Today Is The Deadline To Register To Vote In School Elections

Residents not currently registered to vote must do so by the end of the day today if they want to vote in this year's school board election.

Municipal Clerk Kathleen T. West said the will be open until 7:30 p.m. today to give stragglers a little extra time to register before the county comes to collect all the last-minute registrations Thursday morning.

School elections will take place in Barnegat and around the state April 27, with polls open from 2 to 9 p.m. Voters will cast ballots on proposed local school district tax levies and candidates for open Board of Education seats.

In Barnegat, voters will choose from among for three open seats on the school board. Also up for a vote is the . That levy, which supports a total budget of $50.5 million, is the same amount to the dollar as last year's.

Officials have not determined a tax rate for the schools portion of the budget. But because last year's township-wide reassessment resulted in a drop in the total assessed value of township property, it's likely the average homeowner in Barnegat will have at least a slightly higher schools tax bill this year, despite the flat levy.

If the tax levy fails on April 27, it goes to the Township Committee, which can leave it intact or cut it.

Registration: To register to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old by the election date; a U.S. citizen; and a resident of the state and county where they plan to vote 30 days before the election.  

Vote-by-Mail: Any registered New Jersey voter can now vote by mail in any election for any reason. Mail-in ballots are available at the county clerk’s office.

If a resident applies for a vote-by-mail ballot by mail, the application needs to arrive at the county clerk’s office by April 20. People who want to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot in person need to visit the county clerk’s office by 3 p.m. April 26.

Military Ballot: A military absentee ballot may be used by someone who is in the military service; their spouses or dependents; by someone who is a patient of a veteran’s hospital; or by a civilian attached to or serving with the Armed Forces of the United States. Citizens who need a military absentee ballot should contact the county clerk for information and deadlines.

Voter Resources: Additional information, including a printable voter registration form and vote-by-mail instructions, can be accessed by selecting the “Voter Information” link from the New Jersey Division of Elections website.

In addition, NJSBA has created an online Voter Information Center at www.njsba.org/elections that includes resources on the Annual School Election, including links for voter registration and absentee ballot information.