2022 General Election Timeline

June
June 3 - June 5 Early Voting Period   N.J.S.A.15A-1

June 3 - Deadline for Application to Receive Primary Election Mail-in Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters   N.J.S.A. 19:59-4

June 6 - by 3:00 PM Deadline for in-Person Mail-in Ballot Applications for Primary Election   N.J.S.A. 19:63-3

June 6 - Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for Primary Election by County Boards of Election   N.J.S.A. 19:12-9

June 7 - Primary Election Day N.J.S.A. 19:2-1, N.J.S.A. 19:23-40

June 7 - Last Day for Testing of Electronic Scanning Equipment for Tabulation of Paper Ballots for Primary Election N.J.S.A. 19:53A-8

June 7 Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Independent Candidates for General Election (before 4:00 p.m. of the day of the primary election) N.J.S.A. 19:13-9

June 7 School & Fire District to Submit Notice to County Clerks of Available Offices for Upcoming General Election (on or before primary election) N.J.S.A. 19:60-7

June 10 Deadline for Amendments to Defective Petitions for Independent General Election Candidates (3 days after filing deadline) N.J.S.A. 19:13-13

June 13 – 4 p.m. Filing Deadline for Objections to Nomination Petitions for Independent General Election Candidates (before 4 p.m. no later than 4 days after filing deadline) To comply with P.L. 2022, c.7

June 16 Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenge for Independent General Election Candidates (9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions) N.J.S.A. 19:13-11

July
July 1 Submission of Evening Registration Plan by County Commissioners of Registration to the Secretary of State (on or before July 1st) N.J.S.A. 19:31-2

**In counties where there is a Superintendent of Elections, that office serves as the Commissioner of Registration; in all other counties it is the County Board of Election.

July 4 Publication of Notice of Fire District Nomination Petition Filing Deadline by the Board of Fire Commissioners (21 days prior to the nomination petition filing deadline) N.J.S.A. 40A:14-72(c)

July 25 Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for School & Fire District Election Candidates for General Election (last Monday in July) N.J.S.A. 19:60-7

July 28 Deadline for Amendments to Defective Petitions for School & Fire District Election Candidates (3 days after filing deadline) N.J.S.A. 19:13-13

July 29 Filing Deadline for Objections to Nomination Petitions for School & Fire District Election Candidates (no later than 4 days after filing deadline) N.J.S.A. 19:13-10

August
August 4 Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenge for School & Fire District Election Candidates for General Election (10 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions) N.J.S.A. 19:60-7

August 6 Deadline for Filing in Superior Court to Protect School & Fire District Election Candidate’s Rights (12 days after petition filing deadline) N.J.S.A. 19:60-7

August 8 Deadline for Submission of Proposed Amendments to the State Constitution to be Voted Upon at the General Election (not less than 3 months prior to submission to the voters) NJ Constitution, Article IX, par. 3

August 14 Deadline for Secretary of State to Submit to the County Clerks the Statement of All Duly Nominated Candidates for General Election (not later than 86 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:13-22

August 15- 3 p.m. Drawing of Ballot Position for General Election Candidates by the County Clerks (85 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:14-12

August 19 Deadline for Submission of Non-binding County and Municipal Public Questions to the County Clerks for Printing on the General Election Ballot (81 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:37-1

August 30 Deadline for Submission of Public Questions (Other Than Proposed Amendments to the NJ Constitution) (not less than 70 days following final action of the Governor or the Legislature) NJ Constitution, Article II, Sec. 1, P. 2

August 30 Deadline for Independent Candidates to Decline Nomination for General Election (70 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:13-16

August 30 Deadline for Withdrawal of School Board & Fire District Candidates (70 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:60-7

September September 2 Deadline for Submission to the County Clerk of Municipal Non-binding Public Questions Adopted by the Municipal Governing Body Upon the filing of a Qualified Petition by the Local Electorate (67 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.1

September 6 Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for New Nomination Petition to fill a Vacancy for Independent Candidates and School Election & Fire District Candidates for the General Election (before 4:00 p.m. on or before 64th day prior to election) N.J.S.A. 19:13-19

September 6 Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be voted at the November General Election (on or before 64th day prior to election) N.J.S.A. 40:45-8

September 8 Deadline for Amendment to Defective Petitions for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be voted at the November General Election (not later than 61 days before election) N.J.S.A. 40:45-9

September 9 Deadline to Submit Public Question for November School Board Elections to the County Clerk by the School Board Secretary (60 days before election)  N.J.S.A. 19:60-4

September 10 Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Municipal NonPartisan Candidates (no later than 4 days after filing deadline) N.J.S.A. 19:13-10

September 13 Last Day Vacancy Can Occur for Primary Election Nominees for the General Election (56 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:13-20

