Our Democratic Congressional (CD 4) Candidate
Rachel Peace
Our Democratic Candidate for Ocean County Commissioner:
Kia Phua
Information and links to their resources can be found by clicking on this link for the website for the Ocean County Democrats
July 27: Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for School & Fire District Election Candidates for General Election (last Monday in July).
N.J.S.A. 19:60-7, N.J.S.A.40A:14-71(b)
July 27: Deadline for Secretary of State to Submit to the County Clerks the Statement of All Duly Nominated Candidates for General Election.(not later than 99 days before election).
N.J.S.A. 19:13-22
August 3: Deadline for Submission of School Board Bracketing Request Letter to County Clerk (At least 7 days before the drawing for ballot positions).
N.J.S.A. 19:60-8(d)
August 10, 3PM: Drawing of Ballot Position for General Election Candidates by the County Clerks (85 days before election).
N.J.S.A. 19:14-12
August 20: Nomination Petition Filing Deadline for Municipal Non-Partisan Candidates to be voted for at the General Election (on or before 75th day prior to election). This is Manchester’s deadline!
N.J.S.A. 40:45-8
August 25: Last Day Vacancy Can Occur for Primary Election Nominees for the General Election (70 days before election).
N.J.S.A. 19:13-2
August 31: Deadline for Preparation of Official General Election Ballot for Printing
(64 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 19: 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 13: Voter Registration Deadline for General Election (21 days before election).
N.J.S.A. 19:31-6
October 13: Deadline for Filing of Challenger Appointments for General Election (Third Tuesday preceding election).
N.J.S.A. 19:7-3
October 21: 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 24 – November 1: 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 27: Deadline to apply, by mail, for a Mail-In Ballot for General Election (not less than 7 days prior to election).
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
November 2, 3:00 PM: Deadline to apply, in-person, for a Mail-In Ballot for General Election (up to 3:00 p.m. on the day before election).
N.J.S.A. 19:63-3
November 3 from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM: General Election (Tuesday after first Monday in November.
Vote at your assigned polling location, as listed on your sample ballot.
To find your election day polling location, check here: https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search
N.J.S.A. 19:2-3; N.J.S.A. 19:15-2
November 5: 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. 19:63-22a
November 9: Deadline for Receipt by County Boards 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. 19:63-22a
November 23:
Deadline for County Clerk to Transmit Official General Election Results to the Secretary of State.
N.J.S.A. 19:20-6
Mail-In (Vote By Mail / VBM) Ballots CANNOT be dropped off at any in person polling location.
Instead of using the US Postal Service, we highly recommend taking your mail-in ballot to a secure drop box.
There are 2 in Manchester: (1) Manchester Library, 21 Colonial Dr; and (2) the Whiting Reading Center/Library, 400 Lacey Road.
Check back soon for a full list of the 2026 drop box locations in the County. You can use any Ocean County drop box.
Mail-in Ballots must be in a secure drop box (or postmarked if mailing) NO LATER than 8 PM on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Registered voters can apply for a Mail-In (Vote By Mail/VBM) Ballot ONLINE!
You must be a registered voter in order to apply for a Mail-In Ballot. To apply online, you will need your date of birth and one of the following forms of identification:
(1) A current and valid Driver’s License or (2) 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.
-or-
(3) 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.
Apply ONLINE HERE. Once on the application page, click on the GET STARTED button at the bottom of the page.
Legislative redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundary lines of legislative districts. The stated purpose of legislative redistricting is to ensure that each person is equally represented in our democracy. On February 18, 2022, the Apportionment Commission adopted the “New Jersey Legislative Districts: 2022-2030” map. The adopted map was filed with the Secretary of State on February 23, 2022.
The 2022-2030 map moved Manchester and Lakehurst to the 9th Legislative District (LD), from the 10th LD.
The 9th LD is comprised solely of towns in Ocean County, including Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Eagleswood, Harvey Cedars, Lacey, Lakehurst, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Twp, Manchester, Ocean Twp (Waretown), Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, Ship Bottom, Stafford, Surf City and Tuckerton.
During redistricting, the 9th LD lost the Ocean County towns of Seaside Park and South Toms River, but gained Lakehurst and Manchester.
Three other Legislative Districts cover Ocean County: 10, 12 (Jackson and Plumsted), and 30 (Lakewood).
There are 2 Congressional Districts (CD) in Ocean County: CD 2 and CD 4.
Manchester and Lakehurst are in CD 4, along with the towns of Bay Head, Beachwood, most of Berkeley Twp, Brick, Island Heights, Jackson, Lacey (except municipal district 1), Lakewood, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, Plumsted, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River, and Toms River.