Sussex County Clerk Offices Closed July 4, 2019, Independence Day
News
National Passport Center experiencing processing delays
The standard processing time to apply for and obtain a U.S. Passport Book or Card has gone from 4-6 weeks to 6-8 weeks. Persons interested in foreign travel in need of a passport should allow for the current delay.
Applicants can still pay additional fees to expedite their passport application, with options of either a 3-4 week turnaround or as little as 2-3 weeks.
Depending on when you plan to apply and how many persons are in your party, an appointment may be necessary.
Visit our PASSPORT site for more information on obtaining a passport book or card, or call the Clerk’s Office at 973-579-0900 for more information.
Want to run as an Independent candidate this November?
If you’re planning on running as an independent candidate in the 2019 November General Election, you will have to file your direct petition with the County Clerk no later than 4 p.m. June 4th.
Direct petitions are available to candidates not participating in the county’s June 4 Primary elections. Petitions can be picked up between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. from the Sussex County Clerk’s Office, 83 Spring Street, Suite 304 in the Cochran House Professional Bldg in Newton. Call 973-579-0900 for more information.
Has my voted ballot been received yet?
Voters can register online to check the status of their Mail-In Ballot…
Voters who want to check the status of their voted mail-in ballot can do so by setting up a personalized account with the NJ Division of Elections; follow the instructions below:
- Go to https://njelections.org/
- Click “Am I Registered?”
- Click “NJ Voter Information Page“
- Click “Sign Up for Public Access“
- Enter your information as it’s found in your Voter Registration file:
- Last Name
- First Name
- County of Residence
- Enter Voter ID (Most successful)
NOTE: Your Voter Id# is listed on both the outer mailing envelope that your ballot came in, and on the inner envelope used to return your voted ballot to the Board of Elections.- If you do not know your Voter ID, you may enter your Driver License # instead ONLY if you registered to vote using your DL# as ID
- If you do not know your Voter ID AND you didn’t register with your DL#, you may enter the last 4 digits of your SSN ONLY if you registered to vote using your last 4 SSN as ID
- Click Sign Up for Access
Once you’ve successfully created an account, you’ll be prompted to log in. To check your mail-in ballot status, scroll down to the bottom of your screen and click “Mail-In Ballot History”; the current election will be listed first. Look at the column labeled “Ballot Received Date” to see if/when your ballot was received by the County Board of Elections.
Access to your online account will be available to you year-round for all upcoming elections. If you’ve chosen to vote-by-mail in all future elections, it would be a great idea to set up an account for continued access to your voting records.
NOTE: If you were unsuccessful in creating an account online, you’ll need to contact the Sussex County Board of Elections to check your Voter ID.
Kid Nicholas Going Gold for Kids is a local program of the American Childhood Cancer Organization
As you can imagine, cancer treatment is not a quick or easy process and can be particularly difficult for children with cancer and for their families. Children with cancer can spend anywhere from weeks to months at a time in the hospital, and they endure treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and more.
Kid Nicholas Going Gold 4 Kids is a Founding Hope program of the American Childhood Cancer Organization that supports local families in New Jersey. In May of 2017, a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblyman Parker Space (both R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) was signed by Governor Chris Christie to promote education and awareness about childhood cancer. The resolution was inspired by Nicholas DaSilva, Kid Nicholas Going gold for Kids.
September is childhood cancer awareness month. The resolution designates the third week in September of each year as “Go Gold for Kids with Cancer Awareness Week.” Childhood Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in American children under the age of 19. Schools will be encouraged to host appropriate activities and programs that promote a better understanding of childhood cancer. We would also like to encourage all public officials and the citizens of the state to join in wearing a gold ribbon, which is the international awareness symbol for childhood.
We respectfully request your help to mark your town’s calendar for the third week of September and to help us make childhood cancer awareness month as successful as possible by participating in awareness initiatives. By doing so, your town can help us give HOPE to even more children and families in NJ and allow us to continue having a positive impact in a child’s cancer battle! To learn more about us please visit https://www.acco.org/kidnic/. Thank you for your support and consideration!
Warm regards,
Kid Nicholas Going Gold for Kids
“Kid Nicholas Going Gold 4 Kids” is a local program of the American Childhood Cancer Organization, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization. © 2017 American Childhood Cancer Organization®. All Rights Reserved.
Renovations to Clerk’s Office Are Complete!
