your voice matters
Voter Information
Just moved to Basking Ridge? Voting for the first time? Here's all the latest information for casting your vote in Bernards Township!
Mailing of Sample Ballots for Primary Election
May 26
Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for Primary Election
May 26 – May 31
Early Voting Period
May 29
Deadline for Application to Receive Primary Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters
June 1 – by 3:00 p.m.
Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for Primary Election
June 2
Primary Election Day
June 2 - by 4:00 p.m.
Candidate Petition Filing Deadline for General Election
June 2
Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the Primary Election
June 2 - by 8:00 p.m.
Deadline for In-Person Submission of Primary Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election and to Authorized Ballot Drop Boxes
June 4
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
June 8
Deadline for Receipt of Timely Mailed Postmarked Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election
June 10
Deadline for Receipt of Cure Form to County Boards of Election
June 12
Canvass of Primary Election Votes by County Clerks
2026 General Election Key dates and deadlines
To register in New Jersey you must be:
A United States citizen
At least 17 years old, and understand that you may not vote until reaching the age of 18.
A resident of the county for 30 days before the election.
You are NOT currently serving a sentence, probation or parole because of a felony conviction.
The registrant must complete a Voter Registration Application and/or Party Affiliation Form.
If you have any questions about voting, registration, mail-in ballots, or polling locations, please feel free to email us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need to vote in the Primary and General Elections and have your voice counted!
Check your voter registration here.
not sure if you're registered?
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NJ Voter Registration Application
If you prefer to mail or deliver your application, you can download it below. Mail or deliver the Voter Registration Application to:
SOMERSET COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION
20 GROVE STREET, P.O. Box 3000
SOMERVILLE, NJ 08876-9897
To register online, you will need your date of birth and ONE of the following forms of identification:
A current and valid Driver’s License or a non-driver Identification Card (ID card) issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Your information will be provided to the MVC to validate identification, and to retrieve a copy of your digitized signature.
A Social Security number To use your social security number, you must have the ability to sign on-screen or upload your signature to complete the registration process. If you are unable to provide a digital signature, you can not register online. Instead, you can download the voter registration application below.
register online
Register online
download your vote by mail application
Registered voters should print, complete the form, and mail to the County Clerk no later than October 29th. Please allow time for the Clerk to mail your ballot to you. Fill it out and return it asap. We recommend using the drop box if possible. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Clerk no later than November 11th. Receipt after the deadline is the #1 reason Vote by Mail ballots are rejected. Don’t let this happen to you!
may we suggest you vote by mail?
It's simple, secure & helps the campaign!
Interested in joining the Party?
If you are interested in becoming affiliated with a political party, you simply need to fill out this form and take to the Town Clerk at 1 Collyer Lane.
FILL OUT YOUR BALLOT
Use pencil or blue or black ink. Fill in the oval to the right of your choice. To make a write-in choice, fill in the oval and clearly print the name of the candidate.
When you receive your vote by mail ballot
INSERT INTO THE CERTIFICATION ENVELOPE
Place the ballot in this envelope and seal it. Complete and sign the Certificate of Mail-In Voter. Do not detach it from the envelope. If someone assists you in completing your ballot, they must complete the bottom portion. Candidates cannot be assistors.
INSERT INTO THE RETURN ENVELOPE
Place the certification envelope in the postage-paid return envelope. Take a photo or write down your Voter ID number so you can track your ballot here. If someone mails or delivers your ballot for you, they must complete the Bearer Portion in front of you before the ballot leaves your possession. A person may serve as bearer for up to 3 voters. Candidates may not serve as bearers.
RETURN YOUR BALLOT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Deposit your ballot in the secure Drop Box located at the Parks & Rec. entrance in the Bernards Township Municipal Building at 1 Collyer Lane. Open 24/7.
If you have not received your ballot by October 9th, or have any other questions please call the Somerset County Clerk at 908-231-7013 or email: CountyClerk@co.somerset.nj.us
the latest
From the BTDC
Hello! I hope everyone celebrating has enjoyed a nice holiday season. We hosted our 36th annual Christmas Eve dinner, for the combined Duarte and McCarthy families. This year’s theme, “A Wintry White Christmas” was a wonderful evening of laughter and love. During December the Township Committee held two meetings. At the December 9 meeting, […]
Hailing from Austin, Texas where they met and studied computer science, Linda Ness and Munir Cochinwala have enjoyed decades raising their family in Basking Ridge. While Linda grew up on a dairy farm in southern Minnesota, and Munir in Pakistan, this dynamic pair shares common ground in their support for democracy in all its iterations. […]
Not only is Casey Collins a true-blue Democrat, she’s a true-blue friend. As a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, during the first week of college, Casey met two men who would both become loves of her life. One would become her husband, but that story is for another day. The other would become a lifelong […]
Hello! I hope everyone enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving. We were in Mendham at the home of my sister Amalia, Committeewoman, Mendham Township. This was her 30th year hosting and underscores how time flies. In this season of thanks, I want to express my gratitude to Bernards Township residents Brett Hodges, John Tompkins, and Elizabeth Graner, for […]
There’s a very impactful group of Democrats in town that flies beneath the proverbial radar – Bernards Township Progressive Women. The cohort first came together as a very small private Facebook group started by Lisa Bahler in 2016 and grew exponentially after Trump’s first election. Today, the Progressive Women’s page boasts more than 500 followers. […]
November 19, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Democrats Win the Majority on the Bernards Township Committee We are pleased to share that as of today’s election certification, Brett Hodges and John Tompkins were elected to the Bernards Township Committee, commencing January 6, 2026. This election also marks the first time in recent history that every Democratic […]
The Food Bank of Somerset County is currently focused on emergency planning for the pressing SNAP crisis. They are working closely with Somerset County leadership, as well as the County Office of Emergency Management, and are planning for a drive-through distribution on 15-16 November at the County facility at 411 Chimney Rock Rd., Bridgewater. In […]
Hello! While there are still some votes to be counted, the Hodges and Tompkins campaign is well on its way to a resounding victory. Currently, Brett Hodges is ahead by 209 votes and John Tompkins is ahead by 384. For the first time in history, we will have a Democratic majority on our Township Committee. […]
Hello! As I write this column, the election is underway. I want to thank Bernards Township residents Brett Hodges, John Tompkins, and Elizabeth Graner, for giving their time and talent to run for election, and to Bernice “Tina” Jalloh for seeking reelection. Thank you as well to the campaign team for supporting these candidates in their quest for office. Collectively candidates and […]
Our opponents refuse to answer questions from our local newspaper. Our opponent McMahon has yet to show up at any township committee meeting. The arrogance is palpable. Read the article: Read the article:
It’s pretty simple, really. It says something when you support a candidate for governor who says he’s all in on Trump. We believe Bernards Township deserves better. Watch the Video on YouTube
Brett’s daughter Ana speaks straight from the heart. An amazing tribute to a man who deserves our vote. Watch the Video on YouTube