Atlantic County Vote-by-Mail Ballots Will Now Include Free Return Postage

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic County residents who vote by mail will no longer have to pay postage to return their ballots, according to County Clerk Joe Giralo.

Giralo announced the change Thursday during a special WOND broadcast he co-hosted with Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue, saying his office will now cover the cost of return postage for vote-by-mail ballots.

“We were one of the only counties that didn't have postage paid for those that cannot get to a drop box,” Giralo said.

The change means Atlantic County voters will have three ways to return their vote-by-mail ballots without paying a fee: through the mail using the postage-paid return envelope, at one of the county's ballot drop boxes or by delivering the ballot to the Atlantic County Board of Elections.

Giralo said he worked with the local NAACP on making the change.

Removing a Barrier for Mail Voters

Previously, Atlantic County residents who chose to return their vote-by-mail ballots through the U.S. Postal Service were responsible for postage.

Voters could avoid that expense by using one of the county's ballot drop boxes or delivering their ballot directly to election officials, but Giralo said he wanted voters who depend on the mail to have the same no-cost option.

The county has 20 ballot drop boxes, Giralo said.

For voters who can't easily reach one of them, the postage-paid envelope eliminates another step in the process.

Giralo described the change as part of his effort to make the County Clerk's Office more accessible and improve the services it provides residents.

Change Comes Ahead of November Election

The new postage-paid system will give voters another option as Atlantic County prepares for the Nov. 3 general election.

Vote-by-mail has become a significant part of New Jersey elections, making the mechanics of applying for, receiving and returning ballots increasingly important for election officials.

Giralo has repeatedly emphasized that voters should understand the different options available to them and the deadlines involved in returning a mail ballot.

During Thursday's discussion, he presented the postage change as a practical improvement rather than a major overhaul of the county's election system.

For voters, the most noticeable difference will be simple: a stamp will no longer be necessary to mail the ballot back.

Clerk's Office Website Traffic Up

Giralo also said the Atlantic County Clerk's Office has seen a significant increase in traffic to its redesigned website.

According to Giralo, website usage has increased approximately 77% since changes were made to make information and services easier for residents to find.

The site includes election information along with the numerous other functions handled by the clerk's office.

Giralo has also been using his WOND appearances to educate residents about election procedures, including vote-by-mail rules and the responsibilities of the various county offices involved in administering elections.

The free-return-postage change, he said, provides Atlantic County voters with another way to make sure their ballots get where they need to go without an additional cost.

Voters will now be able to choose whichever of the three no-cost return methods works best for them: mail it, use a ballot drop box or deliver it to the Board of Elections.