OCEAN COUNTY – Voters in the county now have several options when it comes to casting their ballots for the rapidly approaching June 10 primary elections.
Early voting in Ocean County will start on June 3 and continues through June 8 at 10 locations throughout the county.
Voters can always cast their vote in the traditional way on Primary Election Day, June 10, by visiting their local polling place. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters can also vote by mail and the deadline to apply for and obtain a vote by mail ballot in person is June 9 by 3 p.m.
Acting Ocean County Clerk John Catalano is encouraging voters to review the sample ballots sent out from his office. The Ocean County Clerk’s Office is sending out more than 400,000 sample ballots this year to registered voters.
Catalano said, “voters should carefully review their sample ballots. There is a wealth of helpful information included. In addition, poll workers will be available at polling locations to assist voters casting their ballots.”
He also noted that the information on the sample ballots – including poll locations, vote by mail drop box locations and early voting locations – is also available on the Ocean County Clerk’s website at clerk.co.ocean.nj.us.
“The Ocean County Clerk and his staff along with the Ocean County Board of Elections work diligently to make sure elections run smoothly in the county and that all votes are counted and are secure,” Ocean County Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione, liaison to the Ocean County Clerk’s Office said.
Bacchione called voting “a fundamental right” and noted that it was “imperative that elections are convenient and secure for our residents. She pledged to “take every step to ensure the integrity of every vote that is cast.”
Hours for early voting are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June 3 to June 7 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 8. Catalano said “registered voters in Ocean County can cast a ballot at any of the early voting locations. For instance, if you live in Stafford Township but work in Toms River, you can cast your vote at the main branch of the Ocean County Library during early voting.
“The voting machines are programmed to provide you with the appropriate ballot for the town you live in,” he added.
Photo by Bob Vosseller
The 10 early voting locations are:
Berkeley Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville.
Brick Library, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick.
Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson.
Lacey Township Community Center (formerly the Knights of Columbus Building) 15 East Lacey Road, Forked River.
Lakewood Municipal Building, Courtroom, 231 3rd St., Lakewood.
Upper Shores Branch of the Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette.
Little Egg Harbor Library, 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor.
Ocean County Southern Service Center, Nutrition Hall, 179 South Main Street, Manahawkin.
Manchester Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester.
Toms River Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River.
Those who prefer to vote in person on Primary Election Day will need to cast their votes at the poll location noted on their sample ballot. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting by mail has become a convenient option and Catalano said voters can apply – by mail – for a vote by mail ballot by June 3. After that date voters have to apply for a ballot in person at the Ocean County Clerk’s Office located at 118 Washington Street, Toms River. The final deadline to apply in person for a vote by mail ballot is June 9 at 3 p.m.
“We remind and urge all voters who have received a vote by mail ballot to return their ballot to the Board of Elections by the close of polls at 8 p.m. on Tuesday June 10. Voters can return their vote by mail ballot through the United States mail (postage paid-free of charge); drop their ballot at a vote by mail drop box or deliver it to the Ocean County Board of Elections at 129 Hooper Ave. in Toms River,” Catalano said.
A list of all drop box locations is included with each vote by mail ballot. Ballots may be deposited at any of the locations.
All vote by mail ballots must be returned or postmarked by 8 p.m., June 10. As of May 20, the Ocean County Clerk’s Office has issued 44,843 vote by mail ballots to registered voters for the June 10 primary.
“Of the total issued, 22,858 were issued to Democrats and 21,985 were issued to Republicans,” Catalano said. “The number of vote by mail ballots returned so far to the Ocean County Board of Elections total 13,980.
Catalano noted that 2025 is a gubernatorial election along with candidates for state Assembly, county and local races on the ballot. “As a result of a federal court decision and recent legislation this year, the primary ballot is now a block style ballot with all candidates and the respective office listed in that block.”
“The sample ballot highlights the changes. It is advantageous for all voters to review the sample ballot that they will receive in the mail. Voters should take time to review the new ballot style prior to casting their vote,” he added.
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