To change party affiliation for August primary for Senate, you must act by Wednesday, June 19
Say you are a registered Republican and you want to have a say in the choice between Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Rush Holt and Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
You have just a few days to do the paperwork to be able to cast that vote in the special primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
The same goes for registered Democrats who might to make sure Steve Lonegan wins the Republican nomination.
The last day for a voter to change his or her party affiliation to file a change of party affiliation form is Wednesday, June 19.
”This is an unusual election and the League is committed to combating voter confusion and bolstering participation,” said Kerry Butch, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “Deadlines are quickly approaching and the League is stepping up our efforts to ensure voters are prepared to participate in all three upcoming elections.”
Only the Democratic and Republican parties will be on the ballot for the primary. New Jersey holds closed primaries, meaning voters select from candidates within their declared party. Any voter who declared a party when registering to vote or who previously declared a party during a primary is affiliated with that party and will only be allowed to vote in that party’s primary — unless he or she files a change of party affiliation by June 19.
Such a form must be mailed or delivered to their county or municipal clerk. These forms can be found on the League of Women Voters of New Jersey website at www.lwvnj.org.
Registered yet unaffiliated voters — those who have not declared a party affiliation or voted in a party primary recently — may declare at the polls and vote in that party’s primary.
For answers to questions, call 1-800-792-VOTE (8683).