Authorized Messenger

For those voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day and who do not have enough time 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 …

  • Person must be a registered voter in the county or a family member of the qualified voter.
  • Person CANNOT be a candidate in the election for which the voter is requesting a Mail-In 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)