The Union County Board of Elections announced on Mar. 25 that voters wishing to change their party affiliation ahead of the June 2, 2026 Primary Election must do so by April 8.
This deadline is important for voters who want to participate in a different party’s primary, as changes made after April 8 will not be effective for the upcoming election. The policy also affects how unaffiliated voters receive vote by mail ballots.
“Voters often do not realize that the deadline to change their affiliation is set long before Primary Day,” said Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “If you plan to change parties ahead of the June 2, 2026 Primary Election, please be aware that party declaration changes must be received by the Election Board by April 8th.”
DiRado explained that under a law enacted several years ago, any unaffiliated voter who has previously voted in a primary and requested vote by mail ballots for all future elections or specifically for this year’s primary must declare their party by April 8 in order to receive a ballot. Only first-time voters or those who have never participated in a primary may complete a party affiliation form after this date and still obtain a mail-in ballot.
Voters can confirm their current party status with the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123. DiRado noted that some individuals inadvertently alter their registration during transactions with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission without realizing it.
Party affiliation can be updated online at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register, through forms available via phone or email request, through the Union County Votes App, or by downloading English and Spanish forms from state websites. Unaffiliated voters are allowed to declare their preferred party at polling locations during early voting from May 26 to May 31 or on Election Day itself.
