On Tuesday, the Senate passed two election-related bills regarding election ballot design and increasing the timeframe for early voting. The Assembly is scheduled to consider each bill tomorrow.
S-4142/A-5116 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 establishes the design standards for primary election ballots, including that candidates be arranged by office in a block format, and set requirements on slogans (maximum of 6 words) and font. The bill also 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’s 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-3990/A-5370 will 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. An appropriation of $6 million would fund this expansion.
For more information, please refer to the League’s Friday Newsflash.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst. eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.