Passaic County Clerk Explains How To Vote In The 2020 Elections

WAYNE, NJ — There are a number of factors impacting the 2020 elections, and many of them are making it more confusing when it comes to how to cast your ballot.

Questions surround the United States Postal Service, mail-in ballots, and, of course, the coronavirus pandemic.

Worry not, though, Wayne residents. Passaic County Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhoff has issued an update on best practices for submitting your vote.

For starters, when Gov. Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 177 he signed off on a vote-by-mail ballot for every active, registered voter. This means if you're registered to vote, you'll receive a ballot in the mail.

"This Executive Order aims to ensure voters preserve their constitutional right to vote while upholding the priority of public health during the COVID-19 public health emergency," said Ireland-Imhoff.

These ballots will be mailed to voters by Monday, Oct. 5. Voters will then have several options of how to return those ballots:

• Mail your completed ballot to the Passaic County Board of Elections with the postage-paid envelope provided with your ballot.
• Drop your completed ballot in one of the Secure Drop Boxes located throughout Passaic County. Secure Drop Box locations will be determined and announced by the Passaic County Board of Elections.
• Return your completed ballot to your assigned polling place on
  Election Day.

To the question that inevitably will come from that last option, yes, there are assigned polling places and yes, technically, you will be able to vote at yours.

According to Ireland-Imhoff, there will be limited polling locations for in-person voting on election day. Those who don't complete their vote-by-mail ballot and instead wish to vote in person will be provided a paper provisional ballot.

Like for the primary elections, ADA accessible voting machines will also be available on election day.

The voter registration deadline remains Oct. 13, but voters will have the ability to register on a new system, slated for a Sept. 4 launch. The Clerk's Office said more information on that will be available in the near future.