Frequently Asked Questions

Please click the Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more.

You must submit an application to the County Clerk's office Election Division. These applications are available at the County Clerk's Election Division and also at your local municipal clerk's office. You may also download and print an application using the link below.

Download Vote-By-Mail Application

Download Vote-By-Mail Korean Application (우편 투표 신청 - 한국어)

Download Vote-By-Mail Spanish Application (Voto por correo de Aplicación - Español)

Applications must be received in the County Clerk's office (not postmarked) by close of business no later than seven days prior to Election Day. Applications may also be submitted at any time prior to this deadline for any Election in the calendar year. Your ballot will be sent to the address provided on your application.

You, or an Authorized Messenger acting on your behalf, may also apply for a Mail-In Ballot in person at the County Clerk's office at any time up until 3pm on the day before an election. If a circumstance should arise after the 3pm deadline, and you still wish to vote, you or your Authorized Messenger must come to the County Clerk's office before close of business. Arrangements will be made to have you to appear before a Judge, who will issue a Court Order for the County Clerk to issue you a ballot for that election.

If you are a U.S. citizen living overseas either temporarily or indefinitely, you can still vote. You will need to fill out and send us a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) which you can obtain from the website: www.fvap.gov or by clicking on the link below. In Section 1 of this form, you must indicate if you are residing outside of the U.S. temporarily or indefinitely. This application must be renewed every year, in January. Download Federal Post Card Application

Call the County Clerk's Election Division immediately. There are many reasons why an application can be rejected. Usually, this happens because the signature on the application does not match the signature on file in voter registration, or because there is some other discrepancy with your registration. These problems are usually resolved easily, but we can only help if you call the office at (201) 336-7020.

No. Candidates in an election for which a voter is requesting a Mail-In Ballot cannot be an Assistor or Authorized Messenger.

If you are unable to sign your name the way it appears in the Voter Registry, you may indicate your mark, such as an X, in Section 8 of the application. Place this mark on the line provided for your signature. Your name must be printed next to the mark. Any person assisting you with the application must fill in the box and sign his or her name as an Assistor.

In Section 11, you must provide your name, address and signature, thereby identifying yourself as an Assistor.

You may submit a Military Vote-By-Mail Application for any election if you are a registered voter in Bergen County and are any of the following:

  • An active member of the armed forces
  • A spouse or dependent of a member of the armed forces
  • A patient in a veteran's hospital
  • A civilian attached to or in service with the armed forces out of state, or a spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying that person.

You can also obtain a Federal and/or Military Vote-By-Mail Application from the Bergen County Clerk's office, your local municipal clerk's office, from the proper military personnel or from the website: www.fvap.gov. The Application is only valid for one (1) year and must be renewed every year. You will receive a Mail-In Ballot for each election held in your municipality during that year.

Any voter may apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Authorized Messenger. Messenger shall be a family member or a registered voter of this County. No Authorized Messenger can (1) be a Candidate in the election for which the voter is requesting a Mail-In Ballot or (2) serve as messenger for more than THREE qualified voters per election, except that an authorized messenger or bearer may serve as such for up to five qualified voters in an election if those voters are immediate family members residing in the same household as the messenger or bearer.

See the "Elections Schedule" section for further information.

Any registered voter with a primary residence in Bergen County may use a Mail-In Ballot.

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