New Jersey Election Code

Subtitle 1 – Any Election

Chapter 1. Definitions and Application

19:1-1. As used in this Title:
“Election” means the procedure whereby the electors of this State or any political subdivision thereof elect persons to fill public office or pass on public questions.
“Fire district election” means an election to be held in and for a fire district established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-70 et seq.
“General election” means the annual election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and, where applicable, includes annual school elections and annual fire district elections held on that date.
“Primary election for the general election” means the procedure whereby the members of a political party in this State or any political subdivision thereof nominate candidates to be voted for at general elections, or elect persons to fill party offices.
“Municipal election” means an election to be held in and for a single municipality only, at regular intervals.
“Special election” means an election which is not provided for by law to be held at stated intervals.
“Any election” includes all primary, general, municipal, school and special elections, as defined herein.
“Municipality” includes any city, town, borough, village, or township.
“School election” means any annual or special election to be held in and for a local or regional school district established pursuant to chapter 8 or chapter 13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
“Public office” includes any office in the government of this State or any of its political subdivisions filled at elections by the electors of the State or political subdivision.
“Public question” includes any question, proposition or referendum required by the legislative or governing body of this State or any of its political subdivisions to be submitted by referendum procedure to the voters of the State or political subdivision for decision at elections.
“Political party” means a party which, at the election held for all of the members of the General Assembly next preceding the holding of any primary election held pursuant to this Title, polled for members of the General Assembly at least 10% of the total vote cast in this State.
“Party office” means the office of delegate or alternate to the national convention of a political party or member of the State, county or municipal committees of a political party.
“Masculine” includes the feminine, and the masculine pronoun wherever used in this Title shall be construed to include the feminine.
“Presidential year” means the year in which electors of President and Vice-President of the United States are voted for at the general election.
“Election district” means the territory within which or for which there is a polling place or room for all voters in the territory to cast their ballots at any election.
“District board” means the district board of registry and election in an election district.
“County board” means the county board of elections in a county.
“Superintendent” means the superintendent of elections in counties wherein the same shall have been appointed.
“Commissioner” means the commissioner of registration in counties.
“File” or “filed” means deposited in the regularly maintained office of the public official wherever said regularly maintained office is designated by statute, ordinance or resolution.

19:1-2. Title applicable to commission governed municipalities
This title shall apply to elections held in municipalities under the provisions of subtitle 4 of the title Municipalities and Counties (s. 40:70-1 et seq.) only in so far as the provisions of this title are not inconsistent therewith.

19:1-3. Title applicable to charter elections
This title shall apply to elections authorized by charter to be held in certain municipalities only in so far as the provisions hereof are not inconsistent with the provisions of the acts authorizing such elections and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto.

19:1-4. Title applicable to referendum procedure
Except as in this title otherwise provided, the provisions for the election of public and party offices shall also apply to the determination of public questions under the referendum procedure so far as may be.

Chapter 2. Time for Holding

19:2-1 Primary elections for delegates, alternates, general, special elections.
Primary elections for delegates and alternates to national conventions of political parties and for the general election shall be held in each year on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in June between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M., Standard Time. Primary elections for special elections shall be held not earlier than 30 nor later than 20 days prior to the special elections.

19:2-3. General and special elections
The general election shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in each year. Special elections shall be held on the days hereinafter provided for the purpose in this title or in any other statute relative thereto.

Chapter 3. Offices and Public Questions

Article 1. General Provisions

19:3-1. Public offices, party offices and public questions classified
Public offices and party offices and public questions shall be divided and classified as follows:

a. Those offices voted for and public questions voted upon by the electors of the state or of more than one county thereof, or members of the house of representatives;
b. Those offices voted for and public questions voted upon by the electors of a county or of more than one municipality thereof;
c. Those offices voted for and public questions voted upon by the electors of a municipality or of any portion thereof.

19:3-2. Filling of public offices, vacancies; public questions; exceptions
All elective public offices in this State or any of its political subdivisions, except such as are provided by law to be filled at special, municipal or school elections, shall be filled at the general elections as hereinafter provided. All vacancies in public offices to be filled by election, except such as are provided by law to be filled at special or municipal elections, shall be filled at the general elections. All public questions to be voted upon by the people of the entire State and all other public questions, except such as are provided by law to be decided at any other elections, shall be voted upon and decided at the general elections.

19:3-2.1 Election to office of Lieutenant Governor, certification.

1. a. Pursuant to Article V, Section I, paragraph 4 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, a candidate for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be elected conjointly with the candidate for election to the office of Governor of the same political party. The candidate of each political party for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be selected by the candidate of that party nominated for election to the office of Governor within 30 days following the certification of the candidate for election to the office of Governor, pursuant to subsection b. of R.S.19:13-22. In the event the 30th day occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, the selection shall be made as of the next succeeding business day. A candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be selected by a candidate who is seeking election to the office of Governor through direct nomination by petition within 30 days following the certification of the candidate for the office of Governor, pursuant to subsection b. of R.S.19:13-22.

b. Each candidate for election to the office of Governor shall immediately upon selection of the candidate for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor, file with the Secretary of State a statement, in a form required by the secretary, signed by the candidate and certifying the name and address of the person the gubernatorial candidate selects as the candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor.

The candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor shall provide such information along with that statement as may be required by the secretary and shall also certify that he or she:

(1) has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or
(2) has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.

c. In the event that the individual selected to be a candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor by a candidate for the office of Governor resigns from, or otherwise vacates such candidacy, the replacement candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be selected by the candidate for election to the office of Governor, pursuant to Article V, Section I, paragraph 4 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.
d. Except as provided by a provision of Title 19 of the Revised States or by any other provision of the statutory law, any requirement concerning a candidate seeking election to the office of Governor contained in Title 19 shall apply equally to a candidate seeking election to the office of Lieutenant Governor.

19:3-3 Election of delegates, alternates at primary election.
Delegates and alternates to the national conventions of the political parties shall be elected at the primary election to be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in June in that year.

The members of State, county and municipal committees of the political parties shall be chosen at the primary for the general election as hereinafter provided.

19:3-4. Basis of election to office
At every election the person or persons, to the number to be elected therein, who shall by law be qualified for the office or offices to be filled at such election, and for whom the greatest number of votes shall have been given therein for such office or offices, shall be deemed and taken to be elected to such office or offices.

19:3-4.1 Database containing the contact information for every elected public official in this State; establishment; transmittal of form for collection of information; contents
a. There shall be established in the Division of Elections in the Department of State a database containing the contact information for every elected public official in this State, including the gender identity or expression and race of the elected public official.
b. No later than the 21st day after an individual has been certified as elected to an elective public office in this State, including an individual selected to fill a vacancy in an elective public office for the remainder of a term, the officer responsible for issuing the certificate to each successful candidate as provided by R.S.19:20-5, R.S.19:20-9, and R.S.19:22-6 shall transmit to the individual a form, developed by the Secretary of State, for completion that records: 1) the individual’s contact information, including full name, and the mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the individual’s elective public office, if any; 2) gender identity or expression; and 3) race, using the same racial categories as required on the federal decennial census of the United States by the federal Bureau of the Census.
The division shall coordinate with the clerks of each county and municipality to ensure that the form is transmitted to individuals elected to public offices in those counties and municipalities, respectively.
Each completed form shall be transmitted to the officer responsible for issuing the certificate to each successful candidate as provided by R.S.19:20-5, R.S.19:20-9, and R.S.19:22-6 by the elected individual by mail or electronic means no later than the 10th day following the receipt thereof.
c. The division shall use the information from the forms received pursuant to subsection b. of this section, to establish separate databases of information on elected individuals, with at least one database sorted by gender identity or expression and at least one sorted by race.
The information in each database shall be: 1) reviewed and updated by the officer responsible for issuing the certificate to each successful candidate as provided by the provisions in R.S.19:20-5, R.S.19:20-9, and R.S.19:22-6 on a regular basis, but not less than annually; and 2) available to the public at a convenient location on the website of the division.
d. The provisions of this section shall not apply to an individual elected to a position in a special district, on a board of education, or on a board of fire commissioners.

19:3-5 Holding incompatible offices; qualifications of presidential and vice presidential electors; qualifications of members of the Senate, General Assembly, and House of Representatives
No person shall hold at the same time more than one of the following offices: elector of President and Vice-President of the United States, member of the United States Senate, member of the House of Representatives of the United States, member of the Senate or of the General Assembly of this State, county clerk, register, surrogate or sheriff.

No person shall hold the office of member of the Senate or the General Assembly of this State and, at the same time, hold any other elective public office in this State, except that any person who holds the office of member of the Senate or the General Assembly and, at the same time, holds any other elective public office on the effective date of P.L.2007, c.161 may continue to hold that office of member of the Senate or that office of member of the General Assembly, and may hold that other elective public office at the same time if service in the Senate or the General Assembly and the other elective office are continuous following the effective date of P.L.2007, c.161.

No person shall be elected an elector of President and Vice-President of the United States unless he shall possess the qualifications of a legal voter of the State, shall be of the age of 25 years or upwards and shall have been a citizen of the United States seven years next preceding such election.

No person shall be elected a member of the House of Representatives, or an elector of President and Vice-President who shall hold any office of trust or profit under the United States.

19:3-5.1. Prohibition on accepting nomination by petition for more than one office
No person may accept a nomination by petition in the manner provided by R.S.19:13-8 or consent to the acceptance of a nomination in a petition for a primary election in the manner provided by R.S.19:23-7, for more than one office to be filled at the same general election, the simultaneous holding of which would be prohibited by the Constitution of the State of New Jersey or R.S.19:3-5. No provision of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or of any other law, rule, or regulation shall be interpreted as to prevent a person from accepting a nomination by petition in the manner provided by R.S.19:13-8 or consenting to the acceptance of a nomination in a petition for a primary or general election in the manner provided by R.S.19:23-7 for the offices of Member of the United States House of Representatives or United States Senator and President or Vice President of the United States to be filled at the same general election. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or any other law, rule, or regulation, a person may appear on the ballot as a candidate for the offices of Member of the United States House of Representatives or United States Senator and President or Vice President of the United States simultaneously.

19:3-5.2 Prohibition on holding more than one public office simultaneously; exemption
a. For elective public office other than as provided in R.S.19:3-5 or N.J.S.40A:9-4, a person elected to public office in this State shall not hold simultaneously any other elective public office.
b. Notwithstanding the provision of subsection a. of this section, a person who holds simultaneously more than one elective public office on the effective date of P.L.2007, c. 161 may continue to hold the elective public offices simultaneously if service in those elective public offices is continuous following the effective date of P.L.2007, c. 161.

19:3-6. Form of public question; when question deemed approved; “legal voters” defined
Any public question voted upon at an election shall be presented in simple language that can be easily understood by the voter. The printed phrasing of said question on the ballots shall clearly set forth the true purpose of the matter being voted upon. Where the question concerns any amendment to the State Constitution, or any act or statute or other legal titles of any nature, the printed phrasing on the ballots shall include a brief statement interpreting same. In event that in any statute the public question to be voted upon is so stated as not clearly to set forth the true purpose of the matter being voted upon and no provision is made in said statute for presenting the same in simple language or printing upon the ballots a brief statement interpreting the same, there may be added on the ballots to be used in voting upon the question, a brief statement interpreting the same and setting forth the true purpose of the matter being voted upon in addition to the statement of the public question required by the statute itself.

Such public question, when duly voted upon at an election, shall be deemed to be approved when that percentage of the legal voters of the State or any subdivision thereof as required by the statute authorizing the proposal of such public question shall vote in favor of its adoption.

For the purpose of this Title it is hereby declared that the intent and meaning in any such statute of the words “legal voters” are persons entitled to vote, and who do vote, at the time and in the manner prescribed in and by such statute upon the public question submitted; and for the purpose of ascertaining what is the percentage of the legal voters of any district defined in such statute, upon the public question therein directed to be submitted, the persons who do not vote at such election, the persons who do not vote upon the public question and the persons whose ballots may be declared invalid, shall not be estimated, counted or considered.

Article 2. Void Nominations or Elections

19:3-7. Office forfeited by nonfiling of statement or filing of false statement
If any candidate for nomination for or election to any public office or party position, or his campaign manager, shall fail to file any statement or oath required by this Title to be filed, at the time, place and in the manner required by this Title, and duly verified as herein required, or shall file any false statement, the nomination or election of such candidate, if nominated or elected at the primary or other election concerning which such statement shall have been filed, shall be null and void.

19:3-9. Circumstances under which office not void
When upon the trial of any action or proceedings instituted under this Title for the purpose of securing a determination that any nomination for or election to any public office or party position is null and void, it shall appear from the evidence that the offense complained of was not committed by the candidate, or with his knowledge or consent, and that all reasonable means were taken by or on behalf of the candidate to prevent the commission of any such offense, or that the offenses complained of were trivial or unimportant, and that in all respects his candidacy and election were free from all illegal acts, or that any act or omission of any candidate complained of arose from accidental miscalculation or from some other reasonable cause of like nature, and in any case did not arise from any want of good faith, and under the circumstances it seems to the court or judge to be unjust that the candidate shall forfeit his nomination, position or office, then the nomination or election of such candidate shall not by reason of such offense complained of be void.

Article 3. Effects of Void Nominations or Elections

19:3-10. Name not printed on ballot; next highest name printed
If it shall be determined in a manner hereinafter provided, that the nomination for an office of a successful candidate at any primary election is null and void, and if such determination shall have been made ten days before the election at which the candidates nominated at such primary election are to be voted for, an order shall be made by the court or judge making such determination prohibiting the printing of the name of such candidate on the ballot to be used at such election, and the name of the candidate for nomination or party position at such primary election receiving the next highest number of votes shall thereupon be printed upon the ballot as the nominee for the office.

19:3-11. No certificate of election to candidate elected
If such determination shall not have been made ten days prior to the election at which the candidates at such primary election are to be voted for, and in case such candidate shall be elected at the election to the office for which he claimed nomination under such void primary, no certificate of election shall be delivered to such candidate and the election for the office for which such person was a candidate shall be null and void.

19:3-12. Delivered certificate of election void
If such determination shall have been made after the delivery of the certificate of election to such candidate, the certificate shall be null and void, and the candidate shall not be inducted into the office for which the certificate was issued.

19:3-13. Candidate inducted into office; proceedings for vacation of office
If such determination shall not have been made until after such candidate has been inducted into office, then upon a certified copy of the record of the determination being sent to the Attorney-General, it shall be his duty to institute appropriate proceedings for the vacation of such office where no other proceeding to the same purpose has been commenced.

If the record relates to the election of any candidate for the office of United States Senator, member of Congress, State Senator or member of the General Assembly, the Attorney-General, instead of instituting appropriate proceedings for the vacation of the office, shall send the certified copy, within five days after the same is received by him, to the United States Senate, the House of Representatives, the State Senate or the General Assembly, as the case may be, if such United States Senate, House of Representatives, State Senate or General Assembly is then in session, and if not, then on the first day of such session.

19:3-14. No certificate of election delivered
If it shall be determined, in the manner hereinafter provided, that the election to an office of a candidate at any election is null and void, no certificate of election shall be delivered to the candidate whose election shall have been so determined to be null and void.

19:3-15. Delivered certificate of election void
If such determination shall have been made after the delivery of the certificate of election to such candidate, the certificate shall be null and void, and the candidate shall not be inducted into the office for which the certificate was issued.

19:3-16. Candidate inducted into office; proceedings for vacation of office
If such determination shall not have been made until after such candidate shall have been inducted into office, then upon a certified copy of the record of the determination being sent to the Attorney-General, it shall be his duty to institute appropriate proceedings for the vacation of such office where no other proceeding to the same purpose has been commenced.

If the record relates to the election of any candidate to the office of United States Senator, member of Congress, State Senator, or member of the General Assembly, the Attorney-General, instead of instituting appropriate proceedings for the vacation of the office, shall send the certified copy, within five days after the same is received by him, to the United States Senate, the House of Representatives, the State Senate or the General Assembly, as the case may be, if such United States Senate, House of Representatives, State Senate or General Assembly is then in session, and if not, then on the first day of such session.

19:3-17. No certificate of election delivered
If it shall be determined in the manner hereinafter provided, that the election of a person to a party office is null and void, no certificate of election shall be delivered to the candidate whose election shall have been so determined to be null and void.

19:3-18. Delivered certificate of election void
If such determination shall have been made after the delivery of the certificate of election to such candidate, the certificate shall be null and void, and whether such determination shall have been made before or after the delivery of a certificate of election, a certificate of election shall be delivered to the candidate having the next highest number of votes.

19:3-19. Surrender by delegates to national convention of certificate voided
In the case of a delegate-at-large or district delegate to any national convention, whose election shall have been declared null and void under this Title, after a certificate of election has been issued to him, the Attorney-General shall transmit to such convention a certified copy of the judgment and determination of the court or judge declaring the election void, to the end that the certificate of election issued to the person having the next highest number of votes for such party position may be honored by the convention.

Any delegate-at-large or district delegate to any national convention to whom a certificate of election shall have been delivered, which certificate shall have been declared null and void after such delivery, shall, upon the service upon him of a certified copy of the determination of the court or judge declaring the certificate null and void, forthwith surrender such certificate to the Clerk of the Superior Court.

19:3-20. Candidate whose nomination or election annulled ineligible to fill vacancies
A candidate nominated for or elected to an office, whose nomination or election has been annulled and set aside for any reason mentioned in this title, shall not, during the period fixed by law as the term of such office, be appointed to fill any vacancy which may occur in such office; but this provision shall not apply to appointments to any office the qualifications for which are prescribed by the constitution of this state or of the United States.

