‘We want all voters to be able to participate’

After months of informing and engaging voters about the Jan. 28 facilities bond referendum, Princeton Public Schools is reminding residents how and where to cast their ballots. 

The district is posting voter information on its website, princetonk12.org/future, and on its Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“Princeton is known for its high level of civic engagement, and we want all voters to be able to participate in this election, even if there is bad weather on Jan. 28,” said Board of Education President Dafna Kendal. “We want to remind voters that the state of New Jersey also provides the option of mail-in voting for special elections, including the school district bond referendum.”

Princeton voters who want to vote by mail must send their completed applications in time to be received by Jan. 21 at the Mercer County Clerk’s Office. There is no mail delivery on Jan. 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and applications are not accepted online.  

If Princeton residents who want to vote by mail miss the deadline to send their applications, they have another option. The Mercer County Clerk’s Office, 209 S. Broad St. in Trenton, will accept walk-in applications until 3 p.m. on Jan. 27, the day before the election.  

“We appreciate our community members for devoting time and attention to learn about the bond referendum to add classrooms and improve and expand elementary, middle, and high school space as we prepare for growth from new and existing housing, and to replace outdated HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems at the high school,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Kathie Foster. “Now we want to make sure all voters have a chance to have their voices heard.”

Vote By Mail ballots must be postmarked by the Jan. 28 election date.    

Ballots also can be deposited by 8 p.m. Jan. 28 in one of these designated drop boxes:  

• Princeton Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon St. (in front of the Municipal Building facing Witherspoon Street)  
• Princeton University Dinky Station/Wawa, 152 Alexander St. (around the circular drop-off area in front of Wawa) 
• Board of Elections, 930 Spruce St., Lawrence  
• County Clerk’s Office – Courthouse Annex, 209 S. Broad St., Trenton (in front of the building) 

Mail-in ballots will not be accepted at the polls. If you applied for a mail-in ballot but did not submit it, you can request a provisional ballot at the polls.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Four polling places will be available for the special election, so voters’ polling locations may vary from those for the general and primary elections. To find out where to vote, residents can use the state’s Polling Place Search Tool. 

For complete information on the Jan. 28 facilities bond referendum, including project and funding details, videos, and FAQs (frequently asked questions), visit princetonk12.org/future