The County Clerk welcomes visitors back to Suite 304 in the Cochran House Professional Building. The Clerk’s staff were temporarily relocated while renovations were made to Suite 304, improving the office for staff and customers alike. Among the improvements are new privacy stations for in-person voting.
Voting in New Jersey Is Easier Than Ever!
VOTE EARLY
Easy, Convenient, Saves Time & Gas
Voting in New Jersey is easier than ever!
*No Waiting*
*Increased opportunities to cast your ballot*
*No Long Lines*
How do I obtain a Vote Early Ballot?
• Call your County Clerk and simply ask to have a Vote Early Ballot Application mailed to your address; or
• Go online, download the application from your County Clerk’s website and mail to your County Clerk; or
• Apply in person at your County Clerk’s Office. If you apply in person 40 days or less prior to an election, you can obtain your ballot while you wait.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is there a deadline for Vote Early Applications?
A: Yes. Application by mail must be received at least 7 days before Election Day for a ballot to be mailed to you. However, voters can obtain ballots in person beginning 45 days before an election until 3:00 PM the day before the election.
Q: Is there a deadline for returning Vote Early Ballots?
A: Yes. Your voted early ballot must be received by the county Board of Elections and must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received no later than 48 hours after the time of the closing of the polls.
Q: Can I apply for another voter?
A: NO. Registered voters MUST apply for and sign their own Vote Early application. However, they may receive assistance in filling out and delivering the application. The assistor must complete Section 10 of the application and sign where indicated.
For more information, please contact your Sussex County Clerk.
Jeffrey M. Parrott (973) 579-0900 www.sussexcountyclerk.org
Election Board: (973) 579-0950
Military Family Night Out (MFNO) Program Begins Wednesday, March 6th, 2019!
MFNO will be held at St. Francis de Sales Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.
Complimentary dinner is provided each week, guest speakers that specialize in resources and services for military families and an added bonus, $300.00 gift card incentives for families who graduate the program.
To register contact Ayla Bower, 973-383-4787 ext 251 or ayla@centerforprevention.org for more information.
Is Your Passport Up to Date?
It’s cold. Maybe you’re ready to send the Polar Vortex packing and get yourself packing, too — for an early Spring getaway! Keep in mind, if your destination takes you to some tropical paradise outside the U.S., you’ll want to make sure your passport is valid. If you don’t yet have a passport, don’t worry – we can help you get one!
Your Sussex County Clerk’s Office is an authorized passport acceptance facility. Whether you’re a first-time applicant, or you find you’re ineligible to renew your old passport by mail, County Clerk staff will review your paperwork to ensure your application and supporting documentation are in order.
Check the validity of your passport (and those of family members traveling with you) as soon as you think about traveling. Knowing you are prepared in advance is the best first step toward a relaxing travel experience. Keep in mind that the routine processing time for a passport is four to six weeks, but during peak travel season (early spring through mid-summer) that timeframe easily extends the full six weeks. You can pay an additional fee to expedite your application if necessary and reduce that time to three weeks – but again, the best defense is to apply early and avoid worry and rush fees.
Once you’ve taken steps to ensure you and your family have valid passports for travel, visit www.travel.state.gov to learn about steps you can take before traveling to ensure a safe and healthy trip and improve your overall experience abroad.
If your travel plans fall on or around a scheduled Election Day, consider applying for a Vote By Mail Ballot Application before you leave. Call the County Clerk’s Election Division with questions about early voting by mail (973-579-0900, ext. 1507).
For more information about passports visit https://sussexcountyclerk.org/passports/ or call the Clerk’s Office at 973-579-0900.
Real ID deadline extended for New Jersey
The October 10, 2018 deadline for New Jersey to comply with the Real ID Act has been extended again — this time until October 10, 2019.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), New Jersey has been granted another extension for REAL ID enforcement, allowing Federal agencies to accept driver licenses and identification cards from New Jersey at Federal facilities, nuclear power plants and federally regulated commercial aircraft until October 10, 2019.
After October 10, 2019 NJ citizens will need more than their state-issued driver license to board domestic flights.
Other federally accepted forms of I.D. for domestic air travel include the U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card. Travelers who do not already possess a U.S. Passport may want to consider applying for one or both. The Passport Book also allows you to fly internationally, while the Passport Card limits you to domestic air travel and/or international travel by land or sea ports of entry.
Your County Clerk’s Office is a certified U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility and can assist you with the application process. Visit our Passport Page for more information on what’s needed to apply for a U.S. Passport Book or Card.
Visit DHS for possible NJ extension updates and to learn more about REAL ID.