It’s a big… no, make it huge. Election dayand polls are open throughout New Jersey.

At the national level, the former president donald trump and vice president Kamala Harris are in a tense race for the presidency on Tuesday.

Locally, there are several critical races, including the battle for the U.S. Senate seat once held by the disgraced Roberto Menendez and a tight race in the 7th Congressional District that could determine which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

A record more than 1.7 million New Jerseyans have already voted in recent weeks, whether through mail-in ballots or early in-person voting. For those voting today, the polls close at 8 p.m.

Here’s more information on what you need to know:

Polls in New Jersey are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Tuesday. As long as you are in line before 8 pm, you will be able to vote.

The same goes if you leave a mail-in ballot in a mailbox. The drop boxes are closed at 8 pm, but if there is a line at that time, you will be able to leave your ballot in the drop box.

You must be at least 18 years old and registered to vote. Check here to see if you are registered. If you haven’t registered yet, the deadline for these elections has passed.

Your polling place is assigned based on your address. Click here and enter your address to find out where you vote.

You can vote in person on traditional machines or drop off a mail-in ballot at your county Board of Elections office or at one of hundreds of drop boxes across the state before 8 p.m.

But it’s important to remember that mail-in ballots must be placed in drop boxes located within the county where you are registered to vote. If you leave yours in a box outside where you’re registered, perhaps because you see a mailbox on your commute to work, your vote will most likely not be counted, election officials warned.

here it is a complete list of mailbox locations. If you have questions, check your county website.

After you return a ballot, you can check its status at the state office. Track my ticket website.

PRESIDENT

In case you don’t know, Trump, the Republican candidate, is vying to return to the White House. Harris, the Democratic candidate, is aiming to become the country’s first female president after her party switched to her as president. joe biden on the ballot.

Harris is the favorite to carry New Jersey and win its 14 electoral votes. A Republican presidential candidate has not won the state since 1988.

UNITED STATES SENATE

New Jersey will have a new US senator after Menendez, the Democrat who has held this seat since 2006, resigned after being convicted of federal corruption charges. The Democratic representative of the United States is running to replace him. Andy Kim and republican Curtis Bashawhotel developer and first time candidate.

Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in that state since 1972, the year “The Godfather” was released.

• FURTHER: Inside Trump’s unique, momentous, colorful race in New Jersey to replace a disgraced U.S. senator

7TH CONGRESSIVE DISTRICT

This is one of the most closely watched elections to the United States House of Representatives in the country: Freshman Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is running for re-election against Democrat Sue Altman, a progressive advocate, in the state’s 7th Congressional District, a deep purple swing district in central and northern Jersey .

Polls show it’s very close, and the winner will help decide whether Republicans keep control of the House or Democrats take it back.

• FURTHER: Congress is at stake. Inside the New Jersey race with huge national consequences

OTHER HOUSE RACES

All 12 of New Jersey’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot, and there will be at least two new members elected to the state’s delegation, although many of the races are not considered competitive. Democrats currently hold nine of the seats.

RACES TO SEE

3rd District

This is the seat Andy Kim is giving up to run for the Senate. State Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Burlington, is running against Republican Rajesh Mohan to succeed Kim in a South and Central Jersey district that became more Democratic after recent redistricting. Both candidates are doctors.

District 9

This is for the seat that Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell held for a long time before died in august. democrats in the chosen district State Sen. Nellie Pou will replace Pascrell on the ballot against Republican Billy Prempeh in the Democratic North Jersey district. Pou is trying to become New Jersey’s first Latina member of Congress. Prempeh lost to Pascrell in 2020 and 2022, but insiders say he may now have a better chance.

District 10

Democratic representative Monica McIver cattle a special race in September over Republican Carmen Bucco to fill the final months of the seat long held by Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Jr. before died in may. McIver and Bucco are now running for a full two-year term in the predominantly Democratic district, which includes Newark and part of Jersey City. McIver is only the second Black woman to represent New Jersey in Congress, following incumbent Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman.

THE REST

• 1st District: Democratic incumbent Donald Norcross faces Republican Theodore Liddell Odell.
• 2nd District: Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew faces Democrat Joseph Salerno.
• 4th District: Republican incumbent Chris Smith, the longest-serving member of Congress in state history, faces Democrat Matthew Jenkins.
• 5th District: Democratic incumbent Josh Gottheimer faces Republican Mary Jo Guinchard.
• 6th District: Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone faces Republican Scott Fegler.
• District 8: Democratic incumbent Rob Menendez faces Republican Anthony Valdes.
• District 11: Democratic incumbent Mikie Sherrill faces Republican Joseph Belnome.
• District 12: Democratic incumbent Bonnie Watson Coleman faces Republican Darius Mayfield.

ALSO ON THE BALLOT

The New Jersey Secretary of State serves as the state’s chief elections official. If you have questions about voting and elections, call the state Division of Elections’ voter information and assistance line at 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837).

Furthermore, the state Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigates public corruption and electoral crimes. To report a possible crime, call 844-OPIA-TIPS. The Attorney General’s Office has an anti-corruption reward program that will offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. For more details, see http://nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html.

There will be full results and coverage of the major races after the polls close. New Jersey.com.

WHEN WILL THE FINAL RESULTS BE AVAILABLE?

Many races may be called on election night, but the rise of mail-in voting in recent years, and the close nature of some of these battles, has caused some results to take days.

NJ Advance Media Staff Writers Richard Cowen and Jelani Gibson contributed to this report.