PASCACK VALLEY—More than 5,000 registered voters across eight Pascack Valley towns have received mail-in ballots for the Tuesday, June 2 primary, with county officials urging voters to return them early—preferably by secure drop box—to ensure they are counted.
The primary runs from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with early in-person voting scheduled Tuesday, May 26 through Sunday, May 31.
Bergen County Elections Supervisor Sabrina Taranto said newly redesigned mail-in ballots now include simplified, step-by-step instructions aimed at making the process clearer and faster for voters.
“We have already been encouraging voters to cast their votes early due to changes in postmark processing from the U.S. Postal Service,” Taranto said, noting that voters who wait until the final week should strongly consider using one of the county’s 35 secure drop boxes.
Drop boxes are available locally in Emerson, Hillsdale, River Vale, Township of Washington, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake.
The redesigned materials include a one-page “how to vote by mail” guide with three steps: vote the ballot, seal it properly, and return it—either by mail, via drop box, or in person to the Bergen County Board of Elections in Hackensack. A short instructional video is also available on the county clerk’s website.
County officials emphasized that ballots returned by mail must arrive on time to be counted. New Jersey currently accepts ballots postmarked by Election Day up to six days afterward, though a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision could affect those rules in future elections.
Taranto said the county will communicate any changes clearly if they occur.
As of April 1, Bergen County had 681,213 registered voters—the highest total of any county in New Jersey—including 57,764 registered mail-in voters, or about 8.5% of the electorate.
Sample ballots for the primary are scheduled to be mailed May 20 and will also be available online through the Bergen County Clerk’s website.
Early voting will be held at nine locations countywide, including the River Vale Senior Community Center and the Tice Center in Woodcliff Lake. Polls will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. No appointment is required.
Election officials said turnout is expected to be lower than in recent primaries with more heavily contested races.
Mail-in voters by town:
- Emerson: 453
- Hillsdale: 781
- Montvale: 711
- Park Ridge: 558
- River Vale: 704
- Township of Washington: 659
- Westwood: 711
- Woodcliff Lake: 485