TRENTON -- Election Day in New Jersey is five weeks from today -- and it's a big one, with voters deciding who'll succeed Chris Christie as governor, as well as all 120 seats in the state Legislature.

But you don't have to wait until Nov. 7 to vote.

Did you know you can already cast your ballot for Democrat Phil Murphy, Republican Kim Guadagno, or one of the five third-party or independent candidates?

Registered voters across the state can vote by mail at least 45 days before the election. Applications for each county can be found online here.

To receive your ballot via mail, the application must be received by your county clerk seven days before the election.

In addition, voters can also apply in person at their county clerk until 3 p.m. the day before the election.

Only qualified overseas voters and military voters can fax or email copies of their applications.

Here are other key dates leading up to the election:

Oct. 17: Deadline to register to vote. You must be 17 to register and 18 by Election Day to vote. For more information on registering, click here.

Oct. 31: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail.

Nov. 3: Deadline to apply for mail-in ballot by electronic means for qualified overseas citizens and military voters.

Nov. 6: Deadline to apply for mail-in ballot in person is 3 p.m.

Nov. 7: Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Deadline for submission of mail-in ballots is 8 p.m.

For more information of New Jersey's elections, click here.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.