Absentee and mail-in voting trends in New Jersey are showing notable shifts compared to 2021. While overall ballot requests have increased, there has been a change in party dynamics across the absentee voting process.

New Jersey has long had a permanent vote-by-mail option for voters, however, before the pandemic in 2017 there were about 275,000 requested ballots. By 2021 though, there was a dramatic increase to 904,000 ballots. Given the persistent permanent vote-by-mail availability, this would seem to be the new baseline, as 937,000 ballots have been requested so far in 2025.

Total ballot requests have grown 3.6% from 2021, with Republican voters accounting for the largest increase at 9.7%. Democratic requests are up slightly at 3%, while requests from other parties have slightly declined by 0.25%.

While 63% of total returned ballots have come from Democratic voters, Republicans are the only party to have increased their share of returns since 2021, rising by 2%.

Among low-propensity and newly registered voters, both GOP and Other voters have surpassed their 2021 return totals, with increases of 94.7% and 110.5%. Democrats have the smallest increase, 45%, since 2021.

Republican gains in both ballot requests and returns highlight a meaningful shift in early participation patterns since 2021. Given that gubernatorial contest was won by just 84,286 votes, chasing mail ballots to push these small but critical shifts could tip the balance of the election. Make sure your voters understand how to return these vote-by-mail with just a week to go until Election Day.

(All stats in draft were last updated on 10/27 2:30pm)