Voter Registration Deadlines Loom for Special, General Elections

With the special U.S. Senate race coming weeks ahead of the November general election, the deadlines have moved up if you need to register to vote this year.

New voters who want to participate in the special election between Republican Steve Lonegan and Democrat Cory Booker, slated for Oct. 16, need to be registered by the middle of this week.

That election comes on top of a secondary deadline—if you miss out on the special election, the deadline to register to vote in the November general election, which includes the governor’s race this year, is Oct. 15.

County clerk’s offices—including the Ocean County Clerk in Toms River—will have mandatory extended hours to accommodate last-minute voter registrations on Wednesday, the deadline for the special election.

In addition to the gubernatorial election, which pits incumbent Republican Chris Christie against Democrat Barbara Buono, November’s general election will also feature races for the state Assembly and Senate.