How many days before an election is the deadline to register to vote?

In New Jersey, the deadline to register to vote is 21 days before an election. This timeframe ensures that the local election officials have sufficient time to process the registrations and prepare voter rolls for the upcoming election. This requirement is essential for maintaining an organized and efficient electoral process, allowing registered voters to participate in the elections confidently.

While options like 10 days or 15 days may seem reasonable, they do not provide adequate time for processing, which is critical to ensuring that all eligible voters can cast their ballots. A 30-day deadline also exceeds the requirement and goes beyond what is established by New Jersey election law, which specifically designates the 21-day period as the appropriate timeframe for voter registration.