Voting this year was a lesson for some local college students.
The Board of Elections had to reject more than 30 provisional ballots from students who don’t live in Atlantic County, Chair Lynn Caterson said.
“They could have voted in their home county or by mail-in, but instead went to the polls in Atlantic County, and their vote doesn’t count,” Caterson said. “That’s sad.”
Stockton University has worked to help students know how to vote when they’re away from home, and even has pizza parties to encourage students to get their absentee ballots.
“We walk students through by checking their registration status and location first so that we can provide the paperwork for the appropriate county,” said Claire Abernathy, assistant professor of political science.
They have hard copies of forms for every county in the state so, once they match a student to their county, they can get the proper form.
There are even blown-up copies to show how they are supposed to be filled out, and flyers around campus to remind students.
(At top, Stockton student Juliana Murcia, of Egg Harbor Township, holds a blown-up mail-in ballot at October’s Absentee Ballot Party.)
Abernathy wasn’t surprised that some ballots throughout the county — not limited to college students — were rejected for not being signed.
“I’ve actually had students who have a mail-in ballot and will ask, ‘Where am I supposed to sign?’” she said.
Some voters don’t realize that, in addition to the ballot being signed, the outside envelop requires a signature as well.
“It can be really difficult for college students, many of whom are first-time voters,” Abernathy said. “We do our best to help our students do that.”
Information is also available at
njelections.org
