3 Big Changes That Could Impact Your Travel and Your Vote in 2025
In this episode of The Jersey Buzz, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Paula Sollami Covello, the Mercer County Clerk, to talk about the many vital roles her office plays—and let us tell you, it’s more than most people realize.
📍 REAL ID & PASSPORT UPDATES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WATCH: Real ID Changes
Starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need a Real ID or a passport to fly domestically within the U.S. That’s right—your regular driver’s license won’t cut it anymore.
- Real IDs are marked with a star in the upper-right corner.
- You can apply for a Real ID through the NJ MVC (not the Clerk’s office).
- The passport card (available through Paula’s office for $35) is also Real ID compliant.
👉 Need an appointment for passports? Visit MercerCounty.org and navigate to the County Clerk’s section. Pro tip: The Hamilton location requires an appointment due to high demand.
📍 GENDER "X" PASSPORT PROCESSING UPDATE - WATCH
Due to recent federal changes, passports with a gender “X” designation are currently being held and not processed. While Paula’s office can assist with the application, these are federal decisions—and they’re advising affected individuals to contact the U.S. Department of State directly.
“We feel for the individuals affected, but this is out of our hands. We want to make sure no one loses money in the process.”
National Passport Information Center: 1-877-487-2778
📍 VOTE-BY-MAIL: WHAT’S NEW? WATCH
Over 44,000 Mercer County residents are on the vote-by-mail list. However, if you haven’t voted by mail since 2020, you may need to reapply. It’s all about keeping the voter rolls accurate—people move, people pass away.
Paula also mentioned that due to a state lawsuit, ballots are being redesigned. Gone is the “party line” layout. Candidates will now be grouped by office and drawn randomly, leveling the playing field.
“If you want to know who’s endorsed, you’ll have to look for the party slogans. This new design is meant to be fair and clearer for voters.”
🗓️ IMPORTANT DATES
- Primary Election: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 (note: it’s not June 3rd due to a holiday)
- Register to Vote / Request Mail Ballots: Visit Vote.NJ.gov for all things voting in NJ. It’s user-friendly and available in multiple languages.
OUR FINAL THOUGHTS
Whether you're applying for a passport, checking your property records, or casting your vote—your County Clerk’s office is your resource. Paula Sollami Covello isn’t just behind a desk—she’s out in the community, accessible, and dedicated to transparency and service.
📍 Main Office: 209 South Broad Street, Trenton
📍 Hamilton Satellite Office: Route 33 in the Acme Shopping Center (Appointment Required)
📞 Passports: 609-989-6473
📞 Elections: 609-989-6494
🌐 MercerCounty.org