19:3-21. Candidate removed from office ineligible to fill vacancies; exception
A candidate or other person removed from or deprived of his office for any offense mentioned in this title shall not, during the period remaining as the unexpired term of such office, or during the period fixed by law as the next ensuing term of such office, be appointed to fill any vacancy which may occur in such office; but this provision shall not apply to appointments to any office the qualifications for which are prescribed by the constitution of this state or of the United States.

19:3-22. Appointments null and void
An appointment to an office made in violation of or contrary to the provisions of section 19:3-20 or section 19:3-21 of this title shall be void.

19:3-23. Vacation of office when nomination or election void
When the nomination or election of a person to public office within this State or any of its political subdivisions shall have been declared null and void, such person shall remove or be removed from such office.

It shall be lawful for the Attorney-General to institute a proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ to remove from office a person whose nomination or election shall be void under the provisions of this Title.

19:3-24. Right to seek recovery of office unabridged
Nothing in this Title contained shall abridge any right which a claimant to any office might otherwise have to institute a proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ for the recovery of such office.

Article 4. Vacancies in Public Office

19:3-25. What constitutes vacancy
When a person shall remove or be removed from office because his nomination or election thereto has been declared null and void, such office shall be deemed to be vacant.

When an equal number of votes shall have been given to two or more persons to fill any office for which they shall by law be qualified, the office shall be deemed to be vacant.

When a person who shall have been elected or appointed to any office as mentioned in section 19:3-5 of this title shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, or appointed, be elected or appointed to another of such offices, and shall accept the same, such acceptance shall be deemed to make vacant the office to which he shall have been previously elected or appointed; and he shall not be permitted to qualify or take such new office until he shall have formally relinquished the office which he may have been holding.

When a person shall, at an election, be elected to two or more of such offices, he shall accept but one of the same, and the other or others shall be deemed vacant.

When a person who shall be elected a member of the senate or general assembly of this state shall neglect or refuse for ten days next after the commencement of the session of such house to take his seat therein, or to send to such house a satisfactory excuse, or shall during any session of such house be absent unremittingly for ten days, unless expressly excused by such house from attendance thereon, or shall remove from and cease to be a resident of the state or of the county for which he may have been elected, his office shall be deemed vacant.

19:3-26 Vacancies in United States senate; election to fill; temporary appointment by governor.
If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this State in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding general election, unless the governor of this State shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.

The governor of this State may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this State whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term; and such appointee shall serve as such senator until a special election or general election shall have been held pursuant to law and the Board of State Canvassers can deliver to his successor a certificate of election.

19:3-27. Vacancies in United States house of representatives; election to fill
When a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this state in the United States house of representatives, it shall be the duty of the governor to issue a writ of election to fill such vacancy, unless the term of service for which the person whose office shall become vacant will expire within six months next after the happening of the vacancy.

19:3-29 Other vacancies; election to fill.
A vacancy happening in a public office other than that of United States Senator, Member of Congress, State Senator, or member of the House of Assembly, shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled at the second succeeding general election.

Chapter 4. The Electorate

Article 1. Right of Franchise

19:4-1 Constitutional qualifications; persons not having right of suffrage; right to register
Every person possessing the qualifications required by Article II, paragraph 3, of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and having none of the disqualifications hereinafter stated and being duly registered as required by Title 19, shall have the right of suffrage and shall be entitled to vote in the polling place assigned to the election district in which he actually resides, and not elsewhere.

No person shall have the right of suffrage–

(1) Who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting; or
(2) (Deleted by amendment.)
(3) (Deleted by amendment.)
(4) (Deleted by amendment.)
(5) (Deleted by amendment.)
(6) Who has been convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this Title, for which criminal penalties were imposed, if such person was deprived of such right as part of the punishment therefor while serving a sentence of incarceration according to law unless pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage; or
(7) Who shall be convicted of the violation of any of the provisions of this Title, for which criminal penalties are imposed, if such person shall be deprived of such right as part of the punishment therefor while serving a sentence of incarceration according to law, unless pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage; or
(8) Who is serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

A person who will have on the day of the next general election the qualifications to entitle him to vote shall have the right to be registered for and vote at such general election and register for and vote at any election, intervening between such date of registration and such general election, if he shall be a citizen of the United States and shall meet the age and residence requirements prescribed by the Constitution of this State and the laws of the United States, when such intervening election is held, as though such qualifications were met before registration.

19:4-1.1 Legislative findings and declarations relating to the right to vote by persons convicted of an indictable offense who are on parole or probation
The Legislature finds and declares:

a. Voting is both a fundamental right and a civic duty.
b. In New Jersey, many people are denied the right to vote because they are on probation or parole for an indictable offense.
c. New Jersey first denied the right to vote, and permitted the Legislature to deny by law the right to vote, on account of a criminal conviction as part of its Constitution of 1844.
d. The law in its current form was enacted decades prior to the dramatic increases in incarceration experienced by New Jersey and the nation over the past 40 years.
e. Nearly half of those denied the right to vote because of a criminal conviction are Black, due to racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
f. There is no evidence that denying the right to vote to people with criminal convictions serves any legitimate public safety purpose.
g. Denying the right to vote to people with criminal convictions who are on parole or probation unnecessarily burdens law enforcement, election officials, and New Jersey residents. Administering New Jersey’s current law requires involvement from multiple public safety agencies, as well as State and local election officials, and average citizens need to understand principles of the criminal law in order to know who is or is not eligible to vote.
h. This act, P.L.2019, c. 270, would conserve law enforcement resources and create a bright-line rule so that average citizens are not wrongly denied their right to vote due to confusion or mistake.

19:4-4. Arrest under civil process on election day
No person who shall have a right to vote at any election shall be arrested by virtue of any civil process on the day on which such election shall be held.

Article 1a. Residence

19:4-4.1. Voters having more than one place of residence; authority to file statement
Any person entitled to vote in this State and who has more than 1 place of residence, may file a statement pursuant to this act.

19:4-4.2. Form and contents of statement
The statement shall be in writing, in such form as the Secretary of State may prescribe from time to time, and shall be sworn to under oath, or affirmed, by the person named therein. Every such statement shall set forth facts showing the affiant’s qualifications as a voter, a description of the places where he previously resided and the dates thereof, a description of the places where he resides, the names and all residences of the members of his immediate family or household who are of voting age with indication of the residence at which each is domiciled for voting, and a statement of the place of residence where he intends his domicile to be.

19:4-4.3. Statement to be furnished by and filed with election official having jurisdiction of indicated domicile
The statement shall be furnished by and filed with the election official whose jurisdiction embraces the indicated domicile of the affiant and with whom voters are required to register or reregister.

19:4-4.4. Filing like statement on subsequent change of domicile
Any person who files a statement under section 3 of this act shall be required, as a condition to any subsequent change of domicile within this State, to file a like statement with the election official who received the previous statement and with the election official whose jurisdiction embraces the newly designated domicile.

19:4-4.5. Statement as prima facie evidence of domicile; right to register in voting district
A statement satisfying the requirements of sections 2 or 4 of this act shall be prima facie evidence that the place of residence in this State identified therein is the domicile of the affiant. In the absence of evidence contrary thereto appearing either in said statement or otherwise, the affiant shall be entitled to register or reregister within the voting district where such domicile is located, provided he possesses all other qualifications entitling him to do so. Any election official with whom such statement is filed is hereby empowered to conduct such investigation and to require the affiant to furnish additional data or information relating to his identified domicile, as he may consider necessary to discharge his duty pursuant to law.

19:4-4.6. Act as remedial; construction
This act shall be deemed remedial and shall be construed in such manner as to assist the affiant to establish his lawful right to vote in his voting district in advance of casting his vote and to enforce such right, pursuant to law.

19:4-4.7 False oath, affirmation, fourth degree crime.
Any person who shall make false oath or affirmation to any statement under this act, or who shall make any false statement therein, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Article 2. Election Districts

19:4-10. Geographical composition
As nearly as practicable, each election district shall be composed of contiguous and compact areas having clearly definable boundaries and shall be contained wholly within only one ward, only one municipality, only one county freeholder district, one State legislative district, and only one other district from which any public official is elected, except that for the purpose of establishing Congressional districts pursuant to Article II, Section II of the New Jersey Constitution, an election district may be split between two such districts. The election districts within each municipality shall be numbered consecutively. If any election district is split between two Congressional districts, one of the districts shall also be assigned the letter “a” and the other district shall be assigned the letter “b”.

19:4-11 District with one voting machine or four electronic system voting devices; number of voters; voting systems for individuals with disabilities
a. Subject to the provisions of law as to redistricting, each election district in which only one voting machine or four electronic system voting devices are used shall contain no more than 750 voters, except an election district in which there is located a public or private institution where persons entitled to vote may reside, and in such district the number of voters shall be as near to 750 as is practicable.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, no later than January 1, 2006 each election district shall also include at least one voting system capable of permitting individuals with disabilities to vote.

19:4-12 Other districts with more machines or devices; number of voters; additional members of district board
Except as provided pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1976, c. 83 (C.19:4-11), each district in which two voting machines or five electronic system voting devices are to be used shall contain, as nearly as is practicable, 1,000 voters, and each district in which three voting machines or eight electronic system voting devices are to be used shall contain, as nearly as is practicable, 1,500 voters.

Nothing herein shall prevent any election district from containing fewer voters than prescribed above, if necessary for the convenience of the voters.
In a district where more than two voting machines or five electronic system voting devices are to be used, two additional members of the district board, who shall not be members of the same political party, shall be appointed for each additional voting machine or system.

19:4-13. Readjustment of boundaries for correct number of voters
When in any two consecutive general elections in an election district more than 750 or less than 250 votes shall have been cast, the county board shall readjust the boundary lines of such election district and other election districts necessary to effect changes so that none of the election districts affected shall have more than 750 registered voters, and for this purpose shall have power to consolidate any number of districts and subdivide the same.

19:4-14. Revision or readjustment of boundaries at option of county board
Where it appears that serious inconveniences have been caused the voters by the size or shape of an election district, or that certain districts contain an unreasonably large or small number of voters in comparison with other districts, or that a change is necessary because of a change in ward lines, the county board may revise or readjust the election districts in the municipality, without regard to whether a readjustment is authorized by section 2 or 3 of this act.

19:4-15 Time of change
a. No county board shall make division of an election district in any year in the period commencing 75 days before the primary election for the general election, and the day of the general election.
b. To facilitate the use of Federal decennial census populations for apportionment and redistricting purposes and notwithstanding the provisions of this or any other law, no election districts shall, except with the prior approval of the Secretary of State, be created, abolished, divided or consolidated between January 1 of any year whose last digit is 7 and December 1 of any year whose last digit is 0.

19:4-16. Maps and descriptions; filing; public inspection; rules and regulations; election district boundaries
a. The county board shall cause to have prepared and shall maintain an up-to-date suitable map of the county and of each constituent municipality clearly delineating the geographical boundaries of each election district contained therein and of the ward, legislative, freeholder, Congressional or other district or part thereof, in which each election district is contained. A word description of such geographical boundaries shall be attached to each such map.

The county board shall file copies of such maps and descriptions in the following manner: three copies to the Secretary of State, one copy to the county clerk, and one copy to the clerk of each affected municipality. Within 30 days of any changes in the boundaries of any of the aforementioned districts, the county board shall file revised maps and accompanying revised descriptions in the same manner.

Said maps and descriptions shall be public records and shall be available for inspection by the public in the offices of the Secretary of State, county clerks and municipal clerks during normal office hours. Copies shall be made available to the public for a fee necessary to cover the cost of reproduction.

In order to effectuate the purposes of this act, the Secretary of State shall establish such rules and regulations governing the preparation, maintenance, distribution and filing of said maps and descriptions as he deems necessary or desirable.

b. In addition to the maps and descriptions required to be filed with the Secretary of State under subsection a. of this section, the county board shall file with the Secretary of State the election district boundaries in ESRI Shapefile format in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 487 (C.19:4-18).

19:4-17. Secretary of state as liaison with Bureau of Census
The Secretary of State shall serve as the State liaison with the Bureau of the Census, United States Department of Commerce, on matters relating to the preparation of maps and the tabulation of the population for election purposes.

19:4-18. Short title; Voting Precinct Transparency Act
a. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Voting Precinct Transparency Act.”
b. The Secretary of State shall make available on the official website of the Division of Elections in the Department of State the election district, county district, and municipal ward boundaries required to be filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1976, c. 83 (C.19:4-16), section 121 of P.L.1972, c. 154 (C.40:41A-121), and section 7 of P.L.1981, c. 496 (C.40:44-15), respectively. The boundary files shall be in ESRI Shapefile format and available for download by the public free of charge, upon implementation of a compatible Statewide Voter Registration System.
c. Within 90 days following the certification of the results of any special, primary, school, municipal, or general election, and of any public question voted by the voters at an election, pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, the county clerk of each county shall make available on their official website a table or database containing the election results compiled at the election districts level. If feasible, the table or database shall include the results of mail-in ballots delineated by election district.
The election results table or database shall be in a single file, in a comma-delimited values format, and shall contain a unique identifier field for each election district that matches the unique identifier field for that district in the election districts Shapefile. In the event that election results specific to mail-in ballots are unable to be included in the table or database created pursuant to this subsection, the votes by mail-in ballot for a particular candidate shall be included in a separate table or database. A mail-in ballot received and counted shall not be attributed in the table or database to an election district or other geographic unit in which the voter does not reside. The election results table or database shall be available for download by the public free of charge.
d. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, Office of Geographic Information Systems, shall issue technical guidelines governing the preparation, maintenance, and submission of boundary files and election results files deemed necessary or desirable to accomplish the provisions of this section.

Chapter 5. Party Organizations

Article 1. General Provisions

19:5-1. Powers of and restrictions upon political parties; party columns on official ballot
A political party may nominate candidates for public office at primary elections provided for in this Title, elect committees for the party within the State, county or municipality, as the case may be, and in every other respect may exercise the rights and shall be subject to the restrictions herein provided for political parties; except that no political party which fails to poll at any primary election for a general election at least ten per centum (10%) of the votes cast in the State for members of the General Assembly at the next preceding general election, held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly, shall be entitled to have a party column on the official ballot at the general election for which the primary election has been held. In such case the names of the candidates so nominated at the primary election shall be printed in the column or columns designated “Nomination by Petition” on the official ballot under the respective titles of office for which the nominations have been made, followed by the designation of the political party of which the candidates are members.

Article 2. Municipal, County and State Committees

19:5-2 Membership and organization of municipal committees.
The members of the municipal committees of political parties shall consist of the elected members of the county committee resident in the respective municipalities. The members of the municipal committee shall take office on the first Saturday following their election as members of the county committee, on which day the terms of all members of such committees theretofore elected shall terminate. The annual meeting of each municipal committee shall be held on the first Monday following the primary election for the general election, at an hour and place to be designated in a notice to be given by the chairman to each member and member-elect. The members of each committee shall elect some suitable person who shall be a resident of such municipality as chairman. The municipal committee shall have power to adopt a constitution and bylaws for its proper government. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the committee, and shall perform all duties required of him by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee.

When a member of a municipal committee ceases to be a resident of the district or unit from which elected, a vacancy on the committee shall exist. A member of a municipal committee of any political party may resign his office to the committee of which he is a member, and upon acceptance thereof by the committee a vacancy shall exist. A vacancy in the office of a member of a municipal committee of any political party, howsoever caused, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the remaining members of the committee in the municipality in which the vacancy occurs.

19:5-2.1. Access to financial records of municipal committees; request by persons elected to membership in committee
In the time intervening between a primary election at which the members of a municipal committee of a political party are elected and the annual meeting of the municipal committee as provided by R.S. 19:5-2, any person elected to membership on that municipal committee at that election may request, in writing and by certified mail, either access to the complete financial records of the municipal committee or a copy of the balance sheet of the municipal committee showing the assets and liabilities of the municipal committee as of the close of business on the date of that primary election. The person requesting that access or copy of the balance sheet shall receive the access or copy so requested within 48 hours of the receipt of that request by the committee.

19:5-3 Membership and organization of county committees; vacancies; certification of unit of representation and number of election districts.
The members of the county committees of political parties shall be elected at the primary for the general election in the manner provided in this Title for the selection of party candidates to be voted for at the general election by voters of a municipality at such intervals as shall be provided in the bylaws of the county committee. The county committee shall consist of one male and one female member from each unit of representation in the county. The male receiving the highest number of votes among the male candidates and the female receiving the highest number of votes among the female candidates shall be declared elected. Members of the county committee shall actually reside in the districts or units which they respectively represent. The county committee shall determine by its bylaws the units into which the county shall be divided for purpose of representation in the county committee.

The members of the county committee of each of the political parties shall take office on the first Saturday following their election, on which day the terms of all members of such committees theretofore elected shall terminate. The annual meeting of each county committee shall be held on the first Tuesday following the primary election, except that when such meeting day falls on a legal holiday then the said meeting shall be held on the day following, and when such meeting day falls on the day of a municipal runoff election within the county then said meeting may be held on the day following, at an hour and place to be designated in a notice in writing to be mailed by the chairperson to each member and member-elect. If the annual meeting coincides with a period of religious observance, the meeting may be held on another date, and under no circumstances shall that date occur later than the third Tuesday following the primary election. The members of such committee shall elect some suitable person as chairperson who shall be a resident of such county to hold office until a successor is elected. The chairperson of the outgoing county committee shall transmit, with the notice of the annual meeting, a copy of the constitution and bylaws to any newly elected committee member. The members shall also elect a vice-chairperson of the opposite sex of the chairperson to hold office for 1 year or until a successor is elected and the vice-chairperson shall perform all duties required by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee. Any person elected or appointed to membership on the county committee pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 may request, in writing and by certified mail to the county chairperson, such constitution or bylaws currently in effect. The committee member requesting the constitution or bylaws shall receive the constitution or bylaws within 48 hours of the receipt of the request by the chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the committee and shall perform all duties required by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee.

