Coming NJ Election 'Primarily' Will Be Vote-By-Mail: Gov. Murphy

NEW JERSEY - The upcoming primary election scheduled for July 7 will be "primarily" vote-by-mail, Governor Phil Murphy said at his Friday press conference.

"Our goals are twofold," Murphy said at the top of the briefing. "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.

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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, Murphy said.

Beyond the United States Postal Service, Murphy said there will be a requirement for each county to distribute secure drop boxes for voters to turn in their complete ballots.

"A few minutes ago I got off the phone with Dave Williams who is the chief operating officer and executive vice president for the United States Postal Service and walked through how important our partnership will be in this process particularly in high density, particularly in low income neighborhoods," Murphy said. "He assured me their full cooperation. And this is a partnership we want to see flourish in the months ahead."

Earlier this week, Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi said she was waiting for Murphy's direction on how to handle the election during the pandemic.

"Citizens concerned about the current COVID-19 pandemic should utilize the vote-by-mail ballot for this year's election," she said.

Grossi said that no person should feel they cannot vote out of fear of exposure to COVID-19.

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."

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