Elections matter. The people we elect to represent us – from the White House to the State House to City and Town Council – hold tremendous power to advance environmental conservation or can threaten natural resource protections. With your vote and support, we can elect environmentally responsible candidates across the state!
We also believe that a free, fair, and equitable political process is essential to advancing protections that are critical to our health, our environment, and future generations. To achieve this, we must ensure that all people can safely participate in our elections and actively combat voter suppression tactics that most often target people of color.
Every election year, we endorse candidates whom we expect to be environmental champions as well as ballot measures that protect and restore New Jersey’s environment. See which candidates we have endorsed for the 2021 election.
Key Election Dates
October 12 – Deadline to register to vote in the General Election
October 23-31 - Early in-person voting is open for the General Election
October 26 – Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail for General Election
November 1 – Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot in person for General Election
November 2 – General Election Day
Voting Guidance
If you’re filling out a mail-in ballot, here’s how to do it correctly:
- Read the enclosed instructions carefully on how to mark your ballot and be sure to complete the front and back of each page. Vote in every race on the ballot you’re comfortable with, and do your research if you need to know more.
- Put your ballot into the inner certification envelope. Fill out and sign the certificate, keeping it attached to the inner envelope.
- Seal the certificate envelope, and then place it into the pre-paid mailing envelope.
- Once you complete your ballot, return it right away. There are a number of ways you can do this:
- Mail it back — the sooner you do it the better, but all mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day and received by the County Board of Elections within 144 hours (6 days) after the close of polls.
- Drop it into a secure ballot drop box in your county.
- Take it directly to your County Board of Elections office.
- After you return your ballot, you can track its status using the state’s online tool.
If you’re voting in person, polls are open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find your polling place here.