September 13 Publication of Notice of Mail-In Ballot Availability for General Election by County Clerks (prior to the 55th day before election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-6

September 15 Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenge to Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be Voted at the November General Election (9 days after the last day for filing nomination petitions) N.J.S.A. 19:13-11

September 15 Deadline for Filling Primary Nominee Vacancy for General Election (54 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:13-20

September 18 - October 17 Publication of Notice of General Election by County Boards of Election (within 30 days before the close of registration election) N.J.S.A. 19:12-7

September 19* Deadline for Preparation of Official General Election Ballot for Printing (50 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:14-1 * County Commissioner of Registration is to provide notice to the two County Chairpersons of the date to inspect voting machines after they have been prepared for the upcoming election. This date will vary from county to county. N.J.S.A. 19:48-6

September 24 Commencement of Mailing of Mail-In Ballots for General Election (45 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-5, N.J.S.A. 19:63-9

October
October 18 Voter Registration Deadline for General Election (21 days before election)  N.J.S.A. 19:31-6

October 18 Mandated Evening Voter Registration Available for General Election in Offices of County Commissioners of Registration (optional for Municipal Clerks) (21 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:31-2

October 25 Deadline for Filing of Challenger Appointments for General Election (second Tuesday preceding election) N.J.S.A. 19:7-3

October 26 Mailing of Sample Ballots for General Election (on or before 12 noon on Wednesday preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election) N.J.S.A. 19:14-25

October 29 - November 6 Early Voting Period (start on the 10th calendar day before a general election and end on the second calendar day before that general election) N.J.S.A. 19:15A-1

October 30 - November 5 Publication of Notice of General Election by County Boards of Election (once during the calendar week prior to election) N.J.S.A. 19:12-7

November
November 1 Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for General Election by County Boards of Election (7 days before election) N.J.S.A. 19:12-9

November 1 Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for General Election (not less than 7 days prior to election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-3

November 4 Deadline for Application to Receive General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters (4th day before election) N.J.S.A. 19:59-4

November 7 – by 3:00 p.m. Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for General Election (up to 3:00 p.m. on the day before election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-3

November 7 Publication of Challenge and Complaint Procedures for General Election by County Boards of Election (1 day before election) N.J.S.A. 19:12-9

November 8 General Election (Tuesday after first Monday in November) N.J.S.A. 19:2-3, N.J.S.A. 19:15-2

November 8 Last Day for Testing of Electronic Scanning Equipment for Tabulation of Paper Ballots for General Election (day of election)(notice to be given 48 hours prior to the start of testing) N.J.S.A. 19:53A-8

November 8 Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the General Election

November 8 Deadline for in Person Submission of General Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election (by 8:00 p.m. on the day of election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-16

November 9 - November 25 Impoundment Period for Voting Machines Used in the General Election (17 days following election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72)

November 10 Deadline for Receipt by County Boards of Elections of Mail-In Ballots by delivery of the United States Postal Service that DO NOT Bear a Postmark of Delivery (no later than 48 hours (2 days) after the time of the closing of the polls for the election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-22

November 14 Deadline for Receipt of Timely Mailed Postmarked Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election (no later than 144 hours (6 days) after the time of the closing of the polls for the election) N.J.S.A. 19:63-22

November 19 Deadline for Receipt of Cure Form to County Boards of Election (no later than 48 hours (2 days) prior to the final certification of the results of the election) (an exact deadline date cannot be provided as certification date varies by county) N.J.S.A. 19:63-1

November 21 Meeting of County Board of Canvassers for General Election (13 days after the election) N.J.S.A. 19:19-1; N.J.S.A. 19:19-4; N.J.S.A. 19:19-6

November 26 Deadline for County Clerk to transmit Official General Election Results to the Secretary of State (5 days after the meeting of the board) N.J.S.A. 19:20-6

November 25 Deadline for Preparation of Emergency and Provisional Ballot Reports by Each County Board of Election for the General Election (within 17 days after the election or 3 days after the certification of the results of the election)

November 25 Deadline for Recount Applications for General Election (within 17 days after election) N.J.S.A. 19:28-1

November 25 Deadline for Applications for Recheck of Voting Machines Used in the General Election (within 17 days after election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72

December
December 6 Municipal Non-Partisan Run-Off Election (Tuesday next after the first Monday in December) N.J.S.A. 40:45-19

December 8 Deadline for Meeting of Board of State Canvassers to Certify General Election Results (on or before the 30th day after election) N.J.S.A. 19:21-1

December 10 Deadline for Filing of Election Contest Petitions for General Election (not later than 32 days after election) N.J.S.A. 19:29-3

December 15 Deadline for County Boards of Election to Submit Early Voting Plan to the Secretary of State (December 15 of each year; changes can be made no later than February 1 of each year) N.J.S.A. 19:15A-1