COVID-19: Gov. Murphy Postpones NJ Primary Election Until July 7

Published on April 08, 2020

Impacts District 25 Legislative Election in Morris County

Gov. Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 120, postponing primary elections on Tuesday, June 2 to Tuesday, July 7 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.(PNG, 54KB)

This includes primaries for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, 25th District of the New Jersey Legislature, and county and municipal elections, as well as county committee elections.

"Preserving basic functions of our democracy is critical in this unprecedented time," said Governor Murphy. Citizens exercising their right to vote should not have to risk their safety and the safety of others in order to make their voices heard.

"Postponing our primary elections is a difficult, yet necessary, choice to ensure that our citizens can partake in their civic duty of voting."

The Executive Order also states that all deadlines for meeting statutory requirements for a primary election that are currently scheduled to occur after April 11 will be calculated using the July 7 primary election date.

New Party Affiliation Deadline: May 13
New Registration Deadline: June 16
New Challenger Deadline: June 23
Mail-in Ballot Applications by mail: June 30th
Mailing of Sample Ballots: July 1
Overseas/Military Mail-in Ballot by electronic means: July 3
In-person voting: up until July 6 at 3 p.m.

This would not affect any deadlines that 1) have already passed, such as the filing deadline for candidate petitions for the primary election, or 2) will pass prior to April 11. The only exception is the deadline for change of party affiliation declaration forms to be filed, which will move to May 13.

Additionally, independent candidate petitions will be due by 4 p.m. on July 7 and the electronic signature and submission requirements that were set forth in Executive Order No. 105 for primary candidates will be extended to independent candidate petitions.

Election rules have been modified during prior emergencies, including by Governor Kean in 1982 during a severe winter storm and by the Christie Administration in 2012 in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

Copy of Executive Order 120