Primary Election 2023: Poll closing times, registration info and more as NJ heads to polls

June 6 is Primary Election Day, and citizens throughout New Jersey will be voting in a bevy of local races. Here is everything you need to know to be prepared before heading to the polls.

When do the polls open?

The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Previously, from June 2nd to June 4th in-person early voting was available. The polls were open Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. They were open on Sunday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you voted early, then you're set for Election Day.

How do I find my polling place?

New Jersey provides a free tool to look up your polling place. You can find it here.

Where can I find results?

Live results will be available on APP.com after polls close at 8 p.m.

Official results are available on Monmouth County and Ocean County's election websites, respectively.

What am I voting on?

The 2023 primary election is a fairly quiet year in New Jersey. Statewide, county and local offices are up for grabs.

A list of the state senate candidates can be found here. A list of the general assembly candidates can be found here.

There is one contested Assembly race in Monmouth and Ocean Counties — the Republican primary for District 12's Assembly seat, currently occupied by incumbents Assemblyman Alex Sauickie and Robert Clifton. They are being challenged by Old Bridge Board of Education President Salvatore Giordano.

There are several local races throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties that are contested, mainly on the Republican side.

In Monmouth County, the seat for Borough Council is contested in Belmar, Oceanport, and Rumson. Both Oceanport and Marlboro have contested mayoral races. Marlboro’s race for councilmembers-at-large is contested, as is Freehold's Township Committee.

In Ocean County, one seat on the Board of Commissioners is up for grabs. In Point Pleasant Beach, the race for Borough Council is contested, as is their mayoral race. Toms River and Beachwood’s mayoral races are also contested. Beachwood’s seat for Member of Council is contested, as is Toms River’s seat for Councilmember-at-large. Plumsted has two contested seats for the Township Committee.

Who can vote in the primary election?

In New Jersey, people who are registered to a political party are eligible to vote in the Primary Election. New Jersey has a closed primary system, meaning that voters select the candidate from a political party they wish to see move on to the general election. In a closed-party system, if you are a registered Democrat, then you may only vote for candidates from the democratic party. And if you are a Republican, you may only vote for candidates from the republican party.

For those who are unaffiliated with a party or are registered to a third party, you may still vote on nonpartisan issues.

Can I still register to vote in the primary election?

No. The deadline to register to be able to vote in the primary election was May 16th.

How do I know if I’m registered to vote?

You can check your registration status here.

Can I vote by mail?

The deadline to apply for a mail ballot was June 5th. If you registered and received a mail-in-ballot, then you can vote by mail.

You must return the mail ballot via a secure lockbox by 8 p.m. on June 6, or by mail postmarked by 8 p.m. on June 6.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Primary Election 2023: Poll closing times, voter info and more