Sharp Drop in New Jersey Vote-By-Mail List Observed

METUCHEN, N.J. - Sept. 25, 2025 - PRLog -- New analysis of New Jersey's voter records performed by Citizens for NJ Election Integrity shows a dramatic reduction in the number of voters on the state's permanent vote-by-mail (VBM) list.

A comparison between the November 2024 VBM list and the current list reveals:

• In November 2024, 1,114,154 voters were reflected on the VBM list.
• As of September 24, 2025, only 896,176 VBM voters remain.
• The net difference is a decrease in 217,978 voters. 258,062 voters are no longer on the list while 40,084 new voters were added.

This decline cannot be explained by the February 2025 statewide cleanup, which removed 239,000 inactive confirmation voters. Instead, the reduction is likely tied to legislation requiring counties to discontinue automatic mail-in ballot status for voters who have not voted by mail in four consecutive years.

Legislative Background

In 2018 and 2022, lawmakers amended N.J.S.A. 19:63-3, establishing a "use it or lose it" rule for VBM voters. Under the law:

• Voters may opt to receive ballots in all future elections.
• If they fail to vote by mail for four years, they are automatically removed from the permanent VBM list.
• County clerks must notify voters of the change, but those voters remain registered and can re-apply for mail-in status or vote in person.

What This Means for Voters

The sharp decline in VBM participation does not mean these voters were purged from the registration rolls. Instead, many have been shifted back to in-person voting status. Unless they re-enroll, they will no longer automatically receive mail-in ballots in future elections.

"This change affects more than a quarter of a million voters in New Jersey," said Mark Demo, director at Citizens for NJ Election Integrity. "Voters should make their plan to vote in this upcoming election and if they are unsure of anything, they should check their current status through the New Jersey Division of Elections website or by contacting their county board of elections office.

About Citizens for NJ Election Integrity

Citizens for NJ Election Integrity is a non-partisan organization. C4NJEI does not participate in any political campaign, nor does it endorse any candidate for public office. For more information, please visit https://www.citizens4njei.org/, follow at https://x.com/Citizens4NJEI, or contact info@citizens4njei.org.