WITH the General Election on Nov. 5 almost here, Ocean County officials are reminding voters they have various voting options to participate in the election process.

"It wasn't all that long ago that a voter's voting option was to head to the polls on Election Day to cast their ballots," said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioner Gary Quinn. "And while that traditional option remains available, with the addition of early voting and vote by mail, voters can certainly participate in this year's election casting their ballot easily and conveniently."

Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 26 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3 with 10 locations. The hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. all other days.

"Early voting allows you to vote at a location that might be convenient to your work or your home," Quinn said. "It is also a convenient way to cast a ballot should you be away on Election Day."

"It doesn't matter which early voting site you choose to cast your vote," Quinn said. "All 10 sites have the ballots for all 33 municipalities. Early voting allows you to vote in person, on a secure state of the art technology voting machine and electronic poll book so that any voter from any election district can cast the proper ballot at any of the 10 locations in the County."

One of the best websites for information on voting in the General Election is the Ocean County Clerk's website. Voters can visit the Ocean County Clerk's website to find information on Vote by Mail ballots, early voting and to view sample ballots to assist on casting a ballot on Election Day. The website address is oceancountyclerk.com.

"The website and also the sample ballots contain the information voters need to determine the best and most convenient way for them to cast a ballot," said Ocean County Clerk Scott M. Colabella. "Ocean County voters still like to vote the traditional way by heading to the polls on Election Day to cast a ballot. Other voters are seeing the convenience in mail-in ballots and early voting."

Colabella added that the sample ballot mailed to your home contains important information including early voting locations and vote by mail ballot drop box locations throughout Ocean County.

"Of course it also tells your polling location where you can cast your ballot on Election Day," he said.

About 471,000 sample ballots will be delivered to Ocean County's registered voters. The ballots are also available online on the Ocean County Clerk's website.

Colabella said the offices on the ballot in the General Election includes the candidates running for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congressional Districts 2 and 4, Ocean County Commissioners, and numerous municipal local offices and school board contests.

Colabella noted that as of Oct. 18, the Office of the County Clerk issued 68,015 vote by mail ballots including 24,704 to registered Democrats, 18,666 to undeclared voters and 24,645 to registered Republicans.

"With two weeks to Election Day, more than 34,766 voters or 51 percent have already returned their vote by mail ballots to the Board of Elections," Colabella said. "We know these numbers already surpass the 2016 total of 29,202."

Colabella added this was the first presidential election where in-person early voting on a machine is available to voters in New Jersey.

Vote by mail applications can be downloaded from Ocean County Clerk's website. The deadline to mail the ballot using the U.S Postal Service is Oct. 29. After that date, the voter must appear in person at the Clerk's Office to apply and pick up a vote by mail ballot with 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 the cutoff for issuing vote by mail ballots. A court order is needed for a vote by mail application after that date and time.

Quinn noted there are 20 secure vote-by-mail ballot drop off boxes strategically located throughout the County. The drop off deadline is 8 p.m., Nov. 5.

"Most of these boxes are located on Ocean County Library branch properties, so they have security cameras in the area and are frequented by security," Quinn said. "It's important our voters know their votes are secure and count."

The early voting sites in Ocean County are: the Berkeley Township branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville; the Brick Township branch of the Ocean County Library, 301 Chambersbridge Road, Brick; the Jackson Township branch of the Ocean County Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson; The Lacey Community Center, (Former Knights of Columbus Building, Room C, 15 E Lacey Road, Lacey Township; The Lakewood Township Municipal Building, Courtroom, 231 3rd St., Lakewood; the Upper Shores Branch of the Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette; the Little Egg Harbor Township Branch of the Ocean County Library; 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor Township; the Ocean County Southern Service Center, nutrition site, 179 S Main St., Manahawkin; the Manchester Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 21 Colonial Dr., Manchester Township and the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River.

The drop off box locations are: Ocean County Library, Barnegat Branch, 112 Burr St., Barnegat Township; Beachwood Library branch, 126 Beachwood Blvd., Beachwood; Berkeley Township Library branch, 30 Station Road, Bayville; Brick Township Library branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick Township; Jackson Township Library branch, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson Township; Lacey Township Library branch, 10 E. Lacey Road, Forked River; Upper Shores Branch, Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette; Little Egg Harbor Township Library branch, 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor Township; Long Beach Island Library branch, 217 S. Central Ave., Surf City, and Manchester Township Library branch, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester Township.

Also, the Ocean County Northern Resource Center - 225 4th St., Lakewood; Ocean County Parking Garage, 3rd Floor, Madison Ave., Toms River; PIC, Inc. of Ocean County, 1959 Route 9, Toms River; Plumsted Township Library branch, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt; Point Pleasant Library branch, 834 Beaver Dam Road, Point Pleasant; Ocean County Southern Service Center, 179 South Main St., Manahawkin; Toms River Library branch, 101 Washington St., Toms River; Ocean County Courthouse, 118 Washington St., Toms River; Waretown Library branch, 112 Main St., Waretown, and the Whiting Reading Center/Library, 400 Lacey Road, Suite 5, Whiting.

Vote by mail ballots can also be dropped off at the Ocean County Board of Elections Office at 129 Hooper Ave., Toms River, until 8 p.m. Election Day.

The polls are open on Election Day, Nov. 5 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in all voting districts in Ocean County.
"We encourage our residents to get out and vote," said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea. "Casting your ballot will always be the anchor to our democracy and to have your voice heard."