There will be THREE ways to vote this November ...

1. Vote early in person, at one of three designated "vote centers" using a voting machine, during a nine-day period leading up to Election Day;

2. Vote early by mail-in ballot;

3. Vote on Election Day, in person using a voting machine at your assigned polling place.

For more detailed information about these options, click the corresponding tab on our Elections page.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!  If you have questions about how the 2021 Gubernatorial Election is going to be conducted, call our Election Office at 973-579-0900.

This year, for the first time, New Jersey voters will have the option to vote early on voting machines at "Vote Centers" in their county. The three sites designated as Vote Centers in Sussex County are:

1. Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, County Building
2. Sussex-Wantage Branch Library, Wantage, Google Maps Link
3. Louise Childs Branch Library, Hopatcong, Google Maps Link

The Early Voting period for the November 2, 2021 General Election is October 23 thru October 31, with the following hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Registered voters will receive a Sample Ballot in the mail 1-2 weeks before Election Day, which will provide address information for the Vote Centers, as well as voting hours.

NOTE! Voters who are scheduled to receive mail-in ballots will not be able to vote using a voting machine unless they first opt out of vote-by-mail.

Questions about polling sites and/or hours should be directed to the Sussex County Board of Elections.

Mail-in Ballots (also called "Absentee Ballots") are available up to 45 days prior to major elections. To receive your ballot by mail, download a Mail-In Ballot Application and complete Sections 1-9* and mail your signed application to: Sussex County Clerk's Office, 83 Spring St., Suite 304, Newton, NJ  07860. In order to receive your ballot by mail, your application must be received by our office a minimum of seven (7) days prior to an election.  Any voter who fails to apply by the deadline may apply in person at our office up to 3:00 p.m. the day before the election. *NOTES:

1. If you prefer to vote by mail in all future elections, be sure to check that box at the top of your Vote By Mail Application.
2. If someone assisted you in completing your Vote By Mail Application, they should complete Section 10 of the application.
3. Once you apply for a mail-in ballot, you will not be allowed to vote at your polling place or one of the county's three vote centers in the same election.

NOTE: See tab below "Instructions on How To Vote by Mail" for more information.

Voters who want to vote early by paper ballot, but who miss the deadline to request a mail-in ballot by mail, may apply to vote an early paper ballot in person at the County Clerk's Office up until 3 p.m. the Monday before Election Day. Regular office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Cochran House Professional Bldg., 83 Spring Street, Suite 304 in Newton. Paid parking lot available on Trinity Street.

STEP 1: When your mail-in ballot arrives, open it right away to make sure your packet is complete

STEP 2: Locate the ballot; read the "Instructions to the Voter"

These appear on your ballot (top left box). Failing to follow the instructions can result in your vote not being counted.

STEP 3: Mark your ballot

STEP 4: Fold your ballot and place it in the pocket of your "certificate" envelope

STEP 5: Complete the "Certificate of Mail-In Voter"

You must sign the certificate where indicated. The signature should match how you signed your name at the time of voter registration. If there is an issue with your signature, the Board of Elections will contact you and give you instructions on how to "cure" your signature issue. (If you are voting a primary ballot you must also declare a party affiliation; you do this by checking the box of the party ballot you voted.) FACT: Signing the "Certificate of Mail-In Voter" is necessary to prevent someone else from voting your mail-in ballot. When your ballot is received by the Board of Elections, board workers will verify that your signature matches their record and then they will detach the certificate from the envelope that contains your ballot. When the envelope is opened and your ballot revealed, there is nothing connecting you to the ballot; your votes remain anonymous.

STEP 6: Place the "Certificate of Mail-In Voter" envelope into the blue return envelope

STEP 7: Return your ballot; you have 3 options

1. Mail your ballot.
2. Deposit it in one of 14 secure Ballot Drop Boxes located in the county.
3. Hand-deliver your ballot to the County Board of Elections (if you designate someone to deliver it for you, that person would be your "bearer" and must complete the boxed bearer section on the front of the blue envelope).

Call our office if you require assistance 973-579-0900, ext. 1507.

Secure ballot drop boxes are available in the following locations for the November 2 General Election:

1. Sussex County Clerk's Office, Newton
2. Andover Township Municipal Building
3. Byram Township Municipal Building
4. Frankford Township Municipal Building
5. Franklin Borough Municipal Building
6. Fredon Township Civic Center
7. Hampton Township Municipal Building
8. Hardyston Township Municipal Building
9. Hopatcong Borough Municipal Building
10. Montague Township Municipal Building
11. Sandyston Township Municipal Building
12. Sparta Township Municipal Building
13. Vernon Township Municipal Building
14. Wantage Township Municipal Building

For those voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day and who missed the deadline to apply by mail for a mail-in ballot, they may authorize a messenger to apply on their behalf, messenger them their ballot, and then deliver their voted ballot to the County Board of Elections. Note that an authorized messenger may not serve as a messenger (or bearer) for more than THREE qualified voters, except that the individual may serve as such for up to FIVE qualified voters if those voters are immediate family members living in the same household as the messenger/bearer. The voted ballots must be delivered to the County Board of Elections by the close of polls on Election Day (which is 8 p.m. for Primary & General elections); the bearer will be required to present official identification before signing the mandated bearer log. To qualify as an authorized messenger …

1. Person must be a registered voter in the county or a family member of the qualified voter.
2. Person CANNOT be a candidate in the election for which the voter is requesting a ballot.

Download a Vote By Mail Ballot Application. You must complete Sections 1-9 and 11 (complete Section 10 only if applicable). The voter authorizes a person to act as an authorized messenger by completing and signing Section 11 of the application. The authorized messenger will be required to present photo ID and apply his/her signature to Section 11 in front of the County Clerk or his designee at the time the application is submitted. Feel free to call the Clerk’s Office with any early voting questions you may have (973-579-0900, ext. 1507)

If you requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming election, or you are on a list to automatically receive mail-in ballots for all future elections, but you do not receive a ballot in the mail, you can request a replacement ballot from the Sussex County Clerk's Office by calling 973-579-0900, ext. 1507.

Do NOT request a replacement ballot if you only need a new envelope; call our office at 973-579-0900, ext. 1507 for new yellow or blue envelopes.

Do NOT request a replacement ballot if you already voted and returned a ballot.

Voters who requested to receive mail-in ballots for all future elections, but who have decided they no longer want to receive ballots by mail can discontinue this service at any time by submitting a request in writing to our office. For your convenience, COMPLETE & RETURN THIS FORM TO OPT-OFF if you no longer want to receive mail-in ballots for all future elections.

Overseas voters are permitted to vote via regular mail, fax, or e-mail. This service is available to Sussex County residents (or former residents) who are living or working outside the United States, including military personnel and their dependents (see Military Voter tab).  Types of "Overseas" voters U.S. citizens living permanently overseas may vote a Federal Overseas Ballot, which allows them to vote for Federal offices only, including President, U.S. Senate, and Congress. U.S. citizens visiting or residing temporarily overseas are eligible to vote the complete ballot of their permanent address in the U.S. Visit fvap.gov for more complete information on overseas voting.

Military servicemen and women and their dependents, and civilians attached to or serving in the military are permitted to vote electronically. For more information on registering to vote or voting absentee while in or attached to the military visit fvap.gov.  Note that voted ballots must be received by the County Board of Elections before the close of polls on Election Day.