When a member of a county committee ceases to be a resident of the district or unit from which elected, a vacancy on the county committee shall exist. A member of a county committee of any political party may resign his or her office to the committee of which he or she is a member, and upon acceptance thereof by the committee, a vacancy shall exist. A vacancy in the office of a member of the county committee of any political party, caused by death, resignation, failure to elect, or removal for cause, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the municipal committee of the municipality wherein the vacancy occurs, if there is such committee, and if not, by the remaining members of the county committee of such political party representing the territory in the county in which such vacancy occurs. The chairperson of the outgoing county committee shall provide a copy of the constitution and bylaws to any committee member appointed pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 to fill a vacancy within three business days of the committee member’s selection.

The chairperson of the county committee of the several political parties shall, before April 1 in a year in which county committee members are to be elected, certify to the clerk of each municipality in the county the unit of representation in such municipality, together with the enumeration of the election district or districts embraced within such unit.

19:5-3.1. Access to financial records of county committees; request by persons elected to membership in committee
In the time intervening between a primary election at which the members of a county committee of a political party are elected and the annual meeting of the county committee as provided by R.S. 19:5-3, any person elected to membership on that county committee at that election may request, in writing and by certified mail, either access to the complete financial records of the county committee or a copy of the balance sheet of the county committee showing the assets and liabilities of the county committee as of the close of business on the date of that primary election. The person requesting that access or copy of the balance sheet shall receive the access or copy so requested within 48 hours of the receipt of that request by the committee.

19:5-3.2 County committees of a political party; governing documents; Internet posting of information
The members of the county committee of a political party shall adopt a constitution and bylaws, ensuring fundamental fairness and the rights of the members of the county committee in the governance of the county party. The constitution and bylaws of a county committee shall be posted and displayed on its Internet website, if the committee has a website. A county committee shall provide a copy of its constitution and bylaws to the county board of elections of the county, and the constitution and bylaws shall be posted and displayed on the county board’s Internet website, if the county board has a website.

19:5-4 Membership and organization of State committees; vacancies; national committee members.
The members of the State committee of each of the political parties shall be elected at the primary for the general election of the year in which a Governor is to be elected.

The number of males and females comprising the State committee of each of the political parties from each county may be determined by the bylaws of each such political party, but in any event in accordance with one of the following methods:

a. One male and one female member of the State committee to be elected in each county, each having one vote; or

b. Not less than 79 nor more than 82 elected members, to be apportioned among the several counties in accordance with population as determined at the most recent Federal decennial census; provided that each county shall have at least one vote, and provided further that the members of the State committee from each county shall be divided equally between males and females. In those counties with an odd number of State committee members, one seat shall be shared by one male and one female who shall each have one-half vote in all matters of the State committee; or

c. One male and one female member of the State committee to be elected in each county, each member having a vote weighted in strength on the basis of population as determined at the most recent Federal decennial census.

The members of the State committee of each of the political parties shall take office on the first Tuesday following their election, on which day the terms of all members of such committees theretofore elected shall terminate. The annual meeting of the State committee shall be held on the first Tuesday after such primary election at the hour and place to be designated in a notice in writing to be mailed by the chairman of the outgoing State committee to each member-elect. The members of the committee shall elect some suitable person as chairman. The committee shall have power to adopt a constitution and bylaws for its proper government. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the committee and shall perform all duties required of him by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee.

A member of a State committee of any political party may resign his office to the committee of which he is a member, and upon acceptance thereof by the committee a vacancy shall exist. A vacancy in the office of a member of the State committee of any political party, howsoever caused, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the members of the county committee of such political party in the county in which the vacancy occurs.

Members of the State committee shall serve for 4 years or until their successors are elected. The State committee shall choose its chairperson and the member or members of the national committee of its political party.

19:5-4a. Access to financial records of state committee; request by persons elected to committee
In the time intervening between a primary election at which the members of a State committee of a political party are elected and the annual meeting of the State committee as provided by R.S. 19:5-4, any person elected to membership on that State committee at that election may request, in writing and by certified mail, either access to the complete financial records of the State committee or a copy of the balance sheet of the State committee showing the assets and liabilities of the State committee as of the close of business on the date of that primary election. The person requesting that access or copy of the balance sheet shall receive the access or copy so requested within 48 hours of the receipt of that request by the committee.

19:5-4.1. Apportionment of members different from apportionment under which current members elected; adoption of bylaws; election of new members
a. The State committee of any political party may adopt bylaws prescribing the apportionment of members of said committee different from the method under which the members currently serving were elected, in accordance with section 1 of this amendatory and supplementary act. Such bylaws shall be adopted by a majority of the members of the respective State committee present and voting at a duly convened meeting of said State committee at which a quorum of at least 40% plus one is present. The chairman of such State committee shall certify the adoption of its bylaws to the Secretary of State within 10 days of their adoption.

b. In the event that a State committee of any political party shall adopt bylaws providing for an apportionment of members different from the apportionment under which the current members were elected and requiring the election of additional members before the next primary election at which candidates for Governor are to be nominated, the additional members of such State committee shall be elected at the primary election following the adoption of said bylaws.

c. The chairman of such State committee shall, no later than 45 days before the date of the primary election, notify in writing the chairman of each county committee of such party of the number of additional male and female members and members with less than one full vote to be elected from the county at such election. At the same time the chairman of the State committee shall make similar notification to the county clerk of each county.

d. The members and officers of the State committee adopting such bylaws shall serve out the terms to which they had been elected and shall be the only members who shall participate in the process of nomination of members of county boards of election provided for in this act until the termination of their terms.

19:5-4.2. Inadequacy of time to give notice; filling of additional memberships on state committee
In the event that notice of the additional members of the State committee to be elected from the county can not be given within the time prescribed in subsection c. of section 6 of this act, the additional memberships on such State committee shall be filled in the same manner as vacancies are filled under R.S. 19:5-4 by the county committee of each county to which additional members have been apportioned.

19:5-5. Maintenance of party organization
Any State committee, county committee or municipal committee of any political party may receive and disburse moneys for the general purposes of maintaining such organization during the whole or any part of the year. The expenses for maintenance of organization shall be confined to the hiring or acquisition of suitable quarters for meetings of such committee, for stationery, for hiring of necessary clerks, for the expenses of notices of the meetings of such committee, for giving publicity to the policies and candidates of their respective party organizations, and other expenses incidental to the maintenance of such organization.

Article 3. State Conventions

19:5-6. Annual convention; members; time and place, platform; resolutions and public hearings
There shall be held in each year in which all members of the General Assembly are to be elected, a State convention of each of the political parties.

Such State convention of each party shall consist of the following members:

(1) The party candidates for the following offices:

(a) Members of the Senate or House of Representatives of the United States from this State, nominated at the party primaries held for the nomination of candidates for any of said offices immediately preceding the convention.
(b) State Senator nominated, in each county, at the party primaries, held for the nomination of a candidate for said office, immediately preceding the convention, and
(c) Members of the General Assembly, nominated in each county, at the party primaries immediately preceding the convention, if the convention is to be held in a year in which all of the members of the General Assembly are to be elected; or all of the party candidates for said offices, in each county, who were voted upon and were not elected at the general election held in the year immediately preceding the convention, if the convention is to be held in a year other than one in which all of the members of the General Assembly are to be elected, except that any candidates nominated for the filling of vacancies, in said offices, at the party primaries held in the year in which the convention is held, shall replace, to an equal number, the candidates so voted upon and not elected at the general election held in the preceding year, who received the least number of votes in said general election;

(2) The candidate of the party for Governor nominated at the primaries in said year;
(3) Members of the State Senate and of the General Assembly belonging to the party who are holding office at the time of the State convention and whose successors are not to be chosen at the ensuing general election;
(4) Members of the State Committee chosen as herein provided;
(5) Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States from this State, belonging to such party, who are holding office at the time of the holding of the State convention and whose successors are not to be chosen at the ensuing general election;
(6) Members of the National Committee from this State; and
(7) The county chairperson and vice chairperson of the several county committees.

The convention of each party shall be held at the city of Trenton on the second Thursday after the primary election for the general election in each year in which all members of the General Assembly are to be elected. When the day prescribed by law for holding State conventions of political parties, or any adjournment thereof, falls on a legal holiday, the convention or adjournment thereof, as the case may be, shall be held on the day preceding such legal holiday. The place and the hour at which the convention shall meet shall be fixed by call of the existing State Committee to be issued at least 5 days prior to the date of meeting. If no call is issued by the State Committee, any person qualified to sit in the convention may issue a call.

The convention of each party shall have power to adopt and promulgate a party platform for its party, and to transact such other business as may properly come before it. The convention of each political party, in this Title authorized, upon convening, shall appoint a committee on resolutions consisting of five members. The convention shall then be open for the reception of all proposed planks for the party platform, which planks shall be referred to the committee on resolutions, whose duty it shall be to prepare a tentative party platform and furnish it to each member of the convention within 4 75 days. The committee on resolutions of each political party shall hold a minimum of three public hearings throughout the State. A number of such public hearings shall be held in the evenings, if feasible, to give the largest possible number of people an opportunity to express their views. The State convention of each political party shall adjourn to meet again at its originally set meeting place not later than 90 days after the initial adjournment of such convention. The State chairman of each political party shall set the date of the adjourned meeting of his party. A notice of the date of the adjourned meeting of each political party shall be furnished to each member of each respective convention not later than 15 days prior to such adjourned meeting. At such meeting the respective conventions shall consider and may adopt the draft of the platform so prepared by the committee on resolutions with such amendments as shall be suggested and adopted in the conventions as a whole. The voting on the adoption of the party platform shall be on the entire platform as reported by the committee on resolutions, unless there be an objection to any separate plank or planks or to any amendment thereto, in which case the voting on such plank or planks or amendment shall be by the “ayes” and “nays” of the members of the convention present and voting.

The provisions of this section shall not preclude the holding of additional State conventions of the political parties at such times as the State Committees of the parties shall determine.

Chapter 6. Election Officials

Article 1. District Boards of Registry and Election

19:6-1. Membership
The district boards in each election district shall consist of four members, except that where electronic voting systems are in use any election district in which there are more than 900 registered voters the district board shall consist of six members. The members shall be appointed by the county board of the county in which such election district is located, in the manner hereinafter provided.

In election districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, the county board shall appoint two additional members who shall be of Hispanic origin and fluent in Spanish.

19:6-2 Application for membership on district board; qualifications.
a. The following persons may apply in writing to the county board, on a form prepared and furnished by the county board, for appointment as a member of a district board of any municipality in the county in which he or she resides: (1) a legal voter who is a member of a political party by virtue of having voted in a party primary or who has filed a party declaration form for the ensuing primary election for the general election with the commissioner of the county in which the voter is registered and who, for two years prior to making written application, has not espoused the cause of another political party or its candidates; (2) a legal voter who is not affiliated with a political party; (3) a United States citizen and resident of this State who is 16 or 17 years of age, attends a secondary school and has the written permission of his or her parent or guardian to serve as a member of the board if appointed; or (4) a United States citizen and resident of this State who is 16 or 17 years of age and has graduated from a secondary school or has passed a general educational development test, GED, and has the written permission of his or her parent or guardian to serve as a member of the board if appointed.

b. The application, signed by the applicant under his or her oath, shall state: (1) the applicant’s name and address; (2) the applicant’s age, if the applicant is less than 18 years of age; (3) the political party to which he or she belongs or, if the applicant is not affiliated with a political party, the fact that the applicant is not so affiliated; (4) that the applicant is of good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; and (5) that the applicant possesses the following qualifications: eyesight, with or without correction, sufficient to read nonpareil type; ability to read the English language readily; ability to add and subtract figures correctly; ability to write legibly with reasonable facility; reasonable knowledge of the duties to be performed by the applicant as an election officer under the election laws of this State; and health sufficient to discharge his or her duties as an election officer.

c. If an applicant for appointment to a district board is 16 or 17 years of age, then the applicant shall provide to the county board, along with the application provided under subsection b. of this section: (1) a written document signed by the applicant’s parent or guardian giving the applicant permission to serve as a member of a district board if appointed and (2) if an election, meeting or training is scheduled to take place when school is in session, a written document from his or her school that acknowledges the applicant’s application for appointment as a member of a district board and excuses the applicant from school on the dates of service if appointed, except that the requirement contained in subparagraph (2) of this subsection shall not apply to a United States citizen and resident of this State who is 16 or 17 years of age and has graduated from a secondary school or has passed a general educational development test, GED.

d. No person shall be precluded from applying to serve as a member of a district board of any municipality for failure to vote in any year such person was ineligible to vote by reason of age or residence.

e. In no case shall a person 16 or 17 years of age be permitted to serve as a member of a district board on the day of an election for more than the number of hours permitted for such a person to work pursuant to P.L.1940, c.153 (C.34:2-21.1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.

19:6-3 Members appointed by county board; by Assignment Judge of Superior Court
a. (1) The county board shall, on or before April 1, appoint the members of the district boards in the manner prescribed by paragraph (2) of this subsection. The members of any district board shall be equally apportioned between the two political parties which at the last preceding general election held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly cast the largest and next largest number of votes respectively in this State for members of the General Assembly, except that if the county board is unable to fill all of the positions of the members of a particular district board from among qualified members of those two political parties, the county board shall appoint to any such unfilled position an otherwise qualified person who is unaffiliated with any political party, but no such appointment of an unaffiliated person shall be made prior to March 25, and in no event shall more than two such unaffiliated persons serve at the same time on any district board.

(2) In making appointments of members of the several district boards of the county, the county board shall consult with the chairperson of the county committee of each of the two political parties referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection. On or before March 15 of each year, the county board shall transmit to each of those chairpersons a list of those positions on the membership of the several district boards that are subject to apportionment under that paragraph (1) to the political party of which that chairperson is a member, and to which the county board has been unable to make an appointment from among qualified members of that political party. The county board shall include with each such list a request that the chairperson to whom that list is transmitted return to the board a list of the names of candidates for those unfilled positions. On or before March 25, the county board shall, on the basis of the lists so returned to it, fill as many of the remaining unfilled positions in the membership of the several district boards as possible, and shall assign or reassign appointees as necessary to ensure that the membership of each district board within the county shall include at least one member of each of the two political parties. The county board shall then appoint to any unfilled position on a district board an otherwise qualified person who is unaffiliated with any political party.

b. In case the county board shall neglect, refuse or be unable to appoint and certify the members of the district boards as herein provided, the Assignment Judge of the Superior Court shall, before April 10 of every other year, make such appointments and certifications.

19:6-4. Removal of board or members for cause
A judge of the Superior Court or the county board shall have power to dismiss any member of a district board from such board for an illegal act, or for any cause which shall be determined in a summary way by such judge or county board. The county board shall dismiss the members of a district board from such board if upon any recount of the votes cast in such district it shall appear that errors occurred in the count or the certificate thereof, which, under the provisions of this Title, are sufficient to cause the costs of such recount to be paid by the State, county or municipality; and no person so removed from any board shall thereafter be eligible to serve as a member of the same or any other district election board. Application for the removal of all of the members, or of any member of any district election board, may, within ten days after the final order has been entered on any recount which may have been allowed affecting such district, be made by any candidate at the last election to a judge of the Superior Court or the county board. On the application, summary hearings shall be held to determine whether the board or the member was incompetent or careless in the receipt of illegal votes or the rejection of legal votes or otherwise in the conduct of the election generally. If, upon such hearing, it appears to the judge or the county board, as the case may be, that such incompetency or carelessness existed, the board or the member thereof found so to be incompetent or careless shall be removed and upon such removal disqualified from further service as a member of any district board.

19:6-5. Removal of members with or without cause; filling vacancies
Any member of a district board in an election district may be summarily removed from office, with or without cause, and vacancies filled, at any time by the members of the county board of the county in which such election district is located in the manner hereinafter provided. In the case of a member of the district board who was appointed as a member of a political party, removal shall be made by the members of the county board of that political party, and in the case of a member of the district board unaffiliated with a political party at the time of appointment, removal shall be made by the county board. Upon a removal the members of the county board so acting shall make a certificate of removal and file same with the county board.

The members of the county board removing such election officer shall forthwith proceed to fill the vacancy caused by the removal, and shall issue to the person selected to fill the vacancy a certificate which shall entitle that person to perform all the duties of a member of the district board for such election district.

19:6-6. Board may function notwithstanding vacancies
If there shall be a vacancy in the membership of any district board the remaining members shall function until the vacancy be filled.

19:6-7. Assignment of members to election districts
Any person selected as a member of a district board may be assigned by the county board to any election district, or transferred from one district to another after having been so assigned, in the municipality for which such person was elected, and the county board shall, on or before April 15 in each year, certify to the clerk of the county and to the municipal clerk the names of the persons appointed to the district boards of registry and election in the election districts in the county, specifying the municipalities and the districts therein for which such members shall have been appointed.

19:6-8. Term of office; notification of appointment
The terms of office of the members of the district boards shall be for 1 year, or until their successors are appointed, and shall begin on April 25 of each year. The county board shall notify the members of each district board of their appointment by forwarding a certificate to each member on or before April 20 in each year, specifying the district to which each member has been assigned.

19:6-9. Attendance of members
Every person so assigned shall attend at the times and places now or hereafter fixed by law or by the county board for the performance of any duty now or hereafter required of any member of a district board.

