On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported two election-related bills from the committee. The first piece of legislation that makes changes to election ballot design, and the second piece of legislation increases the timeframe for early voting.
S-4142/A-5116 was amended to make them identical. The legislation makes changes to the design of primary election ballots and certain related primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; and requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections.
The bill, previously passed in the Assembly, would establish design standards for primary election ballots, establish that candidates be arranged by office in a block format, and set requirements on slogans and font. The bill requires that county clerks set the placement of slogans. It would permit the Secretary of State, county clerks, or municipal clerks to reject a slogan or endorsement that is substantially similar to another candidate, that could be construed as misleading or deceiving voters that candidates are running together. Candidates would have the option to appeal the rejection of their slogan in Superior Court.
S-4142/A-5116 are expected to be heard by the Senate on February 27 and, if signed by the Governor, would take effect immediately.
S-3990 was amended and favorably reported from committee to extend the early voting period for all primary elections to seven calendar days prior to the election. Current law permits a four-day early voting period for non-presidential elections and six-day period for the presidential election. The legislation was also amended to change the date of appointing challengers from the second Tuesday before the primary election to the third Tuesday before the primary election. $6 million was appropriated to fund this expansion.
S-3990 has no Assembly counterpart at this time, and it is unclear whether it will be considered at the Senate voting session on February 27.
The League will continue to monitor these bills and report back accordingly.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst. eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.