4. a. Requests for an application to vote in any election as an overseas voter or a federal election as an overseas federal election voter or a State election or federal election as an overseas State and federal election voter may be made by or on behalf of an applicant to the county clerk of the county in which the applicant, or in the case of an overseas federal election voter who was born outside of the United States described in subsection f. of section 2 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C. 19:59-2), in which the voter’s parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner, was formerly domiciled, or to the Secretary of State of New Jersey if the applicant does not know the county of former domicile. All such applications shall be forwarded to such voters by air mail or electronic means, if so requested by the voter. Any overseas voter or overseas federal election voter or overseas State and federal voter requesting that an application for a ballot be sent to that voter by electronic means shall supply in the request to the Secretary of State or the county clerk, as appropriate, the telephone number and location to which the application is to be sent or the electronic address of the voter, as may be appropriate, and, if known, the address where the voter, or the voter’s parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner, as appropriate, was domiciled before departure from the United States. To qualify for a ballot to be sent by air mail, the applicant’s completed application shall be received by the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State on or before the thirtieth day preceding the election. To qualify for a ballot to be distributed by electronic means, the applicant’s completed application shall be received by the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State on or before the fourth day preceding the election.

b. An overseas voter or overseas federal election voter or overseas State and federal voter may use the federal postcard application form to register to vote or to apply for an overseas ballot for any election in which the voter is eligible to vote. The voter may send the form by air mail or electronic means to either the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State and, in the case of the use of a federal postcard application for a ballot, may request that the ballot be sent by air mail or electronic means. Any federal postcard application for a ballot sent by an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter or overseas State and federal voter and received by a county clerk or the Secretary of State shall also be considered a request for registration if that voter is not already registered.

L.1976, c.23, s.4; amended 1978, c.130, s.1; 1993, c.73, s.6; 1995, c.195, s.1; 2008, c.61, s.4; 2017, c.39, s.3; 2022, c.72, s.3.