The Primary Elections

Each year in June, New Jersey holds two Primary elections: the Democratic Primary and the Republican Primary.* The primary elections allow voters to determine which candidates in their respective party will represent their party at the next ensuing General Election in November.

New Jersey's primaries are "closed," which means that registered voters of the state must declare [or affiliate with] either the Republican or Democratic party in advance of Election Day and then vote only in that party's Primary.

*Independent voters, i.e., registered members of the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Natural Law Party, Reform Party, U.S. Constitution Party or the Conservative Party can particpate in the convention of their respective party, according to its bylaws, but they may not vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries.

Affiliating with a Party

Previously affiliated voters may become unaffiliated, and affiliated members may change parties, but they must file the declaration form to do so no later than 50 days before Primary Election Day. Party Affiliation forms are submitted to the County Board of Election, 83 Spring St., Suite 305, Newton, NJ 07860.