As Election Day approaches on Tuesday, Nov. 5, students who are 18 years old have the opportunity to register for the election by picking up a voter registration application in the Main Office.
In order to register to vote in New Jersey, you must fill out a printed out voter registration form and mail it to the applicable County Commissioner of Registration/Superintendent of Elections. If preferred or necessary, it is also possible to register in person or online.
In a year as important as a presidential election, seniors, or other students, at SPFHS who are 18 have an important role to fill as first-time voters.
Senior Sara Valencia, who turned 18 in May, was most excited to learn about all the things she could do once she turned 18—including voting for the first time.
“I am excited because this is a milestone in my life,” Valencia said. “I can make a big or small difference [with my vote], and either way I am making a difference.”
Having this availability in the Main Office allowed for easier access to registering to vote and allowed these select students to be aware of what they need to do in order to be able to vote on, or before, Election Day.
Valencia picked up a voter registration packet in the Main Office, and simply filled it out—which was a relatively quick and easy process—and then returned it to the Main office, who then mailed it out for her.
The deadline to register was Oct. 15, and as long as the voter registration form was postmarked by Oct. 15, it is valid. Unlike many other states where Election Day registration is available, if potential voters are not registered by this deadline, they will be unable to cast their vote in New Jersey.
The actual voting deadlines for the 2024 election are as follows:
Early Voting: Oct. 26 – Nov. 3
In-person: Nov. 5
Based on her experience so far, Valencia had an important piece of advice for current first-time voters or future first-time voters.
“Take the moment and vote for the first time,” Valencia said. “You will learn from it and it is important.”
