The Nov. 5 General Election is still a few weeks away, but Burlington County voters don’t have to wait until then to cast their ballot. Starting Oct. 26, voters will be able to vote with a machine from any of seven early voting locations in Burlington County during the nine-day early voting period. It’s a convenient and secure option for voters who want to avoid the lines and waits at polling places on Election Day, especially during presidential election years when turnout is traditionally the heaviest. “One of the most fundamental rights in America is the right to vote, and Burlington County residents have several ways to exercise that right,” said Joseph Dugan, chairman of the Burlington County Election Board. “We want voters to know that however they choose to cast their votes – with a vote-by-mail ballot or with a machine during the early voting period or on Election Day – the system is secure and their votes will be properly counted.” The nine-day early voting period will begin Saturday, Oct. 26, and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 3. During that period, voters from any of Burlington County’s 40 municipalities can go to any of the seven early voting locations to cast their ballot with a machine. This is different from Election Day, when voters must go to their assigned polling spot in their town of residence. All seven locations will open daily during the early voting period. The hours are 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sundays. The early voting sites are at the following locations: Chesterfield at the Chesterfield Township Municipal Building, 295 Bordentown-Chesterfield Road; Evesham at the Gibson House Community Center, 535 East Main Street, Marlton; Medford at the Medford Town Hall, 49 Union Street; Mount Laurel at Rowan College at Burlington County Student Success Center, 1500 College Circle Pemberton Township at the Pemberton Community Library, 16 Broadway, Browns Mills; Tabernacle at the Tabernacle Rescue Squad, 134 New Road; Willingboro at the Willingboro Public Library, 220 Campbell Drive. Any registered voter is eligible to cast their ballot at an early voting location. However, voters who have already requested or received a vote-by-mail ballot will not be permitted to vote with a machine during the early voting period or on Election Day. They will be allowed to vote with a paper provisional ballot. Vote by mail Registered voters can still request a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot from the Burlington County Clerk’s Office now until 3:00 PM on Nov. 4. A request form can be found online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/996/Vote-by-Mail-Information. All requests to receive a vote-by-mail ballot by mail must be received by the office by Oct. 29. After that date, registered voters must go to the Clerk’s offices at either the Burlington County Elections Building at 301 Harper Drive in Moorestown or the County Clerk’s Office at 50 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly to make a request in-person. The final day to request and receive a VBM ballot in person is Nov. 4 at 3 PM. Completed VBM ballots can be placed in any of 29 secure drop boxes located throughout the county. A list of the drop boxes is available at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2102/Secure-Ballot-Drop-Boxes . Voters may also hand-deliver VBM ballots directly to the Burlington County Election Board of Elections office at 301 Harper Drive or they can be sent to the office via the U.S. Postal Service. All completed VBM ballots must be postmarked, placed in a secure drop box or hand-delivered to the Election Board before polls close at 8 PM on Nov. 5. Election Day voting Voters can also cast ballots in-person with a machine on Nov. 5 at their regular polling locations. To find your Election Day polling site, go to https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml . Voters are encouraged to bring their sample ballot to the polls for a faster easier check-in, however, bringing a sample ballot is not required. Residents with questions about the election and voting procedures can call the Burlington County Elections hotline at 609-265-VOTE (8683).