19:6-9.1. Two shifts authorized for supervision of elections
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title to the contrary, in any election the county board may direct that responsibility for the conduct of that election in an election district shall be divided between a first shift and a second shift of the district board of that district, provided that the responsibility for performance of the duties of judge and inspector of any such district board shall not be so divided between shifts, and the members of such a board who shall have been selected as judge and inspector thereof shall serve on both shifts of that board. Whenever a county board shall have determined to direct such a division of responsibility in an election district, it shall, not later than the second day preceding the election, appoint such additional members to the district board of the district as may be required, in the same manner as provided for the appointment of district board members under R.S.19:6-1, provided that no additional members shall be appointed for the purpose of dividing responsibility for performance of the duties of judge or inspector of that district board. The county board shall also, at the same time at which any such appointment of additional members is made, designate each member of the district board other than the judge or inspector of the board, whether that member was appointed under R.S.19:6-1 or appointed as an additional member under this section, to serve either on the first or the second shift of the board; in making this designation, the county board of elections shall give due consideration to ensuring that district board members with experience in the conduct of elections are included in the membership of each shift. With respect to any district board of elections for which shifts have been established hereunder, the provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent a county board of elections from designating a clerk member of that board to serve on both shifts of the board, or from establishing a preference, in appointing the clerk members of that board, for the selection of individuals who are available to serve on both shifts of the board.

The county board shall establish the hours during which each shift shall serve, and shall timely notify the judge and inspector of the district board of the hours of the two shifts and the respective members of each shift of the hours of that shift’s service. The two shifts shall be as nearly equal in duration as is practicable. The members of the second shift shall be required to be present at the polls not later than one-half hour prior to the end of the first shift, and the responsibility for the conduct of the election in the election district shall be transferred from the first shift to the second shift during that last half-hour period of the first shift’s service under such rules as the county board shall prescribe.

The members of each shift of a district board of elections designated under this section shall have all of the responsibilities prescribed by law for the conduct of the election during the period in which that shift serves. In addition, the members of the first shift shall have responsibility, subject to the several duties specifically conferred by law upon the judge and inspector of the district board, for the receipt and custody, prior to the election, of election supplies and equipment; for preparation of the polling place for the election; and for the performance of all other duties relating to the election which are required by law to be carried out prior to the commencement of the balloting, up to and including the opening of the polls. Likewise, the members of the second shift shall have responsibility, subject to the several duties specifically conferred by law upon the judge and inspector of the district board, for closing the polls; for counting the votes cast in the election and ascertaining the results thereof; for the preparation and delivery of statements of those results; for the proper disposition of ballots in accordance with law; for the securing of the ballot boxes or voting machines; for the return of all election equipment and supplies; and for the performance of all other duties relating to the election which are required by law to be carried out following the closing of the polls.

The compensation of a member of a shift of the district board payable with respect to the member’s service on that shift shall be equal to one-half of the amount, pursuant to R.S.19:45-6, payable to members of a district board for which no division of responsibilities between a first shift and second shift, as provided by this section, has been established.

19:6-10 Organization meeting; judge and inspector; clerks of election
Each district board shall, on or before the second Tuesday next preceding the primary election, meet and organize by the election of one of its members as judge, who shall be chairman of the board, and another of its members as inspector. The judge and inspector shall not be members or voters of the same political party. In case of failure to elect a judge as herein provided, after balloting or voting three times, the senior member of the board in respect to length of continuous service as a member of such district board shall become judge, and in case of failure to elect an inspector after balloting or voting three times, the next senior member of the board in respect to length of continuous service as a member of such district board shall become inspector; provided, that both the chairman and the inspector shall not be members or voters of the same political party. The other members of the board shall be clerks of election, and shall perform all the duties required by law of the clerks of district boards.

19:6-11. Oath of office of members; power to administer oaths
Each member of the district board shall before entering upon the performance of his duties take and subscribe an oath or affirmation in writing before a duly qualified officer, faithfully and impartially to discharge all his duties as such officer to the best of his skill and ability. Such oaths and affirmations shall be forthwith forwarded to the county clerk and by him filed in his office, and after so qualifying, any member of such board may at any meeting thereof administer any oath or affirmation required or permitted to be taken by this title.

19:6-12. Member becoming candidate for office vacates office
The office of a member of a district board in an election district shall be deemed vacant upon such member becoming a candidate for an office to be voted upon at any primary, general election, school election, or special election for which he was appointed to serve, such candidacy to be determined by the filing of a petition of nomination, duly accepted by such member, in the manner provided by law. The municipal or county clerk with whom such petition and acceptance may be filed shall forthwith notify the county board of the county in which such election district is located, giving the name and residence of the member of the district board who has thus become a candidate, and the vacancy shall be filled as provided by law.

19:6-13. Vacancies; filling
A vacancy arising in a district board otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. The board shall certify the name and address of the person so appointed and the name of the district in which the vacancy exists to the clerk of the county and to the municipal clerk, and the person so appointed shall be notified in the manner above provided.

19:6-14. Boards for changed or new election districts; appointment
When the boundaries of an election district in a municipality shall have been changed or a new district created between the time of holding the general election and the time of holding the next primary or special election, or where the boundaries of an election district shall not be the same as at the general election, the county board on being notified thereof shall appoint a district board for such election district, in the manner hereinbefore provided for the appointment of district boards.

19:6-15. Constabulary powers of members; police assistance
The district boards of every election district shall preserve the peace and maintain good order in their respective polling places, during the progress of all elections and the counting of the votes cast thereat. To that end each member of every such board, during the progress of an election and the counting and canvassing of the votes, shall be and hereby is invested and charged with all the powers and duties of constables of this state in criminal matters.

Such election board, or any two members thereof, may, by writing under their hands whenever in their opinion it shall be necessary to do so, request the municipal authorities of any municipality within which their district is situate or the body or officer having charge and direction of the police force in such municipality, to detail one or more policemen to assist in preserving the peace and good order in and about such polling place, which request shall forthwith be complied with as far as possible by the body or officer to whom the same is made.

19:6-15.1. Police officers who are board members or challengers; uniforms or exposed weapons prohibited at polling place; penalty
No person who is employed as a police officer, either full-time or part-time, by the State or an instrumentality thereof, or by a political subdivision of the State or an instrumentality thereof, and who is a member of a district board of elections or serves as a duly authorized challenger for a political party or a candidate or on a public question, shall wear a police officer’s uniform or carry an exposed weapon while serving as a board member or a challenger, as the case may be, at a polling place on an election day. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:6-16. Police assigned to district boards in municipalities
The commission, committee, board or official having charge of the police department in any municipality may assign one or more police officers to any district board in such municipality whenever the said commission, committee, board or official deems it necessary to do so. Any police officers so assigned shall, under the direction of the board, enforce the election laws, maintain order, peace and quiet during the hours of registry and election, and assist the members of the board in carrying the ballot box or boxes to the office of the municipal clerk after the ballots are counted. The police officers so assigned shall not assist the board by performing the duties of a board member, nor shall those police officers serve at the polling place of that district board as challengers for a party or candidate or on a public question.

Article 1a. Special Hospital Election [Repealed]

Article 2. County Boards of Election

19:6-17. Membership; political affiliations; eligibility; vacancies; clerk; other employees; civil service; compensation
The county board shall consist of four persons, who shall be legal voters of the counties for which they are respectively appointed. Two members of such county board shall be members of the political party which at the last preceding general election, held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly, cast the largest number of votes in this State for members of the General Assembly, and the remaining two members of such board shall be members of the political party which at such election cast the next largest number of votes in the State for members of the General Assembly. By a majority vote of the full membership of the county board of chosen freeholders, the county board of chosen freeholders may opt to increase to six persons the membership of the county board of elections. The two new members shall be legal voters of the counties for which they are respectively appointed. If a county board of chosen freeholders votes to increase the membership of a county board of elections to six persons, the board of elections shall consist of an equal representation between the political parties which at the last preceding general election, held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly, cast the largest and next largest number of votes in this State for members of the General Assembly. No person who holds elective public office shall be eligible to serve as a member of the county board during the term of such elective office. The office of member of the county board shall be deemed vacant upon such member becoming a candidate for an office to be voted upon at any primary, general election or special election, except for nomination for or election to membership in any county committee or State committee or for nomination for or election as a delegate at large or alternate delegate at large, or district delegate or alternate district delegate to any national political convention, such candidacy to be determined by the filing of a petition of nomination duly accepted by such member in the manner provided by law.

In all counties of the first class the county board may appoint some suitable person clerk of such board. In counties of the first class having a population of less than 800,000, the county board may appoint four additional office employees, and in counties of the first class having a population of more than 800,000, the county board may appoint not more than six additional office employees, all of whom when appointed by such county boards shall be appointed from the competitive class of civil service, provided, however, that any employee now serving and who has not been appointed from the competitive class of civil service shall be in the classified service of the civil service upon passage of this act. The compensation of the clerk of the county board of elections in counties of the first class shall be in an amount recommended by the county board of elections and subject to the approval of the board of chosen freeholders of the county affected, provided, however, that such compensation shall be not less than $5,000.00 per annum. The compensation of such office employees shall be recommended by the county board and approved by the board of chosen freeholders. All persons now employed by the board in the competitive class of civil service and such other employees now performing assigned duties shall hold such employment in the competitive class of civil service.

19:6-17.1 Initial nomination and appointment of additional county board election members; timeframe
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of R.S.19:6-18 requiring appointments to be made on or before March 1, the initial nomination and appointment to increase the membership of the county boards of elections by two additional members, as provided by the action to increase membership under P.L.2019, c. 191 (C.19:6-17.1 et al.) amending R.S.19-6-17, shall be made not less than 10 business days following the adoption of increase in membership of the county board of elections by the county board of chosen freeholders. Thereafter, all members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the timeframe specified under section a. of R.S.19:6-18.

19:6-18 Nomination and appointment of members of county board; terms
During the 30-day period immediately preceding February 15 in each year, the chairman and vice-chairlady of each county committee and the State committeeman and State committeewoman of each of such two political parties, respectively shall meet and jointly, in writing, nominate one person residing in the county of such county committee chairman, duly qualified, for member of the county board in and for such county.

If more than two members are elected to the State committee of any party from a county, the State committeeman and State committeewoman who shall participate in the process of nomination shall be those holding full votes who received the greatest number of votes in their respective elections for members of the State committee.

If nomination be so made, the said county committee chairman shall certify the nomination so made to the State chairman and to the Governor, and the Governor shall commission such appointees, who shall be members of opposite parties, on or before March 1. If nomination be not so made on account of a tie vote in the said meeting of the county committee chairman, county committee vice-chairlady, State committeeman and State committeewoman, in respect to such nomination, the said county committee chairman shall certify the fact of such a tie vote to the State chairman, who shall have the deciding vote and who shall certify, in writing, to the Governor, the nomination made by his deciding vote. Appointees to county boards of election pursuant to this section shall continue in office for 2 years from March 1 next after their appointment.

The first appointment having been made pursuant to law for terms of 1 and 2 years, respectively, the members subsequently appointed each year shall fill the offices of the appointees whose terms expire in that year.

19:6-19. Filling vacancies
If a vacancy arises in any county board from any cause other than expiration of the term, the secretary of the county board, within 5 days thereafter, shall in writing notify the Governor, the appropriate county committee chairman, county committee vice-chairlady, State chairman, State committeeman and State committeewoman of such vacancy, and within the same time notify the Governor in writing the date on which such notice was received by the county committee chairman. If the secretary fails to so notify, any member of the county board may make such notifications. Within 10 days after receipt of notice by such county committee chairman, the county committee chairman, county committee vice-chairlady, State chairman, State committeeman and State committeewoman shall jointly nominate a successor, and any such nomination shall be made and certified in the same manner as provided in section 19:6-18 of the Revised Statutes, and the person so nominated shall thereupon be commissioned by the Governor. All appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term only.

19:6-20. Appointments by Governor in absence of nomination
If any nomination is not made and certified in writing to the Governor within the time specified, the Governor shall make such appointments of his own selection from the citizens of the county in which such failure occurs.

19:6-21. Board office; equipment; supplies
The county boards shall be provided by the board of chosen freeholders of the respective counties with a suitable office or offices, furniture and such other equipment as the county boards deem necessary. The county board in counties of the first class shall have power to purchase office equipment, furniture, furnishings, books, stationery, materials, supplies and other articles or equipment necessary in the judgment of the board, to carry out the provisions of this Title, and the board of chosen freeholders of the respective counties shall pay for the same, including the expenses of the board and the clerk thereof, upon certification of the county board. Nothing in subtitle two of the Title Municipalities and Counties (paras. 40:16-1 et seq.) shall in anywise be construed to affect, restrict or abridge the powers herein conferred on the county boards.

19:6-21.1 Preparation of annual budget request for office of county board of elections by county board of elections
A county board of elections shall prepare the annual budget request for the office of county board of elections pursuant to the requirements of section 3 of P.L.2015, c.249 (C.40A:4-45.45b).

19:6-22 Organization meeting; chairman; secretary; other meetings
a. (1) The county boards shall, at 10 a.m., on the second Tuesday in March, or on such other day as they may agree on within the first 15 days in March in each year, meet at the courthouse, or other place as provided for, in their respective counties, and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, organize by electing one of their number to be chairman and one to be secretary; but the chairman and secretary shall not be members of the same political party.

(2) In case of failure to elect a chairman after three ballots or viva voce votes, the member having the greatest seniority on the board shall be the chairman thereof, except that if the member having the greatest seniority on the board so chooses, that member shall instead be secretary of the board; in the event that that senior member so chooses to become secretary, no election shall be held to choose a secretary of the board, the board shall elect one of its members who is not of the same political party as the secretary to be the chairman of the board, and in the case of a failure again to elect a chairman after three ballots or viva voce votes, the person among those members having the greatest seniority on the board shall be the chairman thereof.

In any case of failure to elect a chairman, if two or more members of the board who are eligible to become chairman have greatest and equal seniority on the board, then the board shall, not later than the fifth day following the organization meeting, notify the Governor of an inability to fill the position of chairman either by election or on the basis of seniority, including in that notice a certification of the names of those senior members of the board. In addition, if the position of secretary has not otherwise been filled under the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the board shall defer for the time being the election of a secretary. Not later than the fifth day following receipt of the notice, the Governor shall designate one of those senior members to be chairman of the board and certify that designation to the board. If the position of secretary was not filled at the initial meeting of the county board to organize, then not later than the fifth day following receipt of that certification, the board shall reconvene at the call of the chairman so designated and shall elect a secretary of the board.

In case of failure to elect a secretary after three ballots or viva voce votes, the member of the board having the greatest seniority shall be secretary of the board, except that if that member has become chairman because of election to that position or because of designation as a result of the failure to elect a chairman, the member with the next greatest seniority shall be secretary. In no case, however, shall the chairman and secretary be members of the same political party.

Seniority for the purposes of this section shall be determined by the total amount of time that a person has served as a member of the board, beginning from the date that that person took the oath of office as a member.

b. The boards shall have power in their discretion to hold their meetings for any purpose, except organization, in any part of their respective counties. Meetings may be called by either the chairman or the secretary of the board, or at the request of any two members.

19:6-23. Oath of office of members; power to administer oaths
Each member of the county board shall, before entering upon the performance of his duties, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation, in writing, before the clerk of the county for which he is appointed, faithfully and impartially to discharge all his duties as such officer, to the best of his skill and ability. Such oath or affirmation shall be forthwith recorded in the office of the county clerk, and after so qualifying any member of such board may at any meeting thereof administer any oath or affirmation required or permitted to be taken by this title.

19:6-24. Powers and duties of board delegated to clerk
Wherever under the provisions of this Title any powers or duties are given or conferred upon the county boards in counties of the first class, the county board may, if it so determines, authorize or direct the clerk thereof, if there is a clerk, to perform such duties and exercise such powers under its supervision or in its absence.

The clerk of the county board in counties of the first class, if there is a clerk, shall have full power and authority in the conduct of the business and clerical affairs of the office of the county board, shall conduct the same in an impartial manner, and shall exercise full authority and direction over the employees in the office.

19:6-25 Sitting on general election days required.
The county boards in each of the counties shall sit on the day of the general election at the office of the county boards between the hours of 5:00 A.M. and midnight.

Article 3. Boards of County Canvassers

19:6-26. County boards of elections as; clerk
For the purposes of this title, the county board in each county shall be and act as a board of county canvassers for such county. The clerk of the county shall be the clerk of the board.

Article 4. Board of State Canvassers

19:6-27. Membership; clerk; meetings
The Board of State Canvassers shall consist of five persons, including the chairman, who shall be the Governor of this State. In the absence of the Governor, the Secretary of State shall serve as the chairman of the board and in the absence of the Secretary of State, the Assistant Secretary of State shall serve as the chairman of the board. The remaining members of the board shall consist of four members of the Legislature appointed by the Governor. No more than two of the legislators shall be from the same political party. When the Governor is serving as chairman of the board, the Secretary of State shall be the clerk of the board. When the Secretary of State is serving as chairman of the board, the Assistant Secretary of State shall be the clerk of the board. When the Assistant Secretary of State is serving as chairman of the board, that person shall designate another person to be clerk of the board and shall administer to that person the oath prescribed in R.S. 19:21-4. The board shall meet at such times and places as the chairman thereof shall determine pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 19:21-1.

Article 5. All Election Officials

19:6-28. Proceedings open and public
All the proceedings of the district boards, county boards, boards of county canvassers and board of state canvassers shall be open and public.

