Union County Teens Looking to Vote? There's An App For That

The 2016 election for president is definitely heating up.

With that you will want your voice to be heard.

To help high school students vote in Union County who are 17 years old, County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced there is an app for that.

The app allows teens to download a form to pre-register to vote and there is a new Party Declaration button for the app.

“It’s important to engage young adults in the electoral process and let their voices be heard,” stated Rajoppi in a release. “With these new buttons, Union County Votes will provide a valuable service and help young adults to enhance their civics studies in high school during the excitement of a presidential election year.”

The new Are You 17? button is labeled “17” with a forward arrow to resemble a Parkway sign. It enables 17-year-olds to determine their eligibility to vote when they turn 18, by answering questions about their age, residency, and citizenship.

They can then request a registration form. Once they return the form, they will automatically be registered to vote on their 18th birthday.

New Jersey State Law allows a person who will be 18 on or before Election Day to register to vote before their 18th birthday.

Also new is the Party Declaration button which is designed to provide voters with a way to access a Political Party Declaration Form.

Under New Jersey State Law, voters currently affiliated with a political party must change their affiliation 55 days before a Primary election. Unaffiliated voters may declare their affiliation at any time up to and including Primary Day.

The Union County Votes app is a free download for mobile devices. Introduced in fall 2014, the app enables voters and election-watchers to access critical information, including emergency-related polling place changes and other alerts.

Any Union County resident can confirm their registration and party affiliation status by using the Am I Registered? button on the Union County Votes app.

For all Union County Clerk programs and services visit online at ucnj.org.county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.