2026 Trenton and Mercer County Voter Guide
Elections affect our schools, housing, safety, health, jobs, and neighborhoods. Our community brings together a wide range of experiences and perspectives. This 2026 voting guide for Trenton and Mercer County provides nonpartisan information to help you check your registration, choose how to vote, and learn about the races on your ballot. Casa Cultura encourages every eligible voter to get informed and make their own choices.
2026 Trenton Voting Guide: Dates and Registration
1. Important Dates
2. Check Your Voter Registration
Go to Vote.NJ.Gov and select “Am I Registered?” Check your name and address. If you are not listed or find an error, call 609-989-6750 before October 13. If you have moved or changed your name, update your registration. Do not wait until Election Day. [3]
Registration and Ways to Vote
3. Who Can Vote
You must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old by November 3, and have lived in the county for the 30 days before the election. You can register at age 17. You cannot be serving a prison sentence for a conviction of an indictable offense. Being on parole or probation does not, by itself, take away your right to vote; check your registration. [3, 8]
Register online or use Mercer County’s registration form in English or Spanish. To register online, you will need the identification and signature information required by the state. If you cannot complete the process online, use the paper form and submit it well before the deadline. [3]
On October 13, the county office offers evening registration from 4 to 9 p.m. Trenton also lists registration at the City Clerk’s office, City Hall, 319 East State Street, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. that day. [1, 9]
4. Choose One of Three Ways to Vote
5. Find Your Assigned Polling Place
At Vote.NJ.Gov, select “Polling Location” and enter your address in the search tool. Your sample ballot also lists your polling place, district, and voting hours. On November 3, you must go to your assigned polling place; an early voting site may not be your Election Day polling place. [5]
6. Review Your Sample Ballot
Find the sample ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election for your municipality and district. Do not use the June primary ballot. A sample ballot is for information only; you cannot use it to cast your vote. [6]
Early Voting and Voting by Mail
7. Early Voting
You can vote at any of these Mercer County early voting sites, even if it is in another municipality within the county. From October 24 through November 1, hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no early voting on Monday, November 2. [2, 7]
8. How to Vote by Mail
Request your ballot from the County Clerk. Mark your selections in blue or black ink. Complete and sign the certificate without detaching it from the inner envelope. Place your ballot in the inner envelope, then place that envelope in the return envelope. Follow the instructions for sealing both envelopes. [4]
Return your ballot to an official Mercer County drop box or the Board of Elections before 8 p.m. on November 3. If you mail it, it must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received no later than November 9. Mail it early. [4]
Use “Track My Ballot” to check your ballot’s status. If you have already been issued a mail-in ballot and want to vote in person, contact the County Clerk. If you did not receive your ballot or have not returned it, tell a poll worker; you may need to vote by provisional ballot. Vote only once. [4, 10]
Drop Boxes, Assistance, and Contacts
9. Official Ballot Drop Boxes in Trenton
These drop boxes accept completed and sealed mail-in ballots. The deadline is 8 p.m. on November 3. You may also use any official drop box in Mercer County; check the complete directory before you go. [11]
10. Get Help When You Need It
Ask for instructions on using the voting machine and for assistance if you cannot read the ballot or need an accommodation. You may choose someone to help you under the applicable rules, but that person cannot be a representative of your employer or union. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you have the right to vote. [12]
Some voters must show identification, especially if their registration information still needs to be verified. Contact the county if your registration says “Need ID.” If there is a problem with your registration or mail-in ballot, ask about voting by provisional ballot. If you receive a notice about a missing or mismatched signature, respond immediately using the signature correction form. Mercer County lists November 14 as the deadline to receive that form. [10, 12, 6]
11. Mercer County Contacts
Trenton and Mercer County Candidates
Candidate directory | Trenton, Mercer County, and federal races. Follow the selection limits on your final ballot. Sources [14, 15, 16].
Check your address-specific ballot for your congressional district. [16]
Military and Overseas Voters
Special procedures apply. October 30 is the deadline for eligible military and overseas voters to request electronic delivery of their ballots. Contact the County Clerk and consult the state website. [6]
Nonpartisan Disclaimer
Casa Cultura is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This information is provided solely for voter education and does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or political party. Casa Cultura’s mission includes civic empowerment and education.
Sources and Reference Links
Check official websites for last-minute updates.
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