19:6-29. Majority necessary for decisions; dissents
A decision of the major part of the members thereof, who shall be present at a meeting, shall be deemed to be the decision of such board. If any member shall dissent from a decision of the board, and shall desire to protect himself against any consequences which may result from such decision, he shall state his dissent in writing, and deliver the same in the case of the state board of canvassers to the secretary of state and in all other cases to the clerk of the county, who shall file the same in his office.

19:6-30. Maintenance of regularity and order; powers; commitment of offenders
The district board in each election district, the county board, and the clerk thereof, the board of county canvassers and the board of State canvassers and the Superior Court shall, respectively, possess full power and authority to direct the police on duty to maintain regularity and order, and to enforce obedience to their lawful commands during their sessions respectively.

If a person shall refuse to obey the lawful command of any such board, or by disorderly conduct in its hearing or presence shall interrupt or disturb its proceedings, it may by an order in writing, signed by its chairman and attested by its clerk, commit the person so offending to the common jail of the county in which the board shall have met, for a period not exceeding three days. Such order shall be executed by any sheriff or constable to whom it shall be delivered; or if a sheriff or constable shall not be present or shall refuse to act, by any other person deputed by the board in writing, and the keeper of such jail shall receive the person so committed, and safely keep him for such time as shall be provided in the commitment.

Chapter 7. Challengers

19:7-1. Appointment by chairmen of committees
a. The chairman of the county committee of any political party that has duly nominated any candidate for public office to be voted for at an election by all the voters within the county or any political division thereof greater than a single municipality, or where the election is within and for a single municipality only, or any subdivision thereof, then the chairman of the municipal committee of the political party making such nomination within and for such single municipality, or subdivision thereof, may appoint two challengers for each election district in the chairman’s county or municipality, as the case may be.

b. The chairman of the county committee of each political party may also: (1) appoint two challengers to serve and exercise the powers of challengers, in each election district in the county at any primary election; and (2) appoint additional challengers for any election equal in number to the number of municipalities in the county and such challengers may exercise their powers, as provided for in R.S.19:7-5, at the polling place of any election district in the county during the time an election occurs therein.

19:7-2 Appointment of challengers.
A candidate who has filed a petition for an office to be voted for at the primary election, and a candidate for an office whose name may appear upon the ballot to be used in any election, may also act as a challenger as herein provided and may likewise appoint 2 challengers for each district in which he is to be voted for; but only 2 challengers shall be allowed for each election district to represent all the candidates nominated in and by the same original petition. The appointment of the challengers shall be in writing under the hand of the person or persons making same and shall specify the names and residences of the challengers and the election districts for which they are severally appointed. Whenever a public question shall appear on the ballot to be voted upon by the voters of an election district and application has been made by the proponents or opponents of such public question for the appointment of challengers, the county board may in its discretion appoint 2 challengers each to represent such proponents or opponents. Such challengers shall be in addition to those provided for in section 19:7-1 of this Title.

19:7-3. Filing of appointments or applications
The appointment of or application for challengers shall be filed with the county board not later than the second Tuesday preceding any election. No person shall be appointed a challenger under this Title who is not a registered voter in the county in which the district is located in which such person is appointed to serve, and no appointed challenger shall serve in any district other than that to which appointed except for challengers appointed by the chairman of a county committee, pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection b. of R.S.19:7-1.

19:7-4. Permits to challengers; revocation
The county board shall thereupon issue, under the hands of its members, to the persons named in such appointment papers, or application, permits for them to act as challengers for their respective parties or candidates or for or against a public question at the election district or election districts specified, as the case may be. Such permits shall be filed by the persons named therein with the district board or district boards named therein, as evidence of their authority to be present in the polling place, and they may be issued and revoked and others issued in their stead at any time up to and including the day of election. When a permit shall be revoked, the permit in the place thereof shall be issued upon the nomination of the same person or officer upon whose nomination the original permit was issued.

A challenger appointed pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection b. of R.S.19:7-1 shall be issued a county-wide permit that is to be presented to any district board within the county as evidence of the challenger’s authority to be present at the polling place during an election. Upon leaving the polling place, such a challenger must reclaim the permit from the district board to gain entry to any other polling place in the county during the election.

19:7-5. Powers
Such challengers shall be the authorized challengers for their respective political parties and candidates or for the proponents or opponents of a public question. They shall have the power to challenge the right to vote therein of any person claiming such right and shall have power to ask all necessary questions to determine this right. They may be present while the votes cast at any election are being counted, hear and see the ballots counted and shall have the right and power to challenge the counting or rejecting of any ballot or any part of a ballot. They shall be entitled to ask the members of the district boards of election at each polling place, no more than every two hours, for the official count of how many voters have voted at each precinct, and the district boards of election shall provide this information as the notice required pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2018, c. 110 (C.19:52-3.1).

19:7-6. Badge
Every such challenger shall at any election wear a badge, to be furnished by the county board, which shall show to any person the political party or candidate or group of candidates or the side for whom or for which the challenger is acting.

19:7-6.1. Number of challengers
Unless express permission be given by the district board, not more than one challenger appointed for a party, candidate, or on a public question, shall be present at any one time in any polling place while serving and exercising the powers of a challenger and during the hours when the polls are open for voting. If the district board shall in any case give permission for more than one challenger so appointed to be present at any one time in any polling place, it shall on the same grounds and on request permit a like number to be present on behalf of any opposing party, or on behalf of any other candidate for the same office, or on the other side of any public question.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any challengers appointed by the chairman of a county committee, pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection b. of R.S.19:7-1, except that no more than one such challenger shall be present at any time in a polling place while serving and exercising his or her power as a challenger during the hours when the polling place is open for voting.

Chapter 8. Polling Places; Ballot Boxes; Equipment

Article 1. Polling Places

19:8-1. Location
For the purpose of this title a polling place or room shall be within a building wherein a district board is directed as hereinafter provided to meet for the purpose of registering voters or conducting elections.

19:8-2 Selection of suitable places; accessibility to individuals with disabilities and the elderly
The clerk of every municipality, on or before April 1 shall certify to the county board of every county wherein such municipality is located a suggested list of places in the municipality suitable for polling places. The county board shall select the polling places for the election districts in the municipalities of the county for all elections in the municipalities thereof, including all commission government elections in the county. The county boards shall not be obliged to select the polling places so suggested by the municipal clerks, but may choose others where they may deem it expedient. Preference in locations shall be given to schools and public buildings where space shall be made available by the authorities in charge, upon request, if same can be done without detrimental interruption of school or the usual public services thereof, and for which the authority in charge shall be reimbursed, by agreement, for expenses of light, janitorial and other attending services arising from such use. Each polling place selected shall be accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly. A polling place shall be considered accessible if it is in compliance with the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. s. 12101 et seq.). In no case shall the authorities in charge of a public school or other public building deny the request of the county board for the use, as a polling place, of any building they own or lease.

Where the county board shall fail to agree as to the selection of the polling place or places for any election district, within five days of an election, the county clerk shall select and designate the polling place or places in any such election district.

The county board may select a polling place other than a schoolhouse or public building outside of the district but such polling place shall not be located more than 1,000 feet distant from the boundary line of the district. The Secretary of State may, however, permit a polling place to be more than 1,000 feet distant from the boundary line of the district if there is no suitable polling place accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly within the district or 1,000 feet distant from the boundary line of the district.

Whenever possible, the county board shall contact the managers or owners of commercial or private buildings that the board deems suitable to use as polling places, and are in or near an election district lacking an accessible polling place, to determine whether a portion of such a building may be used as a polling place on the day of an election. Reimbursement for the use of a portion of such a building shall be the same as provided by this section for schools and public buildings.

Neither the owner nor operator of a facility designated as a polling place by the county board is permitted or authorized to relocate the polling place room in the building without the express prior approval of the board.

19:8-3 Schoolhouses and public buildings; other locations; certification of expenses.
The county board may select the schoolhouse or schoolhouses, public building or public buildings as the polling places in any municipality in the county whether or not such schoolhouses or public buildings are located within the election district for which the polling place is established; and shall designate the rooms or places, entrances and exits to be used in the schoolhouses or public buildings.

The county board may select a polling place other than a schoolhouse or public building for an election district, when the location of the election district and of the schoolhouses and public buildings in the municipality in which the election district is located is such that inconvenience would be caused the voters of such election district by locating the polling place thereof in a schoolhouse or public building. In the selection of a polling place other than a schoolhouse or public building for an election district, consideration shall be given to the use of buildings accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

The county board shall determine and certify to the board of chosen freeholders the amount to be paid the several boards of education or municipalities, as the case may be, for expenses in connection with the use of schoolhouses or public buildings for election purposes; not to exceed in any case the amount paid for polling places in private premises.

19:8-3.1 Polling places; accessibility to individuals with disabilities and the elderly; waiver
Each polling place selected by the county board of elections for use in any election shall be accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly unless:

a. the Attorney General determines that a state of emergency exists that would otherwise interfere with the efficient administration of that election; or
b. the Attorney General grants a temporary waiver based upon a determination that all potential polling places have been surveyed and no accessible polling place is available, nor is the municipality able to make one temporarily accessible in or near the election district involved. Temporary waivers shall be granted no more than twice for any polling place following the effective date of P.L.2005, c. 146,1 and each waiver shall be granted for no more than one year. Before the expiration of the waiver, the board shall formulate a plan to establish an accessible location for the polling place in or near the election district. A copy of the waiver and the plan shall be filed with the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee, established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1991, c. 429 (C.19:8-3.7).

19:8-3.2 Rules and regulations; alternatives available to the elderly and disabled assigned to inaccessible polling place
The Secretary of State shall establish, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the rules and regulations necessary to ensure that in any election a voter who is elderly or has a disability and is assigned to an inaccessible polling place will, upon advance request of that voter, either be permitted to vote at the alternative, accessible polling place nearest to that voter’s residence which has a common ballot or be provided with a mail-in ballot, pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c. 79 (C.19:63-3), as an alternative means of casting a ballot on the day of the election.

19:8-3.3 Compliance with federal law
The Attorney General shall be responsible for ensuring that each polling place is in compliance with the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and shall exercise oversight authority over the county boards of elections to ensure that each polling place is in compliance with that federal act.

19:8-3.4 Annual report of polling places found inaccessible
No later than May 15 of every other year, beginning with May 15 next following the enactment of P.L.2005, c. 146,1 each Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee, established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1991, c. 429 (C.19:8-3.7) shall report to the Secretary of State and the county board of elections, on the form provided by the Secretary of State, a list of all polling places in the county, specifying any found inaccessible. The committee shall indicate the reasons for inaccessibility, according to guidelines established in the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. s. 12101 et seq.), and shall consult with the county board of elections to determine the efforts made pursuant to P.L.1991, c. 429 (C.19:8-3.1 et al.) to locate alternative polling places or the actions needed to make the existing facilities accessible. Each county board of elections shall notify the Secretary of State and the committee of any changes in polling place locations before the next general election, including any changes required due to the alteration of district boundaries.

19:8-3.5 Review of reports
No later than July 1st of each year, beginning with July 1 next following the enactment of P.L.2005, c. 146,1 the Attorney General shall review the reports of the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee and shall ensure that every possible effort has been made to comply with the provisions of this act, as amended.

19:8-3.6. Report to federal authorities [expired]

19:8-3.7 Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee; members; physical inspections of polling places
a. The county executive in each county in which that office is established, or the governing body of the county in any other county, shall establish a Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee, which shall consist of at least seven and not more than 11 members as follows:

(1) The four members of the county board of elections; and
(2) Three or more public members, to be appointed by the county executive or county governing body as follows:

(a) A representative of the county executive or a member of the county governing body, as appropriate;
(b) At least one individual with a disability;
(c) At least one individual trained in the provisions of the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. s. 12101 et seq.); and
(d) If the county executive or governing body so elects, any other person deemed able by the executive or governing body to be of assistance .

b. In order to accurately evaluate the accessibility of all polling locations, the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee shall undertake a physical inspection of each polling place in the county. A committee member who has a disability should participate in any such inspection. The results shall be used in completing the list of any polling places found inaccessible, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1991, c. 429 (C.19:8-3.4).
c. The committee shall receive notice of complaints filed from its county with the Division of Elections in the Department of Law and Public Safety pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2004, c. 88 (C.19:61-6) that concern the accessibility of polling places to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

19:8-3.8 Polling Place Accessibility Fund
a. There shall be established in the Department of Law and Public Safety a non-lapsing fund to be known as the “Polling Place Accessibility Fund,” hereinafter referred to as the fund, to be held separate from all other funds of the State. The money in the fund shall be derived from funds provided by the federal government to improve accessibility to polling places pursuant to section 261 of the federal “Help America Vote Act of 2002,” Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s. 15421 et seq.)1, appropriations by the Legislature, any funds donated to the State and designated for purposes prescribed by subsection b. of this section and such other sources as the Legislature shall designate. All earnings received from the investment or deposit of moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
b. The money in the fund shall be made available by the Attorney General as grants to the county boards of elections for the purpose of ensuring polling place compliance with the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. s. 12101 et seq.), as provided for by P.L.1991, c. 429 (C.19:8-3.1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.
c. All grants from the fund shall be awarded pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Attorney General. All monetary awards shall be granted at the discretion of the Attorney General, subject to available moneys in the fund.

19:8-4 Selected places certified
The county board before May 15 of each year shall certify a list of polling places so selected to the sheriff and to the clerk of the county and to the superintendent of elections of the county if any there be and to each municipal clerk in the county.

19:8-5. Display of American flag
An American flag, approximately 3 feet by 5 feet in size, shall be displayed at the outside entrance of each polling place in this State by the district boards during the hours when the boards are in session; except that, when more than one polling place is located in the same building the prominent display of one such flag at the outside entrance used in common to reach more than one polling place shall constitute compliance with the provisions of this section. Such flag shall be furnished by the clerk of the county and delivered to the municipal clerks for distribution.

19:8-5.1 Display of sign outside polling place
For seven days before the day of any election, each county board of elections may cause to be displayed a sign outside of each polling place identifying it as such, and identifying the date and hours of polling.

Article 2. Polling Place Equipment

19:8-6. Equipment required; county boards and municipal clerks to provide
The county boards in counties of the first class and the municipal clerks in counties other than counties of the first class shall purchase or lease and furnish the proper equipment of polling places, to enable the district boards to carry out the duties imposed upon them by this title. The equipment shall consist of tables, chairs, lights, booths and all other things necessary for the performance of such duties, and shall be ready for use by the district boards in ample time to enable them to perform their duties. Also to be included, for conspicuous display at each polling place on the days of any election during each year, shall be the voting and registration instructions provided by the county board of elections.

The clerks of the several municipalities shall keep in repair, store and deliver the polling booths, ballot boxes and other equipment in time for use by the district boards at the cost and expense of the municipality.

In case of any election to be held in and for a municipality only, the duties imposed upon the county boards in counties of the first class regarding the equipment of polling places shall devolve upon the clerk of the municipality wherein the election is to be held. Any equipment in possession of the county board may be used in a municipal election upon requisition.

19:8-7. Booths; size; doors or curtains; shelf
The booths shall be sufficiently large to enable the voter to conveniently prepare his ballot as provided for and shall have swinging doors or curtains so arranged that some part of the person of the voters standing in the booths may be seen from the outside thereof when the door or curtains are closed.

Each booth shall contain a counter or shelf suitably placed to enable voters to place their ballots thereon while preparing the same for voting.

19:8-8. Number of booths
In municipalities having permanent registration the number of booths in each election district shall not be less than one for every one hundred persons registered in such district at the last preceding general election and not less than three booths shall be provided in any polling place.

In municipalities not having permanent registration the number of booths in each election district shall not be less than one for every one hundred and fifty persons registered in the district at the last preceding general election and not less than four booths shall be provided in any polling place.

The booths shall be provided and delivered to each polling place by the municipal clerk in time to be used at any election.

19:8-9. Location of booths
The booths shall be erected within the polling room or place and so arranged that all the officers conducting the election can see whether more than one person enters or is in any booth at the same time.

19:8-10. Location of ballot boxes in polling places
The ballot boxes at every polling place shall be within the polling room or place, and so placed that the voter shall be able to deliver his ballot to the election officers after emerging from the booth before leaving the room or place within which the booths and ballot boxes are placed.

Article 3. Ballot Boxes

19:8-11. By whom provided and repaired
The county board in counties of the first class and the board of chosen freeholders in counties other than counties of the first class shall provide sufficient ballot boxes for use in the polling places of each election district within the county; and the clerks of the several municipalities shall keep in repair and store the ballot boxes at the cost and expense of the municipality.

19:8-12. Size and construction of boxes
The boxes shall be at least one foot in depth, width, and length, measuring the same on the exterior thereof, and shall be constructed with wooden or metal tops and bottoms and wooden or metal frames and glass or metal sides.

Each box shall be provided with a door at least six inches square on the top of the box, which shall be secured by not less than three locks, no two keys of which shall be alike, and shall have an aperture measuring at least three inches by one-half inch and not more than six inches long by one inch wide for the reception of the ballots, and a device which will close said aperture when the election is over or when the box is not in use, which device shall be so constructed that it cannot be operated without first opening the door of the box. The box shall have no stamping or marking devices.

Chapter 9. Election Supplies

19:9-1. “Election supplies” defined
As used in this title the term “election supplies” shall be deemed to mean such blank books, blank forms, pamphlets and things other than ballots and equipment as may be necessary to enable the provisions of this title to be carried out properly.

19:9-2 Preparation and distribution of registration and voting instructions; preparation of other books, blank forms and other supplies
The Director of the Division of Elections shall prepare and distribute on or before April 1 in each year prior to the primary election for the general election and the general election such information as may be needed relative to election procedures for the ensuing year.

