What you need to know about this year’s general election
The Oct. 15 Candidates’ Night Forum for those running for seats on Hopewell Valley’s three municipal governing bodies can be viewed on cable TV.
The 90-minute forum is being televised on Channel 19 throughout the Valley for Comcast viewers, and on Channel 32 for Verizon customers.
Rebroadcasts will continue through Nov. 3, on the following schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m.
The general election is Nov. 4. Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Election information is available at www.njelections.org and from the League of Women Voters at 1-800-792-VOTE.
Voters can find background information on the two public questions they’ll see on the ballot in the Nov. 4 election, as well as how U.S. Senate and House candidates stand on 10 critical issues, by logging on to the League of Women Voters of NJ web site: www.lwvnj.org.
The first public question asks voters to approve state authority bonds payable from state appropriations.
The second question asks whether the method of selection and appointment of certain municipal court judges should be set by state statute, rather than by the state Constitution.
The state league Web site provides the text of the ballot questions and the interpretive statements that voters will actually see on the ballot. “But, most importantly,” said Hopewell Valley League President Joann Held, “the League provides a listing of the pros and cons that have been identified by parties who support or oppose each question. This type of information will help voters to make informed decisions.”
The League sent questionnaires on 10 issues to all Senate and House candidates. Answers from the candidates on the Web site address energy, education, health care, immigration, the economy, foreign policy, social security, civil liberties, campaign finance reform, and voter ID requirements.
Candidates for U.S. Senate are listed together on the Web site. Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives are listed by district. Hopewell Valley is part of the 12th Congressional District. The general election is Nov. 4. Polls are open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
For information on the election or joining the Hopewell Valley League, call Ms. Held at 737-0867.
The League residents that in New Jersey any registered voter can vote by absentee ballot.
Absentee ballot applications are available from libraries as well as local municipal offices: Hopewell Township, 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville; Hopewell Borough, 4 Columbia Ave., Hopewell; and Pennington Borough, 30 N. Main Street, Pennington.
Mailed absentee ballot applications for Mercer County residents wishing to vote in the Nov. 4 general election must be received by the county clerk in Trenton by Oct. 28. Qualified overseas voters who wish to receive a faxed federal ballot for the general election must apply to the county clerk no later than Oct. 31.
Military absentee ballots are available to registered or unregistered citizens of voting age who are in the military service or the spouses or dependents of those in military service; civilians attached to the armed forces and their spouses or dependents; and patients in veterans’ hospitals. To obtain a military absentee ballot, the voter, a relative or friend may apply to their county clerk or municipal clerk. Applications can also be requested from designated military personnel.
A voter may also apply for an application in person — or by an authorized messenger if the voter is sick or confined — at the county clerk’s office by 3 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Once a voter has applied for an absentee ballot, he/she may not vote at his/her polling place for that election. Absentee ballots may also be returned to the Mercer County Board of Election or delivered personally by the voter or an authorized messenger up until 8 p.m. on election day.
Additional voter information is available from the League of Women Voters, 1-800-792-VOTE, or at: www.njelections.org.

