Your Vote Counts! How to vote in the 2021 Primary Election

Middlesex County provides easy voting methods,

including voting in-person, mailing ballots through the USPS,

or dropping a ballot in a secure drop box in over 30 locations countywide

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Residents will have many options for casting their votes in the 2021 Primary Election, including: voting in-person, mailing ballots through the USPS, or dropping a ballot in a secure drop box.

The County has created a convenient, easy to use resource to learn about how to vote in the Primary Election, found at Middlesexcountynj.gov/vote.  This site will also be updated to reflect information for the General Election on November 2 as it draws near.

“Voter participation is important to our democracy and participating in elections is our civic duty,” said County Clerk Nancy J. Pinkin. “While elections were significantly changed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s election will once again offer our residents many options for casting their ballot, making it easy to exercise their right to vote.”

Here are the ways to cast a vote in the 2021 Primary Election to be held on June 8:

IN-PERSON VOTING

In-person voting is available to all registered voters in Middlesex county. Voters may vote in-person at their assigned polling place.  To locate a polling location for an upcoming election, click here​.

All polling locations will use new voting machines. The Express Vote XL voting machine is designed to be easy to use by all voters. It utilizes touch screen voting, offers several languages, and is fully ADA accessible.

Voters who receive a Vote by Mail ballot but do not return their ballot may still vote in-person with a provisional ballot at their assigned polling place.

To view a list of instructions and a how-to video, please visit the County’s website here. 

VOTE BY MAIL

For those wishing to vote from the comfort of their home, Middlesex County makes it easy to Vote by Mail.  To receive a mail-in ballot, voters must request one in writing by filling out a Mail-in Ballot Application. A personal signature is required.

The County Clerk’s office must receive Mail-in Ballot applications by mail no later than June 1 for the Primary Election.  Voters may apply for a mail-in ballot in person or by authorized messenger at the Office of the County Clerk in New Brunswick up to 3 pm the day before the election.

Voters can choose one of the following options to return their ballot:

• Mail the ballot through the United States Postal Service.  Please note, mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before 8 pm on Election Day, June 8, 2021.
• Drop the ballot in a designated Middlesex County Board of Elections drop box before 8 pm on Election Day, June 8, 2021.
• Take it directly to the Board of Elections’ Office, 11 Kennedy Boulevard, East Brunswick before 8 pm on Election Day, June 8, 2021.

A list of drop box locations, located in every municipality throughout the County, can be found on the County’s website here. Drop boxes are maintained by the Middlesex County Board of Elections, are secure, and monitored by video surveillance. Ballots are collected from drop boxes on a regular basis.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES

• The deadline to register for the Primary Election is May 18, 2021
• The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by mail for the Primary Election is June 1, 2021
• ​The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot in person is June 7, 2021 by 3 pm

Please note that the deadline for filing change of party affiliation declaration forms has passed for the 2021 Primary Election.  A previously unaffiliated voter can participate in the primary of their choice by affiliating with a party on the day of the election.

For more information on how to register to vote, click here.

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ABOUT MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ

Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 18 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 832,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities and employing nearly 40,000 people. Ranked #1 in the state for best schools, the County offers an award-winning vocational school system, a county college, and workforce development creating a unique ecosystem in which opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century. For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov and find us on Facebook and Instagram.