The county board of elections shall prepare and distribute on or before April 1 in each year, registration and voting instructions printed in at least 14-point type for conspicuous display at each polling place at any election.

All other books, ballots, envelopes and other blank forms which the county clerk is required to furnish under any other section of this Title, stationery and supplies for the primary election for the general election, the primary election for delegates and alternates to national conventions and the general election, shall be furnished, prepared and distributed by the clerks of the various counties; except that all books, blank forms, stationery and supplies, articles and equipment which may be deemed necessary to be furnished, used or issued by the county board or superintendent shall be furnished, used or issued, prepared and distributed by such county board or superintendent, as the case may be.

The county board shall furnish and deliver to the county clerk, the municipal clerks and the district boards in municipalities having more than one election district: a map or description of the district lines of their respective election districts, together with the street and house numbers where possible in such election districts and a list or map of all of the polling places within the county to assist any voter in identifying the correct location of the polling place at which the voter should vote if that voter erroneously reports to the municipal clerk or the wrong polling place.

Nothing in subtitle 2 of the Title, Municipalities and Counties (R.S.40:16-1 et seq.), shall in any way be construed to affect, restrict, or abridge the powers conferred on the county clerks, county boards or superintendents by this Title.

19:9-3. Distribution of supplies by secretary of state
Where such supplies to be prepared and distributed by the secretary of state shall be required in any county or municipality thereof he shall deliver same to the county clerk on or before the time herein set forth and take a receipt for the same, which receipt shall indicate the time when the supplies were delivered by the secretary of state and the time when they were received by the clerk of the county. The secretary of state shall file such receipt in his office for at least a year.

19:9-4. Distribution of supplies by county clerks
Where such supplies prepared either by the secretary of state or the county clerk shall be required in a municipality the county clerk shall deliver the same to a member of the district board at his office, or in any other way that he sees fit, on or before the time they are so required and take a receipt for the same, which receipt shall indicate the time when the supplies were delivered by the county clerk and the time when they were received by such member. The county clerk shall file such receipt in his office for at least one year.

19:9-5. Distribution of supplies by municipal clerks
Where supplies are delivered by the county clerk or the county board to the municipal clerk for distribution, the municipal clerk shall deliver the same at his office, or in any other way that he sees fit, to a member of the district board and take a proper receipt therefor and file the same in his office.

Chapter 10. Preservation of Election Documents and Papers

19:10-1. Custodial officer to preserve two years
All petitions of nomination, affidavits attached thereto, acceptances, objections thereto and determinations of officers or courts relative to such objections and all other documents relating to elections not otherwise provided for, shall be preserved by the officer with whom they have been filed for two years from any election at which the candidates named therein are to be voted for.

Chapter 11. Sundays and Legal Holidays

19:11-1. Day for filing documents or performing official duties falling on Sunday or legal holiday
Should the day for the filing of any petition, declination, resignation, instrument in writing or other paper or document required to be filed in any office under the provisions of this title, or for the performance of any duty required by this title by any person, candidate or official, fall upon the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, or any legal holiday, such filing or performance of duty shall be effected upon the next following business day.

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Subtitle 2 – General Elections

Chapter 12. Certificates and Notices

Article 1. Officials to Officials

19:12-1 Certification of creation of political party; notice of officers to be elected and public questions to be submitted
The Secretary of State shall within thirty days after the completion of the canvass by the board of State canvassers, certify to each county clerk and county board the fact that at the next preceding general election held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly ten per centum (10%) of the total vote cast in the State for members of the General Assembly had been cast for candidates having the same designation, thereby creating, within the meaning of this Title, a political party, to be known and recognized as such under the same designation as used by the candidates for whom the required number of votes were cast.

The Secretary of State shall also not later than the 67th day preceding the primary election for the general election in every year in which electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, a representative of the United States Senate, members of the House of Representatives, a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, or Senator, or member or members of the General Assembly for any county, or any of them, are to be elected or any public question is to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, direct and cause to be delivered to the clerk of the county and the county board wherein any such election is to be held, a notice stating that such officer or officers are to be elected and that such public question is to be submitted to the voters of the entire State at the ensuing general election.

19:12-3 County clerks to municipal clerks; copies of certificate of party vote and notice of officers to be elected
The clerk of each county shall immediately upon the receipt of the certificate from the Secretary of State setting forth that a political party has been created, forward a certified copy of such certificate to each municipal clerk of his county.

He shall also, not later than the 57th day preceding the primary election for the general election in every year, cause a copy of the notice received from the Secretary of State of the officer or officers to be elected at the ensuing general election, certified under his hand to be true and correct, to be delivered to the clerk of each municipality in the county.

19:12-5 County clerks to county boards and municipal clerks; notice of offices to be filled
The clerk of every county shall, not later than the 57th day preceding the primary election for the general election, immediately preceding the expiration of the term of office of all other officers who are voted for by the voters of the entire county or of more than one municipality within the county, direct and cause to be delivered to the clerk of each municipality and the county board in counties of the first class, a notice that such officer or officers, as the case may be, will be chosen at the ensuing general election.

19:12-6 Municipal clerks to county clerks and county boards; statement of public offices to be filled
All municipal clerks, not later than the 57th day preceding the primary election for the general election, shall make and certify under their hands and seals of office and forward to the clerk of the county in which the municipality is located a statement designating the public offices to be filled at such election, and the number of persons to be voted for each office. In counties of the first class such statement shall also be forwarded to the county board.

Article 2. Officials to Public

19:12-7 Newspaper notice of election days, registration and offices to be filled
a. The county board in each county shall cause to be published in a newspaper or newspapers which, singly or in combination, are of general circulation throughout the county, a notice containing the information specified in subsection b. hereof, except for such of the contents as may be omitted pursuant to subsection c. or d. hereof. Such notice shall be published once during the 30 days next preceding the day fixed for the closing of the registration books for the primary election, once during the calendar week next preceding the week in which the primary election for the general election is held, once during the 30 days next preceding the day fixed for the closing of the registration books for the general election, and once during the calendar week next preceding the week in which the general election is held.
b. Such notice shall set forth:

(1) For the primary election for the general election:

(a) That a primary election for making nominations for the general election, for the selection of members of the county committees of each political party, and in each presidential year for the selection of delegates and alternates to national conventions of political parties, will be held on the day and between the hours provided for by or pursuant to this Title.
(b) The place or places at which and hours during which a person may register, the procedure for the transfer of registration, and the date on which the books are closed for registration or transfer of registration.
(c) The several State, county, municipal and party offices or positions to be filled, or for which nominations are to be made, at such primary election.
(d) The existence of registration and voting aids, including: (i) the availability of registration and voting instructions at places of registration as provided under R.S.19:31-6; and (ii), if available, the accessibility of voter information to the deaf by means of a telecommunications device.
(e) The availability of assistance to a person unable to vote due to blindness, disability or inability to read or write.
(f) In the case of the notice published during the calendar week next preceding the week in which the primary election is held, that a voter who, prior to the election, shall have moved within the same county without (i) filing, on or before the 21st day preceding the election, a notice of change of residence with the commissioner of registration of the county or the municipal clerk of the municipality in which the voter resides on the day of the election, (ii) returning the confirmation notice sent to the voter by the commissioner of registration of the county, if such a notice has been sent to the voter, or (iii) otherwise notifying the commissioner of registration of the voter’s change of address within the county shall be permitted to correct the voter’s registration and to vote in the primary election by provisional ballot at the polling place of the district in which the voter resides on the day of the election. The notice shall further provide that the voter may contact the county commissioner of registration or municipal clerk or may view polling place location information on the Division of Elections website to determine the proper polling place location for the voter.

(2) For the general election:

(a) That a general election will be held on the day and between the hours provided for by or pursuant to this Title and, where applicable, shall include annual school elections and annual fire district elections held on that date.
(b) The place or places at which and hours during which a person may register, the procedure for transfer of registration, and the date on which the books are closed for registration or transfer of registration.
(c) The several State, county and municipal offices, and where applicable, school board offices and fire district offices to be filled, notice of any school district propositions to be submitted to the people and, except as provided in R.S.19:14-33 of this Title as to publication of notice of any Statewide proposition directed by the Legislature to be submitted to the people, the State, county, municipal and fire district public questions to be voted upon at such general election.
(d) The existence of registration and voting aids, including: (i) the availability of registration and voting instructions at places of registration as provided under R.S.19:31-6; and (ii) the accessibility of voter information to the deaf by means of a telecommunications device.
(e) The availability of assistance to a person unable to vote due to blindness, disability or inability to read or write.
(f) In the case of the notice published during the calendar week next preceding the week in which the general election is held, that a voter who, prior to the election, shall have moved within the same county without (i) filing, on or before the 21st day preceding the election, a notice of change of residence with the commissioner of registration of the county or the municipal clerk of the municipality in which the voter resides on the day of the election, (ii) returning the confirmation notice sent to the voter by the commissioner of registration of the county, if such a notice has been sent to the voter, or (iii) otherwise notifying the commissioner of registration of the voter’s change of address within the county shall be permitted to correct the voter’s registration and to vote in the general election by provisional ballot at the polling place of the district in which the voter resides on the day of the election. The notice shall further provide that the voter may contact the county commissioner of registration or municipal clerk or may view polling place location information on the Division of Elections website to determine the proper polling place location for the voter.

(3) For a school election:

(a) The day and time thereof,
(b) The offices, if any, to be filled at the election,
(c) The substance of any public question to be submitted to the voters thereat,
(d) That a voter who, prior to the election, shall have moved within the same county without (i) filing, on or before the 21st day preceding the election, a notice of change of residence with the commissioner of registration of the county or the municipal clerk of the municipality in which the voter resides on the day of the election, (ii) returning the confirmation notice sent to the voter by the commissioner of registration of the county, if such a notice has been sent to the voter, or (iii) otherwise notifying the commissioner of registration of the voter’s change of address within the county shall be permitted to correct the voter’s registration and to vote in the school election by provisional ballot at the polling place of the district in which the voter resides on the day of the election,
(e) That if the voter has any questions as to where to vote on the day of the election, the voter may contact the county commissioner of registration or municipal clerk or may view polling place location information on the Division of Elections website to determine the proper polling place location for the voter; and
(f) Such other information as may be required by law.

c. If such publication is made in more than one newspaper, it shall not be necessary to duplicate in the notice published in each such newspaper all the information required under this section, so long as:

(1) The municipal officers or party positions to be filled, or nominations made, or municipal public questions to be voted upon by the voters of any municipality, shall be set forth in at least one newspaper having general circulation in such municipality;
(2) All offices to be filled, or nominations made therefor, or public questions to be voted upon, by the voters of the entire State or of the entire county shall be set forth in a newspaper or newspapers which, singly or in combination, have general circulation throughout the county;
(3) Information relating to nominations and elections in each Legislative District comprised in whole or part in the county, shall be published in at least a newspaper or newspapers which singly or in combination, have general circulation in every municipality of the county which is comprised in such legislative district.

d. Such part or parts of the original notices as published which pertain to day of registration or primary election which has occurred shall be eliminated from such notice in succeeding insertions.
e. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c. 232.)
f. The cost of publishing the notices required by this section shall be paid by the respective counties, unless otherwise provided for by law.
g. Notices required to be published or posted pursuant to this section shall set forth a general description of the contents of the voter information notice provided for in section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 149 (C.19:12-7.1), how the notice may be viewed or obtained prior to the day of an election, and that the notice will be posted in each polling place on the day of an election.

19:12-7.1 Voter information notice (voter’s bill of rights); contents; posting
a. A county board of elections shall have posted a voter information notice, which shall be referred to as a voter’s bill of rights, in a conspicuous location in each polling place before the opening of the polls on the day of any election.

The notice shall contain:

the date of the election and the hours during which polling places will be open;
a statement that sample ballots are available at the polling place for review by the voter;
instruction for the use of the voting machine in that polling place and an explanation of what instructions for voting are available at the polling place for the voter;
instruction for a voter who is voting for the first time;
instruction for a voter who is required to provide identification pursuant to the federal “Help America Vote Act of 2002”1 and R.S.19:15-17 prior to casting a vote;
instruction on how to cast a vote if the voter cannot be present at a polling place on the day of the election;
an explanation of the right of the voter to vote in privacy, regardless of the voter’s physical abilities;
an explanation of the right of the voter to a provisional ballot, including in the event that a mail-in ballot has been applied for and not received or not transmitted to the county board of elections before the day of any election, and the other circumstances under which a voter has a right to a provisional ballot;
an explanation of the right of the voter to receive a replacement ballot for a ballot that has been spoiled, destroyed, lost or never received;
an explanation of the right of the voter to ask for and receive assistance in voting;
an explanation of the right of the voter to take a reasonable amount of time in casting a vote on a voting machine;
an explanation of the right of the voter to bring written material into the polling place for the voter’s personal use in casting a vote;
instruction on how to contact the appropriate officials if a voter’s right to vote or right to otherwise participate in the electoral process has been challenged or violated;
general information on federal and State laws that prohibit acts of fraud or misrepresentation and the penalties for those acts; and
such other statement, instruction or explanation the Secretary of State may deem appropriate to ensure the full and knowledgeable participation of the voter in the process.
The requirement to post this notice in each polling place shall not replace, supersede or void any other requirement set forth in law for the posting of information in each polling place apart from the voter information notice.
b. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the form and specific content of the voter information notice, which may be comprised of more than one page. If the notice is comprised of more than one page, each page shall be posted separately. For an election district in which the primary language of 10 percent or more of the registered voters is a language other than English, the Secretary of State shall prescribe an official version of the voter information notice in that other language or languages for use in that election district. The notice shall be posted in English and in the other language or languages in the polling places in each such district. The alternate language shall be determined based on information from the latest federal decennial census.
c. A county board of elections may modify or supplement the voter information notice used in a county or municipality to provide additional information specific to that county or a municipality in that county, provided, however, that any such modification or supplementation shall be submitted to the Secretary of State for prior approval.
d. The voter information notice shall be printed on each sample ballot, to the extent practicable, or if not practicable, information on how to view or obtain a copy of the voter information notice shall be printed on each sample ballot.
e. The voter information notice, including one modified or supplemented pursuant to subsection c. of this section, shall be made accessible on the official Internet site of the State by the Secretary of State and each county board of elections shall ensure that the official Internet site of the county contains a link to that notice.
f. The provisions of this section shall not give rise to a legal cause of action.
g. The State shall be liable for the costs incurred by local government entities for compliance with this section, and they shall be reimbursed for those costs, upon application, by the State Treasurer.

19:12-8. Contents of notice
The notice required by section 19:12-7 of this Title shall include the telephone number and times at which a voter may make inquiry as to the location of the polling place in the district in which he resides, and shall advise that the voter may obtain polling place location information by electronic means from the Division of Elections Internet site.

19:12-9. Publication of notice of challenge procedure; contents
a. The county board in each county shall cause to be published in a daily newspaper of general circulation throughout the county, a notice containing the information specified in subsection b. hereof. This notice shall be published once on the seventh day preceding the day fixed for a municipal, primary, general or special election and once on the day preceding the day fixed for a primary, general or special election,

b. At the top of the notice the words “Public Notice to All Registered Voters of (insert appropriate name) County” shall be printed in at least 30-point bold-faced capital type. Next underneath, the words “You are hereby advised of the following procedure to be used for the (insert appropriate date and type of election) election:” shall be printed in at least 12-point bold-faced type.

The body of the notice shall be printed in at least 10-point bold-faced type and shall set forth:

(1) that any person attempting to vote may be challenged by a duly authorized challenger for a political party or a candidate or on a public question, or by a member of the district board of elections, because the voter’s name appears on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county or because the challenger or board member has good cause to believe that the voter is not entitled to vote;

(2) that members of the district board and all duly authorized challengers are prohibited from challenging, delaying or preventing the right to vote of any person because of that person’s race, color, national origin, expected manner of casting a vote or residence in a particular ward, housing complex or section of a municipality or county;

(3) the means by which any person who is challenged because that person’s name appears on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county may seek to establish the person’s right to vote, as provided in R.S.19:32-18;

(4) the means by which any person whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county but who is challenged by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of the district board of elections may seek to establish the person’s right to vote, as provided in section 2 of P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18.1);

(5) that any challenger who succeeds in denying a voter the right to vote must sign an affidavit stating the reason why the voter is not entitled to vote and must furnish a copy of the affidavit to the challenged voter, as provided in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18.2);

(6) the legal remedy which any person whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent but who is challenged by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of the district board of elections and denied the right to vote may use to seek permission to vote, as provided in section 6 of P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18.3);

(7) that forms to register complaints about the conduct of an election shall be available at each polling place in the county; and (8) the names of the chairman, secretary, clerk and members of the county board of elections and a telephone number at which they may be reached for more information.

c. In counties in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, two notices containing the information in subsection b. of this section shall appear side-by-side, one in English and one in Spanish. The notices shall be identical in size, content and type face.

d. The cost of publishing the notices required by this section shall be paid by the respective counties.

19:12-10 Public notice of certain dates; official informational Internet sites

a. Subject to guidelines established by the Attorney General, each county board of elections shall provide public notice, at appropriate times during the year, of certain dates relevant to elections and voters, including but not limited to the dates of each election and the deadlines for voter registration or application for civilian or military absentee ballots. Such notices may be made by card, poster, newspaper, newsletter, pamphlet, radio, television, Internet or by any other means deemed appropriate by the board. The provisions of this subsection are in addition to any other provision for public notice required by law.

b. Each county board of elections and the Division of Elections in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall maintain an official Internet site containing information helpful for voters, including a link to the voter’s bill of rights established by law and posted on the official Internet site of the State. The Internet site of the Division of Elections that contains such information shall include links to the Internet site of each county board and the Internet site of each county board shall contain a link to the part of the division’s site containing information helpful to voters.

c. The Attorney General shall review the official Internet site of each county board of elections to ensure that the information provided thereon is consistent with the information provided on the official Internet site of the Division of Elections.

