TOMS RIVER – With the November 4 General Election almost here, Ocean County officials are reminding voters they have various voting options to participate in the election process.

In addition to going to the polls on Election Day to cast their ballot in the traditional manner, voters can also use a Vote-by-Mail ballot or go to one of 10 early voting locations beginning this Saturday, October 25.

Early voting runs from Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 2. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"Early voting allows you to vote at a location that might be convenient for your work or your home. It is also a convenient way to cast a ballot should you be away on Election Day," said John P. Kelly, Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

The early voting sites in Ocean County are:

· Berkeley Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville
· Brick Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick
· Jackson Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson
· Lacey Community Center (Former Knights of Columbus Building), Room C, 15 East Lacey Road, Lacey Township
· Lakewood Township Municipal Building, Courtroom, 231 Third Street, Lakewood
· Upper Shores Branch of the Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Avenue, Lavallette
· Little Egg Harbor Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor Township
· Ocean County Southern Service Center, Nutrition Site, 179 South Main Street, Manahawkin
· Manchester Township Branch of the Ocean County Library, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester Township
· Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River

"It doesn't matter which early voting site you choose to cast your vote. All 10 sites have the ballots for all 33 municipalities. Early voting allows you to vote in person on secure, state-of-the-art voting machines and electronic poll books so that any voter from any election district can cast the proper ballot at any of the 10 locations in the County," said Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione, Liaison to the Ocean County Clerk.

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

"The website and the sample ballots contain the information voters need to determine the best and most convenient way for them to cast a ballot," said Acting Ocean County Clerk John Catalano. "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."

Catalano 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. Voters must refer to their sample ballot for their Election Day polling location.

More than 455,000 sample ballots will be delivered to Ocean County's registered voters. The ballots are also available online on the Ocean County Clerk's website.

Catalano said the offices on the ballot in the General Election include the candidates running for Governor/Lt. Governor, General Assembly, Ocean County Sheriff, Ocean County Clerk, Ocean County Commissioners, numerous municipal local offices, school board contests, and Fire Commissioners.

Catalano noted that as of October 17, the Office of the County Clerk issued 62,043 Vote-by-Mail ballots, including 24,568 to registered Democrats, 14,520 to undeclared voters, and 25,295 to registered Republicans.

"With two weeks until Election Day, more than 22,676 voters, or 36 percent, have already returned their Vote-by-Mail ballots to the Board of Elections," Catalano said.

Vote-by-Mail applications can be downloaded from the Ocean County Clerk's website. The deadline to receive the Vote-by-Mail ballot application in the Ocean County Clerk's Office is October 28. After October 28, voters must appear in person at the Clerk's Office to apply for and pick up a Vote-by-Mail ballot by 3 p.m. on Monday, November 3. A court order is needed for a Vote-by-Mail application after that date and time.

There are 20 secure Vote-by-Mail ballot drop boxes strategically located throughout the County. The ballot drop-off deadline is 8 p.m. on November 4.

"All drop boxes are located on Ocean County properties, so they have cameras in the area and are frequented by County security. It's important our voters know their votes are secure and count," Bacchione said.

The drop-off box locations are:

· Ocean County Library, Barnegat Branch, 112 Burr Street, Barnegat Township
· Beachwood Library Branch, 126 Beachwood Boulevard, 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 East Lacey Road, Forked River
· Upper Shores Branch, Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Avenue, Lavallette
· Little Egg Harbor Township Library Branch, 290 Mathistown Road, Little Egg Harbor Township
· Long Beach Island Library Branch, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City
· Manchester Township Library Branch, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester Township
· Ocean County Northern Resource Center, 225 Fourth Street, Lakewood
· Ocean County Parking Garage, Third Floor, Madison Avenue, Toms River
· Ocean County Career Center (formerly known as the PIC Building), 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 Street, Manahawkin
· Toms River Library Branch, 101 Washington Street, Toms River
· Ocean County Courthouse, 118 Washington Street, Toms River
· Waretown Library Branch, 112 Main Street, Waretown
· 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 Avenue, Toms River, until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The polls are open on Election Day, November 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in all voting districts in Ocean County.

"We encourage our residents to get out and vote for the candidate of your choice," Kelly said.