Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale Caldwell, New Jersey’s chief election official as Secretary of State, reminds voters in New Jersey’s 11^th Congressional District about key deadlines and information regarding the February 5, 2026 Special Primary Election.

The 11^th Congressional District has a vacancy in representation following Governor Mikie Sherrill’s resignation from Congress last November. Voters in the 11^th Congressional District who are registered as Democrats or Republicans can participate in their party’s respective special primary election. Unaffiliated voters living in the district may choose to declare a party affiliation as a Democrat or Republican and participate in that party’s primary.

“Primary voters in the 11^th Congressional District have three convenient ways to cast their vote in the upcoming election,” said Lieutenant Governor Dr. Caldwell. “Voters can vote in person on Thursday February 5 at their respective polling place, at a county early voting site between Thursday January 29 and Tuesday, February 3, or by using a mail-in ballot returned by February 5 at 8 pm.”

“With the implementation of the New Voter Empowerment Act, for the first time in our state’s history, New Jersey’s young voters will be able to participate in our democracy before their 18^th birthday,” continued Lieutenant Governor Dr. Caldwell. “This is an opportunity to develop the habit of civic engagement early and nurture it by voting in every election.”

“17 year olds who will be 18 years old by the April 16 Special General Election Day will be eligible to vote in this primary election,” said Division of Elections Executive Director Donna Barber. “These new voters, and all voters, can find all of the information they need to participate in our elections at vote.nj.gov.”

Following are details and important dates on the three ways to vote in the upcoming Primary Election:

1. At Local Polling Place on Primary Election Day

Eligible registered voters can cast their ballot in person at their polling place from 6 am to 8 pm on Special Primary Election Day, Thursday, February 5.

Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.

Go to VOTE.NJ.GOV for the online polling place search tool on the Polling Locations page.

2. In-Person Early Voting

This option enables all eligible registered voters to cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine prior to the Special Primary Election Day. Voters can choose to vote in person when it is most convenient for their schedule.

No matter where a voter in the 11^th Congressional District lives in their county, they can cast their specific ballot at any of their county’s designated in-person early voting locations. These county locations can be found at VOTE.NJ.GOV on the Early Voting page.

In-Person early voting Thursday, January 29- Tuesday, February 3, 2026.  Early voting locations hours are Monday-Saturday, 10:00 am–8:00 pm and Sunday, 10:00 am–6:00 pm.

No appointment is necessary. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.

3. Using A Mail-In Ballot

Eligible registered voters can apply for a mail-in ballot by following the instructions found at VOTE.NJ.GOV or contacting their County Clerk. Instructions to vote by mail include:

  Go to the Vote-By-Mail page on VOTE.NJ.GOV to download and print an Application for a Mail-in Ballot. Then, mail or deliver the completed application to the voter’s County Clerk. To receive a ballot by mail for the February 5 Special Primary Election, the application must be received by Thursday, January 29.

  Voters can also apply in person at their County Clerk’s office by 3:00 pm on Wednesday, February 4 for the Thursday, February 5 Special Primary Election. Find the contact details at VOTE.NJ.GOV.

Returning a mail-in ballot is once again as easy as VOTE, SIGN, SEAL, RETURN. Return options include:

  Mail: Ballot must be postmarked by 8 pm on Thursday, February 5.

  Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place ballot in one of the secure ballot drop boxes within the voter’s county by 8 pm on Thursday, February 5 for the Special Primary Election. Drop box locations can be found at VOTE.NJ.GOV on the Secure Ballot Drop Box Locations page.

  Board of Elections Office: Deliver in person to the voter’s County Board of Elections by 8 pm on Thursday, February 5.

  NOTE: Mail-in ballots CANNOT be returned to polling places.

For full details on the Thursday, February 5 Special Primary Election, visit VOTE.NJ.GOV, contact local election officials, or call the Voter Information and Assistance Line at 1-877-NJ-Voter (1-877-658-6837).