Chapter 13. Nomination of Candidates

Article 1. Methods Enumerated

19:13-1. Direct petition and primary election
Candidates for all public offices to be voted for at the general election in this state or in any political division thereof, except electors of president and vice president of the United States nominated by the political parties at state conventions, shall be nominated directly by petition as hereinafter provided, or at the primary for the general election held pursuant to this title.

19:13-2. State convention; presidential and vice presidential electors
In presidential years the state conventions shall severally nominate for their respective parties such number of candidates for electors of president and vice president of the United States as this state shall be entitled to elect or appoint.

Article 2. Direct Nominations by Petition

19:13-3. To whom petition addressed
Direct nomination by petition for the general election shall be as follows: Petitions naming candidates for office to be filled by voters of the entire State, or of any congressional district, or of any political division greater than a single county, shall be addressed to the Secretary of State; petitions nominating candidates for election to the Senate or General Assembly shall be addressed to the Secretary of State; petitions naming candidates to be voted for by all the voters of a single county, or more than a single political division thereof, and all other petitions naming candidates to be voted for at the general election, shall be addressed to the clerks of the respective counties wherein the officers nominated are to be voted for.

19:13-4. Contents of petition
Such petition shall set forth the names, places of residence and post-office addresses of the candidates for the offices to be filled, the title of the office for which each candidate is named, that the petitioners are legally qualified to vote for such candidates and pledge themselves to support and vote for the persons named in such petition and that they have not signed any other petition of nomination for the primary or for the general election for such office.

In the case of a petition or petitions nominating electors of president and vice president of the United States, the names of the candidates for president and vice president for whom such electors are to vote may be included in the petition or petitions, but the petition or petitions shall not include the names of any candidates for president or vice president who have been nominated at a convention of a political party, as defined by this title.

The petition shall also state in not more than three words the designation of the party or principles which the candidates therein named represent, but such designation shall not contain the designation name, derivative, or any part thereof as a noun or an adjective of any political party entitled to participate in the primary election.

The petition shall also include the request that the names of the candidates and their designations of party or principles be printed upon the ballots to be used at the ensuing general election.

No such petition shall undertake to nominate any candidate who has accepted the nomination for the primary for such position.

Each petition shall be arranged to contain double spacing between the signature lines of the petition, so that each signer thereof is afforded sufficient space to provide his or her printed name, address and signature.

Any form of a petition of nomination, other than petitions for federal office, which is provided to candidates by the Secretary of State, the county clerk, or the municipal clerk shall contain the following notice: “Notice: All candidates are required by law to comply with the provisions of the ‘New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.’ For further information, please call (insert phone number of the Election Law Enforcement Commission).”

19:13-5 Signatures to petition; number.
The petition shall be signed by legally qualified voters of this State residing within the district or political division in and for which the officer or officers nominated are to be elected, equal in number to at least two per centum (2%) of the entire vote cast for members of the General Assembly at the last preceding general election, held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly, in the State, county, district or other political division in and for which the nominations are made; except that when the nomination is for an office to be filled by the voters of the entire State eight hundred signatures in the aggregate for each candidate nominated in the petition shall be sufficient; and except that no more than one hundred signatures shall be required to any petition for any officers to be elected save only such as are to be voted for by the voters of the State at large.

In case of a first general election to be held in a newly established election district, county, city or other political division, the number of fifty signatures to a petition shall be sufficient to nominate a candidate to be voted for only in such election district, county, city or other political division.

A candidate shall be permitted to sign or circulate, or both sign and circulate, the petition required to nominate that candidate for elective public office.

19:13-6. Signing of petition; addresses
Every voter signing a petition shall add to his signature his place of residence, post-office address and street number, if any. Such voter may sign one petition for each officer and no more, but all the names need not be signed to one petition.

19:13-7 Certification of petition.
Before any petition shall be filed as hereinafter provided, the person who circulates the petition, or a candidate who signs or circulates, or both signs and circulates, such a petition, shall make oath by affidavit before a duly qualified officer that the petition is made in good faith, that the affiant personally circulated the petition and saw all the signatures made thereto and verily believes that the signers are duly qualified voters. The person who circulates the petition shall not be required to be a registered voter, but shall be voter eligible, which means at least 18 years of age, a resident of this State, a citizen of the United States, and not otherwise disqualified under the New Jersey Constitution.

19:13-8 Acceptance of nomination; annexation of oath of allegiance and statement regarding criminal convictions
A candidate nominated for an office in a petition shall manifest his acceptance of such nomination by a written acceptance thereof, signed by his hand, upon or annexed to such petition, to which shall be annexed the oath of allegiance prescribed in section 41:1-1 of the Revised Statutes duly taken and subscribed by him before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State, or if the same person be named for the same office in more than one petition, annexed to one of such petitions. Such acceptance shall certify that the candidate is a resident of and a legal voter in the jurisdiction of the office for which the nomination is made. No candidate so named shall sign such acceptance if he has signed an acceptance for the primary nomination or any other petition of nomination under this chapter for such office. In addition, no candidate named in a petition for the office of member of the House of Representatives shall sign an acceptance if the candidate has signed an acceptance for the primary nomination or any other petition of nomination for the office of member of the House of Representatives in another congressional district in the same calendar year.

Each candidate filing an acceptance of nomination for election to the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly shall annex to such petitions a statement signed by the candidate that he or she:

a. has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or

b. has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.

If the same person is nominated for the same office in more than one petition, the statement shall be annexed to one of such petitions.

19:13-8.1 Direct nomination of unsuccessful primary candidate prohibited
No petition for direct nomination, including a petition filed pursuant to R.S. 19:13-19, which, for any reason, is filed after the deadline established in R.S. 19:13-9 shall nominate to any elective public office a candidate who unsuccessfully sought the nomination of a political party to that office in the primary election held in the same calendar year and no unsuccessful primary candidate shall sign an acceptance of such a petition for direct nomination.

19:13-9 Filing petitions and acceptances; public inspection; transmittals to Election Law Enforcement Commission
All such petitions and acceptances thereof shall be filed with the officer or officers to whom they are addressed before 4:00 p.m. of the day of the holding of the primary election for the general election in this Title provided. All petitions when filed shall be open under proper regulations for public inspection.

Notwithstanding the above provision, all petitions and acceptances thereof nominating electors of candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, which candidates have not been nominated at a convention of a political party as defined by this Title, shall be filed with the Secretary of State before 4:00 p.m. of the 99th day preceding the general election in this Title provided. All petitions when filed shall be opened under proper regulations for public inspection.

The officer or officers shall transmit to the Election Law Enforcement Commission the names of all candidates, other than candidates for federal office, nominated by petition and any other information required by the commission in the form and manner prescribed by the commission and shall notify the commission immediately upon the withdrawal of a petition of nomination.

19:13-10. Validity of and objections to petition
Every petition of nomination in apparent conformity with the provisions of this Title shall be deemed to be valid, unless objection thereto be duly made in writing and filed with the officer with whom the original petition was filed not later than the fourth day after the last day for filing of petitions. If such objection is made, notice thereof signed by such officer shall forthwith be mailed to the candidate who may be affected thereby, addressed to him at his place of residence as given in the petition of nomination.

19:13-11 Determination of validity of objections.
The officer with whom the original petition was filed shall in the first instance pass upon the validity of such objection in a summary way unless an order shall be made in the matter by a court of competent jurisdiction and for this purpose such officer shall have power to subpoena witnesses and take testimony or depositions. He shall file his determination in writing in his office on or before the ninth day after the last day for the filing of petitions, which determination shall be open for public inspection.

In the case of petitions nominating electors of candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, which candidates have not been nominated at a convention of a political party as defined by this Title, the Secretary of State shall file his or her determination in writing in his or her office on or before the 93rd day before the general election, which determination shall be open for public inspection.

19:13-12 Recourse to court by candidates for protection of rights
Any judge of the Superior Court, in the case of candidates to be voted for by the electors of the entire State or of more than one county thereof, and in all other cases a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county in which any petition of nomination shall be filed, on the application or complaint, duly verified, of any candidate, which application or complaint shall be made on or before the twelfth day after the last day for the filing of petitions, setting forth any invasion or threatened invasion of his rights under the petition of nomination filed with the Secretary of State or with any county clerk, shall hear such application or complaint in a summary way and make such order thereon as will protect and enforce the rights of such candidates, which order or determination shall be filed within three days after the filing of the application or complaint.

Notwithstanding the above provision, in the case of a nomination petition or petitions for electors of candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, which candidates have not been nominated at a convention of a political party as defined by this Title, any judge of the Superior Court, on the application or complaint, duly verified, of any candidate, which application or complaint shall be made at least 95 days before the general election, setting forth any invasion or threatened invasion of his or her rights under the petition of nomination filed with the Secretary of State, shall hear such application or complaint in a summary way and make such order thereon as will protect and enforce the rights of such candidates, which order or determination shall be filed within three days after the filing of the application or complaint.

19:13-13 Amendment of defective petitions; time for
A candidate whose petition of nomination, or any affidavit or affidavits thereto, is defective may cause such petition, or the affidavit or affidavits thereto, to be amended in matters of substance or of form as may be necessary, but not to add signatures, or such amendment or amendments may be made by filing a new or substitute petition, or affidavit or affidavits, and the same when so amended shall be of the same effect as if originally filed in such amended form; but every amendment shall be made on or before the third day after the last day for the filing of petitions. This provision shall be liberally construed to protect the interest of candidates.

Notwithstanding the above provision, in the case of nomination petitions for electors for candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, which candidates have not been nominated at a convention of a political party as defined by this Title, every statutorily authorized amendment shall be made on or before the 93rd day before the general election.

Article 3. By Primary Election

19:13-14. Procedure; highest aggregate of votes to determine party candidates
The nomination of candidates for the general election by means of the primary election shall be carried out in the manner hereinafter provided, and in such election the person having in the aggregate the highest number of votes shall be the candidate of his respective party for the office to be filled. In case more than one person is to be elected to the same or similar office, the persons having the highest number of votes to the extent of the number of offices to be filled shall be the candidates of their respective parties for such offices.

19:13-14.1 Candidate of political party in primary ineligible to be candidate of other political party in general election
A person whose name appears on the ballot at a primary election for the general election as a candidate for nomination by a political party for any municipal office shall not be eligible to serve as the candidate of any other political party for that office in that municipality at the general election following that primary.

Article 4. By State Convention [Committee]

19:13-15 Presidential and vice presidential electors; presidential candidates; committees on vacancies; acceptances; objections to certificates
In presidential years the State committee of a political party shall meet at the call of its chairman, within 1 week following the closing of the party’s national convention, for the purpose of nominating candidates for electors of President and Vice-President of the United States and shall certify such nomination in a written or printed or partly written and partly printed certificate of nomination.

The certificate of nomination shall contain the name of each person nominated, his residence and post-office address, the office for which he is named, and shall also contain in not more than 3 words the designation of the party the nominating body represents. The names of the candidates for President and Vice-President for whom such electors are to vote may be included in the certificate. The State committee may also appoint a committee to whom shall be delegated the power to fill vacancies occurring prior to the election of the electors, howsoever caused, and the names and addresses of such committee shall be included in the certificate.

The certificate shall be signed by the State chairman who shall make oath before an officer authorized to administer the same that he is the State chairman of the political party and that the certificate and statements therein contained are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. A certificate that such oath has been taken shall be made and signed by the officer administering the same and indorsed upon or attached to the certificate of nomination. Inclosed upon or attached to the certificate shall be statements in writing that the persons named therein accept such nominations and the oath of allegiance prescribed in section 41:1-1 of the Revised Statutes duly taken and subscribed by each or all of them before an officer or officers authorized to take oaths in this State.

The certificate of nomination and the acceptance thereof shall be filed with the Secretary of State not later than 1 week after the nomination of such electors of President and Vice-President of the United States.

The procedure for all objections to the certificates of nomination, the determination of the validity of such objections, the correction of defective certificates, and the presentation of such certificates and any documents attached thereto, shall be the same as herein provided for direct petitions of nominations.

Article 5. Vacancies Among Nominees

19:13-16 Notice to election official; time for
When a person nominated as herein provided by direct petition or State convention for election to public office at the general election shall, at least 70 days before the day of the general election, in a writing signed by him and duly acknowledged, notify the officer with whom the original petition or certificate of nomination was filed that he declines the nomination, the nomination shall be void.

19:13-17. Notice of declination to signers of petition or committees to fill vacancies
The officer to whom the notification of declination is given shall forthwith, by mail or otherwise, inform at least 5 of the persons who signed the original petition that such nomination has been declined; except that in the case of the nomination of electors of President and Vice-President of the United States by the State committee of a political party he shall inform the committee appointed by the State committee to fill vacancies, or if there be no such committee, the chairman of the State committee.

19:13-18. In general
When a person so declines his nomination, or if a petition or certificate of nomination, or if any nomination, be insufficient or inoperative, or if a nominee shall die, or for any reason vacate his nomination, the vacancy so occasioned may be filled in the manner outlined in the succeeding sections.

19:13-19 Vacancies among direct petition nominees filled by direct nomination
If the candidate vacating the nomination was nominated directly by petition his successor shall be nominated in the same manner by direct petition, which new petition of nomination must be filed with the Secretary of State or county clerk, as the case may require, not later than 64 days before the day of election whereat such candidate is to be voted for.

19:13-20 Vacancies among primary election nominees; procedure for filling
In the event of a vacancy, howsoever caused, among candidates nominated at a primary election for the general election, which vacancy shall occur not later than the 56th day before the general election, or in the event of inability to select a candidate because of a tie vote at such primary, a candidate shall be selected in the following manner:

a. (1) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of the entire State, the candidate shall be selected by the State committee of the political party wherein such vacancy has occurred.

(2) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of a single and entire county, the candidate shall be selected by the county committee in such county of the political party wherein such vacancy has occurred.

(3) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of a portion of the State comprising all or part of two or more counties, the candidate shall be selected by those members of the county committees of the party wherein the vacancy has occurred who represent those portions of the respective counties which are comprised in the district from which the candidate is to be elected.

(4) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of a portion of a single county, the candidate shall be selected by those members of the county committee of the party wherein the vacancy has occurred who represent those portions of the county which are comprised in the district from which the candidate is to be elected.

At any meeting held for the selection of a candidate under this subsection, a majority of the persons eligible to vote thereat shall be required to be present for the conduct of any business, and no person shall be entitled to vote at that meeting who is appointed to the State committee or county committee after the seventh day preceding the date of the meeting.

Within 20 days after the meeting of each county committee that is held on the first Tuesday following the primary election at which committee members are elected, the municipal clerk shall certify to the county clerk an official list of the duly elected county committee members and an official list of the municipal committee chairs. The county party chairperson shall have a continuing duty to report to the county clerk any vacancies, resignations, and committee positions filled pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 or 19:5-3. A report of a resignation shall be accompanied by a notarized letter of resignation signed by the resigning committee member or, if the resigning committee member fails to provide such a letter, by a notarized letter stating that the resignation has occurred signed by the chair of the relevant municipal committee who shall also provide a copy thereof to the resigning member. Notice of vacancies in the membership of a county committee that are filled pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 or 19:5-3 shall be accompanied by a certificate of acceptance signed by the newly selected member. The official list of the county committee members and of the municipal committee chairs maintained by the county clerk shall be deemed to be a government record and only those county committee members listed thereon seven days prior to a selection to fill a vacancy and otherwise qualified to vote on the vacancy shall be entitled to vote on filling a vacancy pursuant to this section.

In addition, every person appointed to the county committee shall file with the county clerk a certificate of acceptance which shall be preserved by the county clerk as a government record.

In the case of a meeting held to select a candidate for other than a Statewide office, the chairperson of the meeting shall be chosen by majority vote of the persons present and entitled to vote thereat. The chairperson so chosen may propose rules to govern the determination of credentials and the procedures under which the meeting shall be conducted, and those rules shall be adopted upon a majority vote of the persons entitled to vote upon the selection. If a majority vote is not obtained for those rules, the delegates shall determine credentials and conduct the business of the meeting under such other rules as may be adopted by a majority vote. All contested votes taken at the selection meeting, as referenced in subsections a. and b. of this section, shall be by secret ballot in a location or manner that protects the anonymity of the person’s vote.

b. (1) Whenever in accordance with subsection a. of this section members of two or more county committees are empowered to select a candidate to fill a vacancy, it shall be the responsibility of the chairpersons of said county committees, acting jointly not later in any case than the seventh day following the occurrence of the vacancy, to give notice to each of the members of their respective committees, as certified by the county clerk, who are so empowered of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the selection will be made, that meeting to be held at least one day following the date on which the notice is given.

(2) Whenever in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section members of a county committee are empowered to select a candidate to fill a vacancy, it shall be the responsibility of the chairperson of such county committee, not later in any case than the seventh day following the occurrence of the vacancy, to give notice to each of the members of the committee, as certified by the county clerk, who are so empowered of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the selection will be made, that meeting to be held at least one day following the date on which the notice is given.

(3) A county committee chairperson or chairpersons who call a meeting pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection shall not be entitled to vote upon the selection of a candidate at such meeting unless he or she or they are so entitled pursuant to subsection a.

