MAIL-IN BALLOT OPTION AVAILABLE TO VOTERS DISPLACED BY HURRICANE SANDY

Victims of Hurricane Sandy who are unable to get to their regular polling place for Election Day can now submit a mail-in ballot by e-mail or fax to the Monmouth County Clerk of Elections.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and the New Jersey Division of Elections have issued a special state directive allowing any voter displaced from their primary residence because of Hurricane Sandy to be designated as an “overseas voter” and enabling them to use the write-in ballot to cast their vote.

Monmouth County residents fitting this description will be able to submit an application for a mail-in ballot by either fax or e-mail. The deadline to submit these applications is by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The deadline to return the completed voted ballot is 8 p.m. on November 6.

These are the steps displaced Hurricane Sandy victims can follow for their mail-in ballot:

Use the internet to download the application. Go to the Monmouth County site at www.visitmonmouth.com, click on the County Clerks Office,and then click on the link for the application for the mail in ballot. Or go the state website at www.elections.nj.gov and click on the Vote By Mail box.

Complete the application. IN the box for a return address, enter the words “HurricaneSandy.” You can then submit the completed application to the Monmouth County Clerk of Elections by e-mail or fax. The email address is bsumick@co.monmouth.nj.us The fax number is 732-409-4887.

Upon receipt of the application, the Clerk of Elections will determine the authenticity of the ballot request by matching voter signatures. Once the voter is verified, the Clerk will either e-mail orfax the ballot and the waiver of secrecy form back to the voter. If the application was e-mailed, the forms will be e-mailed. If the application was faxed, the forms will be faxed.

The voter must then transmit the signed waiver of secrecy along with their voted ballot by fax or e-mail for receipt to the Monmouth County Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 6.

Any New Jersey registered voter who is displaced within the state of New Jersey may go to any local polling location in the state of New Jersey and vote by provisional ballot. That provisional ballot will then be returned to your county’s Superintendent of Elections. Your vote will be counted for President, U.S. Senate, any of the statewide questions, and for any other local offices or questions for which you are eligible to vote.

County Clerk Claire French stressed that any resident who is a registered voter can vote in person any day between now and Monday at the Board of Elections Office, 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold. The office is open Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.