oct. 13 and do not need to apply for one unless they need it sent to an address different than the address where they are registered.

Voters who don’t receive their ballot by Oct. 13 or who wish to request a ballot be sent to an address different from the one listed on their voter registration should call the Clerk’s Office at 609-265-5229.

“The coronavirus pandemic has created challenges, but we’re committed to doing what’s required to ensure our county’s citizens can safely participate in the upcoming election. Our biggest concern is making sure voters are aware of the changed format and that their ballot will be mailed to them,” Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz said. “Voters should be on the lookout for their vote-by-mail ballot the first week of October and be careful not to discard or damage it. We also want them to be aware of all the options available to submit their ballots, including secure drop boxes and in-person delivery to the Board of Elections Office and delivering it to their polling location.”

Voters should follow all the directions and make sure their completed ballot is signed and placed in the prepaid postage envelopes provided before submitting them via mail or with drop boxes.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be post marked on or before November 3 in order to be counted or delivered to drop boxes, the Election Board office or appropriate polling locations before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters will also be able to track their ballots via the state Division of Elections new online voter information portal, nj.gov/state/election to ensure they were delivered to the county clerk and processed.

The full list of locations for vote-by-mail drop boxes in Burlington County can be found below:

• Burlington Township Municipal Building, 851 Old York Road
• Chesterfield Township Municipal Building, 300 Bordentown Chesterfield Rd
• Cinnaminson Municipal Building, 1621 Riverton Road
• Evesham Township Municipal Building, 984 Tuckerton Road
• Lumberton Township Municipal Building, 35 Municipal Drive
• Mansfield Municipal Building, 3135 Route 206 South
• Maple Shade Municipal Building, 200 Stiles Ave
• Medford Township Public Safety Building, 91 Union Street
• Moorestown Town Hall, 111 W 2nd Street
• Mount Holly at the Burlington County Board of Elections Office, 50 Rancocas Road
• Mount Laurel Municipal Building, 100 Mount Laurel Road
• Pemberton Community Library, 16 Broadway Street
• Willingboro Township Municipal Complex, 1 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Voters may personally deliver their own sealed Vote-by-Mail ballot to polling locations that will open on Election Day in every Burlington County town. At least one location will be open in every municipality and several towns will have multiple locations.

A searchable polling location database is available online at voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search.

In addition to being open for ballot deliveries, voters will be permitted to vote in-person at the polling locations with provisional ballots. Accommodations will also be available for voters with disabilities, including machine voting for those who are unable to complete and sign a provisional ballot.

Voters coming to the polls on Election Day will be asked to wear masks or other face coverings and follow the appropriate social-distancing guidelines to protect their own health and the health of other voters and poll workers. All poll workers will be required to wear masks and gloves.

“The pandemic has forced us all to adjust and make changes in our daily lives and activities. The election is no different, but I’m proud of the steps we’re taking to ensure that voters can still cast their ballots easily and safely,” Burlington County Superintendent of Elections George Kotch said.

The deadline for citizens to register to vote is Oct. 13. Residents can register or make changes to their voter registration information through the Superintendent of Elections Office at co.burlington.nj.us/301/Superintendent-of-Elections or through the state Elections website at nj.gov/state/elections.

Residents with questions regarding the drop boxes and voting by mail should call 856-401-VOTE.

Gov. Phil Murphy has made the decision every voter will be mailed a ballot weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The step is being taken as New Jersey continues to deal with the effects of the coronavirus.

But voters who want to vote in-person will be allowed to as every municipality will have one polling location open and a minimum of 50 percent will be open per county. At least 10 drop boxes will be available per county. Read more here: NJ Vote-By-Mail Concerns? Patch Asked A County Clerk For Answers