May 2024
Residents’ Rights: A Voting Guide for Long-Term Care
Voting is a fundamental right, and living in a long-term care facility does not take it away from you. If you are a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older, you are most likely eligible to vote in the municipality where your long-term care home is located.
At the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO), we are committed to helping you exercise your rights. Download our Voting Guide at NJ.GOV/LTCO.
Registered voters in New Jersey can cast their ballots in one of three ways: 1) by mail; 2) in person during early voting; or 3) in person on Election Day. If you plan to vote in person, find out now if your facility will offer transportation or if you need a reliable friend or family member to drive you to the polls.
First things first: Are you registered?
Visit VOTE.NJ.GOV to look up your current registration status or learn how to submit voter registration applications online, by mail, or in person.
2024 Election Overview
In the June primary election, New Jersey voters affiliated with the Democrat and Republican parties will select their party’s candidates for the November general election. In the general election, New Jersey voters will elect a U.S. Senator and 12 U.S. Representatives, in addition to casting ballots for President.
Key dates
Primary Election: June 4
- Registration deadline: May 14
- Early Voting: May 29 – June 2
General Election: Nov. 5
- Registration Deadline: Oct. 15
- Early Voting: Oct. 26 – Nov. 3
Visit VOTE.NJ.GOV for polling locations, details on early voting, or instructions for completing and returning vote-by-mail ballots.
No computer? No problem
Please see one of our staff members or certified volunteer advocates for assistance or to request a printed copy of the LTCO Voter Guide.
COVID-19 Report Bolsters Case for Essential Caregiver Visits
An independent report evaluating New Jersey’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic recommended several actions to support and protect long-term care residents in future emergencies, including steps to ensure that residents can always receive visits from friends, family, and advocates.
“The decision by the federal government in 2020 to isolate long-term care residents from each other and their families for months after the initial COVID surge was devastating,” New Jersey’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, said in response to the report’s release in March. “People need human interaction; they need to engage in activities that are meaningful to them; and they need things to look forward to at the end of a day.”
The LTCO supports bills pending in the Legislature — A4040 and S1825 — that would empower residents to designate visitors who must be admitted at any time, provided they comply with infection control and safety rules.
Brewer also lauded the report for recommending that LTCO representatives be granted access during any future lockdowns at long-term care facilities. “Our staff and volunteers need to stay in touch with residents, champion their rights, and monitor the quality of care and services they receive,” she said.
Read the full statement.
Read the report.
Let's Welcome the Month of May!
Month-long Observances
- Older Americans Month
- National Mental Health Awareness Month
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Notable Days
- May 4: Kentucky Derby
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- May 12: Mother’s Day
- May 23: Flower Moon (full moon)
- May 27: Memorial Day
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
