General Election
November 2, 2021
Held in all Municipalities, including Non-Partisan Elections in Cape May, Cape May Point & West Wildwood and all School Elections
July 26
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 29
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 30
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 2
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 5
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 7
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 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 9- 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 13
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 24
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 24
Deadline for Independent Candidates to Decline Nomination for General Election
(70 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-16
August 24
Deadline for Withdrawal of School Board & Fire District Candidates
(70 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:60-7
August 27
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
August 30
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
August 30
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 2
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 3
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 3
Filing Deadline for Objections to Nominating Petitions for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates (no later than 4 days after filing deadline)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-10
September 7
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 7
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 8
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 9
Deadline for Filling Primary Nominee Vacancy for General Election
(54 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:13-20
September 12 – October 11
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 13*
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 18
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 12
Voter Registration Deadline for General Election
(21 days before election)
N.J.S.A. 19:31-6
October 12
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 19
Deadline for Filing of Challenger Appointments for General Election
(second Tuesday preceding election)
N.J.S.A. 19:7-3
October 20
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 23 – October 31
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 24 – October 30
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
October 26
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
October 26
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
October 29
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 1 – 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 1
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 2
General Election
(Tuesday after first Monday in November)
N.J.S.A. 19:2-3, N.J.S.A. 19:15-2
November 2
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 2
Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the General Election
November 2
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 3 – November 19
Impoundment Period for Voting Machines Used in the General Election
(17 days following election) (to comply with P.L. 2018, c.72)
November 8
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 15
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 20
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 19
Deadline for Recount Applications for General Election
(within 17 days after election)
N.J.S.A. 19:28-1
November 19
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)
November 19
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)
December 2
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 4
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 7
Municipal Non-Partisan Run-Off Election
(Tuesday next after the first Monday in December)
N.J.S.A. 40:45-19
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