For Immediate Release:
September 9, 2020

County officials provide updates on
Nov. 3 General Election and Monmouth County CARES

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County officials held a press conference today to provide updates on the Nov. 3 General Election, the State mandated changes as well as Monmouth County CARES Economic Assistance Grant Program.

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon advised voters that major changes have been made to the Nov. 3 General Election process, due to a new State law signed by Governor Phil Murphy. For the first time in New Jersey history, the Nov. 3 General Election will be conducted primarily by mail-in ballots.

All registered and active voters will automatically receive mail-in ballots for voting in the 2020 General Election without the need to submit a vote by mail application, per the State mandate. The mail-in ballots will be sent to voters on or before Oct. 5, per State law.

In addition; only a limited number of polling places will be available for voters on Nov. 3, General Election Day, where only paper provisional ballots will be available for voting. Voters with disabilities who need an accessible mail-in ballot, should contact the County Clerk’s Election Office at 732-431-7790, or may go to their assigned 2020 polling place on General Election Day, where they will be provided with access to an ADA accessible voting device.

“Due to the State mandate, this year’s Nov. 3 Election is unprecedented,” said Clerk Hanlon. “It is the first time in New Jersey history that a General Election is being conducted primarily by mail-in ballots. I encourage voters to check our elections website at MonmouthCountyVotes.com and to download our free Monmouth County Votes Mobile App, so they can receive the latest information about the process and procedures.”

Patricia A. Bennett, Commissioner of the Monmouth County Board of Elections, highlighted the ways voters can return their mail-in ballot to the County Board of Elections for counting. Per the State mandate, voters can return their completed General Election mail-in ballots via mail, drop box, in-person to the Board of Elections Office at 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold, or in-person at their assigned 2020 General Election polling place.

“It is important to remember that every mail-in ballot will be counted, pursuant to State law, before the provisional ballots from Election Day are reviewed, verified and counted,” said Clerk Hanlon. “If you feel strongly about going to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 3, I encourage you to bring your completed mail-in ballot and simply drop it off. Since everyone wants timely results from this election, I encourage all voters to return their mail in ballots for counting as soon as they received them.”

Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone provided an update on Monmouth County CARES and shared that additional funds are available to small businesses in need.

“The County has added an additional $10 million of CARES Act money, so there are still funds available,” said Freeholder Director Arnone. “To date, we have received more than 2,000 applications and handled more than 2,700 phone calls regarding the program, approving just shy of $10 million in grant dollars. My fellow Freeholders and I feel that it is so important to put money directly in the pockets of our businesses during these hard times.”

To apply for Monmouth County CARES, have your tax return ready and go to www.MonmouthCountyCares.com or call 732-375-2196, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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