Important Dates (2012)
NJ Election Chronological Guide
June
June 5
Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Independent Candidates (except for Independent Electors of President and Vice President) for General Election (before 4:00 p.m. of the day of the primary election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-9
June 8
Deadline for Amendments to Defective Petitions for Independent General Election Candidates
(3 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-13
June 11
Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Independent General Election Candidates
(no later than 4 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-10
June 14
Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenge for Independent General Election Candidates
(9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-11
July
July 1
Submission of Evening Registration Plan by County Commissioners of Registration to the Secretary of State
(on or before July 1st)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-2
**In counties where there is a Superintendent of Elections, that office serves as the commissioner of registration; in all other counties it’s the County Board of Election.
July 30
Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Independent Electors of President and Vice President
(before 4:00 p.m. of the 99th day preceding the general election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-9
August
August 2
Deadline for Amendments to Defective Petitions for Independent Electors of President and Vice President
(3 days after filing deadline)
August 3
Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Independent Electors of President and Vice President
(no later than 4 days after filing deadline)
August 6
Deadline for Submission of Proposed Amendments to the State Constitution to be Voted Upon at the General Election
(not less than 3 months prior to submission to the voters)
NJ Constitution, Article IX, Par. 3
August 8
Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenges for Independent Electors of President and Vice President
(9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions)
August 13
Deadline for Secretary of State to Submit to the County Clerks the Statement of All Duly Nominated Candidates for General Election
(not later than 86 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-22
August 13
Drawing of Ballot Position for General Election Candidates by the County Clerks
(85 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-12
August 17
Deadline for Submission of Non-binding County and Municipal Public Questions to the County Clerks for Printing on the General Election Ballot
(81 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:37-1
August 28
Deadline for Submission of Public Questions (Other Than Proposed Amendments to the NJ Constitution)
(not less than 70 days following final action of the Governor or the Legislature)
NJ Constitution, Article II, Sec. 1, P. 2
August 31
Deadline for Submission to the County Clerk of Municipal Non-binding Public Questions Adopted by the Municipal Governing Body Upon the filing of a Qualified Petition by the Local Electorate
(67 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.1
September
September 4
Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for New Nomination Petition to fill a Vacancy for Independent Candidate for the General Election
(before 4:00 p.m. on or before 64th day prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-19
September 4
Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be voted at the November General Election
(on or before 64th prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 40:45-8
September 6
Deadline for Amendment to Defective Petitions for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be voted at the November General Election
(not later than 61 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 40:45-9
September 8
Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates
(no later than 4 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-10
September 11
Last Day Vacancy Can Occur for Primary Election Nominees for the General Election
(56 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-20
September 11
Publication of Notice of Mail-In Ballot Availability for General Election by County Clerks
(prior to the 55th day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-6
September 12
Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenge to Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be Voted at the November General Election
(9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-20
September 13
Deadline for Filling Primary Nominee Vacancy for General Election
(54 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-20
September 13
Drawing of Ballot Positions for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be Voted at the November General Election
(for any county Municipal Clerk must coordinate Ballot Draw)
September 16 - October 15
Publication of Notice of General Election by County Boards of Election
(within 30 days before the close of registration election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-7
September 17*
Deadline for Preparation of Official General Election Ballot for Printing
(50 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-1 * County Commissioner of Registration is to provide notice to the two County Chairpersons of the date to inspect voting machines after they have been prepared for the upcoming election. This date will vary from county to county. N.J.S.A. 19:48-6
September 22
Commencement of Mailing of Mail-In Ballots for General Election
(45 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-5, N.J.S.A. 19:63-9
October
October 16
Voter Registration Deadline for General Election
(21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-6
October 16
Mandated Evening Voter Registration Available for General Election in Offices of County Commissioners of Registration
(optional for Municipal Clerks)
(21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-2
October 23
Deadline for Filing of Challenger Appointments for General Election
(second Tuesday preceding election)
N.J.S.A. 19:7-3
October 28 - November 3
Publication of Notice of General Election by County Boards of Election
(once during the calendar week prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-7
October 30
Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for General Election by County Boards of Election
(7 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-9
October 30
Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for General Election
(not less than 7 days prior to election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
October 31
Mailing of Sample Ballots for General Election
(on or before 12 noon on Wednesday preceding the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:14-25
November
November 2
Deadline for Application to Receive General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters
(4th day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:59-4
November 5 – by 3:00 p.m.
Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for General Election
(up to 3:00 p.m. on the day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
November 5
Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for General Election by County Boards of Election
(1 day before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:12-9
November 6
Last Day for Testing of Electronic Scanning Equipment for Tabulation of Paper Ballots for General Election
(day of election)(notice to be given 48 hours prior to the start of testing)
N.J.S.A. 19:53A-8
November 6
General Election
(Tuesday after first Monday in November)
N.J.S.A. 19:2-3, N.J.S.A. 19:15-2
November 6
Deadline for Submission of General Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election
(by 8:00 p.m. on the day of election)
N.J.S.A. 19:63-16
November 7 - November 21
Impoundment Period for Voting Machines Used in the General Election
(15 days following election)
N.J.S.A. 19:52-6
November 12
Meeting of County Board of Canvassers for General Election
(Monday next after the election)(Board can adjourn twice - up until Friday, November 18)
N.J.S.A. 19:19-1; N.J.S.A. 19:19-4; N.J.S.A. 19:19-6
November 21
Deadline for Recount Applications for General Election
(within 15 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:28-1
November 21
Deadline for Applications for Recheck of Voting Machines Used in the General Election
(within 15 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:52-6
November 21
Deadline for Preparation of Emergency and Provisional Ballot Reports by Each County Board of Election for the General Election
(within 15 days after the election or 3 days after the certification of the results of the election)
N.J.S.A. 19:53B-21, N.J.S.A. 19:53C-21
December
December 4
Deadline for Meeting of Board of State Canvassers to Certify General Election Results
(on or before the 28th day after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:21-1
December 6
Deadline for Filing of Election Contest Petitions for General Election
(not later than 30 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:29-3
