Voter Info
Q. How can I Register to Vote?
A. You can obtain an
application from this website, from your
municipal clerk’s office or from the Board of Elections office. Return
the completed form to the Board of Elections or to your municipal
clerk.
Q. Do I need to bring ID with me to register?
A. If you register in person at the Board of Elections office,
you do not need to show identification. If you are registering by
mail, you must include your driver’s license number or the last four
digits of your social security number on the form.
Q. If I do not include the appropriate ID with my mailed in
registration, will I still be able to vote?
A. Yes. When you go to the polls on Election Day, your
signature block in the poll book will have be flagged with **ID
REQUIRED**. Upon showing the poll worker the appropriate ID you will
be permitted to vote on the voting machine. If proper ID is not shown,
you will still be permitted to vote by Provisional Ballot. You must
then provide the proper ID to the Board of Elections within 48 hours
of Election Day or your ballot will not be counted.
Q. Can I register my child attending college?
A. You can forward the application to your child’s college
address, but your child must complete the application, as his/her
original signature is required.
Q. Can a voter application be mailed to my residence?
A. If you do not have printer capabilities to download the form
from this website, you can
email your address to the Board of
Elections and request an application be sent to your home.
Q. How do I change or declare a party affiliation?
A. You may download the
party affiliation card or
email your
address to the Board of Elections and request a party affiliation card
be sent to your home. Complete and sign the form and return it to the
Board of Elections.
Q. How can I find my polling location?
A. You can find your
polling location
on our website, on the lower left hand corner of your Sample Ballot.
Q. How long are the polls open on Election Day?
A. Polls are open from 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM for the Primary
and General Elections. Poll hours for School Board Elections and
Special Elections will be posted on this website as well as in the
Courier News. You may also contact your local school board. You may
also contact your municipal clerk.
Poll Worker Info
Q. How do I become a poll worker?
A. You must fill out an application and return to our offices.
You may either download a
poll worker application from this website or
email your request complete with your address to the Board of
Elections and an application will be mail to your home.
Q. Do I have to be trained to be a poll worker?
A. Yes. Every poll worker must attend a training class once
every two years to be eligible for full pay.
Q. What time to I have to report for work?
A. Poll workers must be at their assigned location at 5:15 AM
to prepare for the opening of the polls at 6:00 AM for the primary and
general elections. The poll times for the Municipal elections and
School elections are at the discretion of the municipality and school
board respectively.
Q. Will I get a lunch and/or dinner break?
A. Each member is entitled to 1 one-hour break between the
hours of 1:00 PM and 5:00PM.
Q. What if I’ve been assigned to work, but something comes up
last minute that prohibits me working?
A. Please notify the Board of Elections as soon as possible so
that a replacement poll worker may be found.
Voting Machines
Q. What type of voting machine is used in Somerset County?
A. Somerset County uses the AVC Advantage, a direct recording,
electronic (DRE) voting machine manufactured by Sequoia Pacific. The
AVC Advantage is easy to use and offers the highest level of accuracy
and security.
Q. Are the Somerset County voting machines suitable for
handicapped individuals?
A. Yes. The AVC Advantage is completely wheelchair accessible
with no election officer intervention.
Q. In the event of a power outage can the voting machines still
operate?
A. Yes. A built in 16+ hour battery provides uninterrupted use
of the AVC Advantage. Power switches from AC to DC automatically in
the event of a power failure.
Q. How are the voting machines tested?
A. Diagnostic testing occurs automatically every time the
machine is turned on. Continual background testing verifies correct
system operation and data integrity.
Logic and Accuracy tests are performed prior to the current election
and a record is placed in storage. Operator logs document all system
activity during the pre-election, election, and post-election cycle.
Q. How are recorded votes stored?
A. After a voter presses the cast vote button the vote is
processed using multiple independent data paths. Votes are randomized
and stored three different ways to assure absolute secrecy of the
vote, absolute accuracy in vote counting, and absolute verifiability
of results.
Q. Can I write in a candidate not shown on the ballot?
A. Yes. The AVC voting machine has a write-in keyboard that
allows a voter to enter the name of a personal choice candidate
Q. How can I confirm the selection I made on the voting
machine?
A. The visual message display in the keyboard confirms the
selection that you have made.
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