Matt Weil of Bipartisan Policy Center:

Elections do not just happen on Election Day. While procedures vary from state to state, every election cycle includes at least the start of absentee voting, the voter registration deadline, the absentee ballot request deadline, Election Day, post-election canvassing and auditing, and the certification of the election.

When multiple elections hit near the same time—as will happen in New Jersey this fall following Governor Chris Christie’s decision to hold an October special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant following the passing of long time Senator Frank Lautenberg—the result can be a lot of voter confusion and administrative difficulties.