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New Jersey state executive official elections, 2021
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Governor • Lt. Gov • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • How to run for office |
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| New Jersey state executive official elections |
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| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 5, 2021 |
| Primary: June 8, 2021 General: November 2, 2021 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voting in New Jersey |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2021 Impact of term limits in 2021 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
Two state executive offices were up for election in New Jersey in 2021:
Candidates and election results
Governor
General election
General election for Governor of New Jersey
Incumbent Phil Murphy defeated Jack Ciattarelli, Madelyn Hoffman, Gregg Mele, and Joanne Kuniansky in the general election for Governor of New Jersey on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Phil Murphy (D) | 51.2 | 1,339,471 |
 | Jack Ciattarelli (R) | 48.0 | 1,255,185 | |
 | Madelyn Hoffman (G)  | 0.3 | 8,450 | |
 | Gregg Mele (L) | 0.3 | 7,768 | |
| Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party) | 0.2 | 4,012 | ||
| Total votes: 2,614,886 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Robert Edward Forchion Jr. (Legalize Marihuana Party)
- Justin Maldonado (Independent)
- David Winkler (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey
Incumbent Phil Murphy defeated Lisa McCormick in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Phil Murphy | 100.0 | 382,984 |
 | Lisa McCormick (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total votes: 382,984 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Roger Bacon (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey
Jack Ciattarelli defeated Philip Rizzo, Hirsh Singh, and Brian Levine in the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jack Ciattarelli | 49.5 | 167,690 |
 | Philip Rizzo | 25.7 | 87,007 | |
 | Hirsh Singh | 21.6 | 73,155 | |
 | Brian Levine | 3.3 | 11,181 | |
| Total votes: 339,033 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Doug Steinhardt (R)
Lieutenant Governor
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
Incumbent Sheila Oliver defeated Diane Allen, Heather Warburton, Eveline H. Brownstein, and Vivian Sahner in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sheila Oliver (D) | 51.2 | 1,339,471 |
 | Diane Allen (R) | 48.0 | 1,255,185 | |
 | Heather Warburton (G) | 0.3 | 8,450 | |
 | Eveline H. Brownstein (L) | 0.3 | 7,768 | |
| Vivian Sahner (Socialist Workers Party) | 0.2 | 4,012 | ||
| Total votes: 2,614,886 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Candace Wagner (Socialist Workers Party)
Context of the 2021 elections
Party control in New Jersey
New Jersey Party Control: 1992-2025
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas • Eight years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | S | S | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Assembly | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New Jersey utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is generally limited to registered party members. Unaffiliated voters can register as party members at the polls on primary election day. Otherwise, a voter must indicate his or her party preference (e.g., via an updated voter registration) no later than the 55th day preceding the primary in order to vote in that party's primary.[1][2]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In New Jersey, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in New Jersey, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the county in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election. Seventeen-year-olds may register to vote, although they may not vote until they have turned 18. Individuals serving a felony sentence or on probation or parole because of a felony may not register to vote.[4] The voter registration deadline is 21 days before the next election. Registration applications can be downloaded from the state website and mailed to the county commissioner of registration or superintendent of elections.[4] Registration applications are also available at various county offices and state agencies, such as the Division of Elections and Division of Motor Vehicle offices.[5]
Automatic registration
New Jersey enacted automatic voter registration in 2018.[6]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
New Jersey has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
New Jersey does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
In order to register to vote in New Jersey, applicants must be a resident of the county in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election.[7]
Verification of citizenship
New Jersey does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a false or fraudulent registration may result in a "fine of up to $15,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both pursuant to R.S. 19:34-1."[8]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The New Jersey Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
Early voting
New Jersey permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail in New Jersey.[10]
To vote absentee/by mail, an application must be received by election officials at least seven days prior to the election if returned by mail. An application can also be submitted in person to county election officials until 3 p.m. on the day before the election. An application can also be submitted online via the state's online voter registration system. A completed absentee/mail-in ballot must then be postmarked by 8:00 p.m. Election Day and received by the county board of elections by 6 days after the election.[10][11]
Past elections
2017
See also
| New Jersey | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed September 27, 2024
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Statutes & Rules § 19:23-45," accessed September 27, 2024
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, “Election laws - NJSA - 19:15-2,” accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 New Jersey Division of Elections, “Register to Vote!” accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, “Where to Register in Person,” accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature, “Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2014,” April 13, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Voter registration FAQ," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑ New Jersey Voter Information Portal, "New Jersey Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 New Jersey Department of State, "Vote by Mail Applications," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, "Vote-By-Mail," accessed September 27, 2024
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