(4) Whenever in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section the State committee of a political party is empowered to select a candidate to fill a vacancy, it shall be the responsibility of the chairperson of that State committee to give notice to each of the members of the committee of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the selection will be made, that meeting to be held at least one day following the date on which the notice is given.

c. Whenever a selection is to be made pursuant to this section to fill a vacancy resulting from inability to select a candidate because of a tie vote at a primary election for the general election, the selection shall be made from among those who have thus received the same number of votes at the primary.

d. A selection made pursuant to this section shall be made not later than the 54th day preceding the date of the general election, and a statement of such selection shall be filed with the Secretary of State or the appropriate county clerk, as the case may be, not later than that day, and in the following manner:

(1) A selection made by a State committee of a political party shall be certified to the Secretary of State by the State chairperson of the political party.

(2) A selection made by a county committee of a political party, or a portion of the members thereof, shall be certified to the county clerk of the county by the county chairperson of such political party; except that when such selection is of a candidate for the Senate or General Assembly or the United States House of Representatives the county chairperson shall certify the selection to the State chairperson of such political party, who shall certify the same to the Secretary of State.

(3) A selection made by members of two or more county committees of a political party acting jointly shall be certified by the chairpersons of said committees, acting jointly, to the State chairperson of such political party, who shall certify the same to the Secretary of State.

e. A statement filed pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall state the residence and post office address of the person so selected, and shall certify that the person so selected is qualified under the laws of this State to be a candidate for such office, and is a member of the political party filling the vacancy. Accompanying the statement, the person endorsed therein shall file a certificate stating that he or she is qualified under the laws of this State to be a candidate for the office mentioned in the statement, that he or she consents to stand as a candidate at the ensuing general election and that he or she is a member of the political party named in said statement, and further that he or she is not a member of, or identified with, any other political party or any political organization espousing the cause of candidates of any other political party, to which shall be annexed the oath of allegiance prescribed in R.S.41:1-1 duly taken and subscribed by him or her before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State. The person so selected shall be the candidate of the party for such office at the ensuing general election. Each candidate for the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly filing a certification shall annex thereto a statement signed by the candidate that he or she:

(1) has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or

(2) has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.

19:13-20.1. Candidate vacancy not filled
If there is no candidate on the primary election ballot of a political party for nomination for election to a public office in the general election and no write-in candidate for nomination for that office receives the minimum number of write-in votes necessary for nomination at a primary election pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1981, c.264 (C.19:14-2.1) and R.S.19:23-8, a vacancy shall not be deemed to exist and the provisions of R.S.19:13-20 shall not be applicable.

19:13-21 Vacancies among state convention nominees; certificate; oath of allegiance
If the nomination vacated is that of a candidate for elector of the President and Vice-President of the United States, the vacancy shall be filled by the committee to whom power shall have been delegated to fill vacancies if such there be, otherwise by the State committee of the political party which nominated the elector whose nomination is vacated. The chairman and secretary of the vacancy committee or State committee shall file with the Secretary of State on or before the 54th day prior to the general election a certificate of nomination for filling the vacancy. This certificate shall be made and filed in the same manner and form as heretofore provided for filling vacancies among candidates nominated at the primary and there shall be annexed thereto the oath of allegiance prescribed in section 41:1-1 of the Revised Statutes duly taken and subscribed by the person so nominated before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State.

Article 6. Certification of Nominees

19:13-22 Secretary of State; statement to county clerks of nominations, vacancies.
a. The Secretary of State, not later than eighty-six days before any election whereat any candidates nominated in any direct petition or primary certificate of nomination or State convention certificate filed with him are to be voted for, shall make and certify, under his hand and seal of office, and forward to the clerks of the several counties of the State a statement of all such candidates for whom the voters within such county may be by law entitled to vote at such election. This statement, in addition to the names of the candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, if any such have been included in any such certificate or petition filed with him, shall contain the names and residences of all other candidates, the offices for which they are respectively nominated, and the names of the parties by which or the political appellation under which they are respectively nominated. Candidates nominated directly by petition, without distinctive political appellation, shall be certified as independent candidates. Similar statements shall be made, certified and forwarded, when vacancies are filled subsequently, according to law.
b. The Secretary of State shall certify and forward the statement required by subsection a. of this section no later than the fourth Friday in June following a primary election for the candidates for the office of Governor for whom the voters may be by law entitled to vote at the next subsequent general election. The statement shall include the information required by subsection a. of this section. Candidates nominated directly by petition for the office of Governor, without distinctive political appellation, shall be certified as independent candidates at the same time as candidates nominated for the office of Governor at a primary election are certified by the Secretary of State. Similar statements shall be made, certified and forwarded, when vacancies are filled subsequently, according to law.

19:13-23. Secretary of state to county clerks of vacancy nominations; contents
In the event of vacancies among the candidates whose petitions or certificate of nomination are on file with him, the Secretary of State in certifying the nominations of candidates to fill such vacancies to the various county clerks shall insert the name of the person who has been nominated as herein provided to fill the vacancy. In the event that he has already sent forward his certificate of nomination, as herein provided, he shall forthwith certify to the clerks of the proper counties the name and description of the person so nominated to fill a vacancy, the office he is nominated for, the party or political principle he represents, and the name of the person for whom such nominee is submitted.

Chapter 14. Ballots

Article 1. Official Ballot

19:14-1 Printer’s copy; time for delivery; office copy for public inspection
Every county clerk shall have ready for the printer on or before the 50th day prior to the general election a copy of the contents of official ballots as hereinafter required to be printed for use at such election. He shall also on or before that time place another copy of such contents on file in his office and keep the same open to public inspection until the sample ballots hereinafter provided to be printed shall have been distributed.

19:14-2. Contents; names of candidates; public questions
There shall be a single or blanket form of ballot, upon which shall be printed the names of all the candidates of every party or group of petitioners having candidates to be voted for at such election. The name of a candidate nominated at the primary who shall fail to accept his nomination, or file the oath of allegiance executed, in the manner herein provided shall not be printed on the ballot. The name of a candidate whose nomination has been vacated as hereinbefore provided shall not be printed on the ballot. The name of a candidate shall appear but once upon the ballot for the same office.

Except as to the requirements of section 19:14-15 of this Title as to State-wide propositions, any public question which is to be submitted to the people of the State, county or municipality at the general election, shall be printed in a separate space at the foot of the ballot with appropriate instructions to the voter.

19:14-2.1. Inclusion on general election ballot of candidate with votes in primary by irregular ballot or write-in vote; requirements
The name of a person for whom votes are cast by irregular ballot or by write-in vote in a primary election to nominate candidates for elective office shall not be included on the ballot at the general election unless he received a number of irregular ballots or write-in votes for that office at the primary election at least equal to the number of signatures required on a petition to place upon the primary election ballot the name of a candidate for that office, pursuant to R.S. 19:23-8.

19:14-3. Detachable coupon; printing thereon
Each ballot shall have at the top a detachable coupon the width of the ballot above a perforated line not less than two inches from and parallel to the upper edge of the paper. These coupons shall be numbered consecutively from one to the number of ballots delivered to and received by the member or members of the district board for their respective election district.
Upon the coupon and above the perforated line shall be the words: “Ballot No. (number in figures)” as near the center of the coupon as may be practical, and below said number, and above perforated line shall be printed the following words: “To be torn off by the member of the board of registry and election in charge of the ballot box on election day.” “Fold to this line.”

19:14-4 Head of the ballot; form and contents; instructions
In the center of the ballot immediately below the perforated line shall be printed in bold-faced type the words “Official general election ballot.” Below these words and extending across the ballot shall appear the words: “Name of (municipality), …………………. ward, ……………….. school district (if applicable), ……………………fire district (if applicable),…………………. election district, …………………. date of election, ……………… John Doe, county clerk.” The blank spaces shall be filled in with the name of the proper municipality, the ward and district numbers and the date of the election. For school and fire district elections, the name of the school district or the name and number of the fire district, and of the municipality or municipalities comprising the district, shall also be indicated thereon. The name of the county clerk shall be a facsimile of his signature. Below the last stated words extending across the ballot and at the extreme left shall be printed the words “Instructions to the voter,” and immediately to the right there shall be a bracket embracing the following instructions numbered consecutively:
(1) The only kind of a mark to be made on this ballot in voting shall be a cross x, plus + or check ✓.
(2) To mark a cross x, plus +, check ✓ or when writing a name on this ballot use only ink or pencil.
(3) To vote for any candidates whose names are printed in any column, mark a cross x, plus + or check ✓ in the square at the left of the names of such candidates not in excess of the number to be elected to the office.
(4) To vote for any person whose name is not printed on this ballot, write or paste the name of such person under the proper title of office in the column designated personal choice and mark a cross x, plus + or check ✓ in the square to the left of the name so written or pasted.
(5) To vote upon any public question printed on this ballot if in favor thereof, mark a cross x, plus + or check ✓ in the square at the left of the word “Yes,” and if opposed thereto, mark a cross x, plus + or check ✓ in the square at the left of the word “No.”
(6) Do not mark this ballot in any other manner than above provided for and make no erasures. Should this ballot be wrongly marked, defaced, torn or any erasure made thereon or otherwise rendered unfit for use return it and obtain another. In presidential years, the following instructions shall be printed upon the general election ballot:
(7) To vote for all the electors of any party, mark a cross x, plus + or check ✓ in ink or pencil in the square at the left of the surnames of the candidates for president and vice-president for whom you desire to vote.
Below the above-stated instructions and information and, except when compliance with R.S.19:14-13 as to Statewide propositions otherwise requires, three inches below the perforated line and parallel to it, there shall be printed a six-point diagram rule extending across the ballot to within not less than a half inch to the right and left edges of the paper.

19:14-5. Printing body of ballot
From each end of such six-point diagram rule there shall be printed a four-point diagram rule extending at right angles and from such six-point rule to within not less than a half inch of the lower edge of the paper. Between these four-point rules and parallel to them and beginning at the six-point rule there shall be printed eight-point diagram rules to divide the ballot into vertical columns.

19:14-6 Column designations; accompanying instructions.
In each column, immediately below the six-point rule, shall be printed the proper word or words to designate the column, to be known as the “column designation.”

In the columns at the extreme left shall be printed the name of each of the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election every year, directly under which shall appear the words “to vote for any candidate whose name appears in the column below, mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square at the left of the name of such candidate. Do not vote for more candidates than are to be elected to any office.” Such columns shall be three inches in width.

The column next to the right of such columns shall be designated “personal choice, “under which shall appear the words” in the blank column below, under the proper title of office, the voter may write or paste the name of any person for whom he desires to vote, whose name is not printed on this ballot, and shall mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square at the left of such name. Do not vote for more candidates than are to be elected to any office.” There shall also be the same instructions regarding electors of president and vice-president which now appear at the head of all other columns. This column shall be four inches in width.

The remaining column or columns, as the case may be, shall each be designated “Nomination by Petition,” under which shall be printed the words “to vote for any candidate whose name appears in the column below mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square at the left of the name of such candidate. Do not vote for more candidates than are to be elected to any office.” These columns shall be four inches in width.

Below the column designations and accompanying instructions and not more than one and one-half inches below the six-point diagram rule and parallel thereto, shall be printed a six-point diagram rule extending across the entire ballot from one four point rule to the other.

19:14-7. Printed rulings on ballot
Below such six-point rule and parallel thereto, extending across the entire ballot from one four-point rule to the other, shall be printed two-point hair line rules approximately five-sixteenths inch and not over twenty-four points apart of a number sufficient to meet the requirements of the party columns.
In place of the last two-point hair line rule there shall be printed a six-point diagram rule, extending across the entire ballot from one four-point rule to the other, at which the eight-point diagram rules dividing the ballot into vertical columns shall terminate.

19:14-8 Arrangement of titles of office and names of candidates in party columns and personal choice column
In the columns of each of the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election to the general election and in the personal choice column, within the space between the two-point hair line rules, there shall be printed the title of each office to be filled at such election, except as hereinafter provided.

Such titles of office shall be arranged in the following order: electors of President and Vice-President of the United States; member of the United States Senate; Governor; member of the House of Representatives; member of the State Senate; members of the General Assembly; county executive, in counties that have adopted the county executive plan of the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.); sheriff; county clerk; surrogate; register of deeds and mortgages; county supervisor; members of the board of chosen freeholders; coroners; mayor and members of municipal governing bodies, and any other titles of office. Candidates for members of a school board and for members of a board of fire commissioners shall be listed in a section of the ballot that is separate from the section featuring other candidates whenever possible in a layout at the discretion of the county clerk. Above each of such titles of office, except the one at the top, shall be printed a two-point diagram rule in place of the two-point hair line rule. Below the titles of such offices shall be printed the names of the candidates for the offices.

The arrangement of the names of candidates for any office for which more than one are to be elected shall be determined in the manner hereinafter provided, as in the case of candidates nominated by petition.

When no nomination for an office has been made the words “No Nomination Made” in type large enough to fill the entire space or spaces below the title of office shall be printed upon the ballot.

Immediately to the left of the name of each candidate, at the extreme left of each column, including the personal choice column, shall be printed a square, one-quarter of an inch in size, formed by two-point diagram rules. In the personal choice column no names of candidates shall be printed.

To the right of the title of each office in the party columns and the personal choice column shall be printed the words “Vote for,” inserting in words the number of persons to be elected to such office.

19:14-8.1. Ballots for presidential electors
When Presidential Electors are to be elected, their names shall not be printed upon the ballot, either paper or voting machine, but in lieu thereof, the names of the candidates of their respective parties or political bodies for President and Vice-President of the United States shall be printed together in pairs under the title “Presidential Electors for.” All ballots marked for the candidates for President and Vice-President of a party or political body, shall be counted as votes for each candidate for Presidential Elector of such party or political body.

19:14-9. Duplicate nominations for same office; selection of column and designation
A candidate who receives more than one nomination for the same office, either from more than one political party or from more than one group of petitioners, or from one or more political parties and one or more groups of petitioners, shall have his name printed on the official general election ballot in only one column to be selected by him from among the columns to which his nominations entitle him, and shall have such designations after his name as he shall select, consisting of the names of the political parties nominating him, with the words “Indorsed By” , if he so desires, and the several designations to which he is entitled by the other nominations, if any, and printed in such order as he shall select.

The candidate shall file with the secretary of state or county clerk, as the case may be, his selection of his column, and the designations to follow his name and their order. Unless such selection is so filed within seven days after the primary election, the secretary of state or county clerk, as the case may be, shall determine in what column and with what designations his name shall be printed. The designations shall be printed in small type, and if necessary, in several lines or in a line below his name and may be abbreviated.

19:14-10 Nomination by petition columns; arrangement of titles of offices; groupings
In the column or columns designated as nominations by petition, within the space between the two-point hair line rules, there shall be printed the title of each office for which nominations by petition have been made.

Such titles of office shall be arranged in the following order: electors of President and Vice-President of the United States; member of the United States Senate; Governor and Lieutenant Governor; member of the House of Representatives; member of the State Senate; members of the General Assembly; county executive, in counties that have adopted the county executive plan of the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.); sheriff; county clerk; surrogate; register of deeds and mortgages; county supervisor; members of the board of chosen freeholders; coroners; mayor and members of municipal governing bodies; members of the school board, when appropriate; members of the board of fire commissioners, when appropriate; and any other titles of office.

Above each of the titles of office, except the one on the top, shall be printed a two-point diagram rule in place of the two-point hair line rule. Below the titles of each of the offices shall be printed the names of each of the candidates for each of such offices followed by the designation or designations mentioned in the petitions filed.

Immediately to the left of the name of each candidate, at the extreme left of the column, shall be printed a square, one-quarter of an inch in size formed by two-point diagram rules.

The names of candidates for any office for which more than one are to be elected shall be arranged in groups as presented in the several certificates of nominations or petitions, which groups shall be separated from other groups and candidates by two two-point hair line rules.

To the right of the title of each office shall be printed the words “Vote for” inserting in words the number of candidates to be elected to such office.

19:14-12 Drawing for position on ballot; procedure; public announcement; bracketing names
The county clerk shall draw lots in his county to determine which columns the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election shall occupy on the ballot in the county. The name of the party first drawn shall occupy the first column at the left of the ballot, and the name of the party next drawn shall occupy the second column, and so forth.

The position which the names of candidates, and bracketed groups of names of candidates nominated by petitions for all offices, shall have upon the general election ballot, shall be determined by the county clerks in their respective counties.

The manner of drawing the lots shall be as follows: paper slips with the names of each political party written thereon, shall be placed in capsules of the same size, shape, color and substance and then placed in a covered box with an aperture in the top large enough to admit a man’s hand and to allow the capsules to be drawn therefrom. The box shall be well shaken and turned over to thoroughly intermingle the capsules. The county clerk or his deputy shall at his office, draw from the box each capsule separately without knowledge on his part as to which capsule he is drawing.

The person making the drawing shall open the capsule and shall make public announcement at the drawing of each name, the order in which name is drawn and the office for which the drawing is made.

Where there is but one person to be elected to an office, the names of the several candidates who have filed petitions for such office shall be written upon paper slips and placed in separate capsules of the same size, shape, color and substance. The capsules shall be placed in a covered box with an aperture in the top large enough to admit a man’s hand and to allow the capsules to be drawn therefrom. The box shall be turned and shaken thoroughly to mix the capsules and the capsules shall be withdrawn one at a time.

When there is more than one person to be elected to an office where petitions have designated that certain candidates shall be bracketed, the position of such bracketed names on the ballot (each bracketed group to be treated as a single name), together with individuals who have filed petitions for such office, shall be determined as above described.

Any legal voter of the county or municipality, as the case may be, shall have the privilege of witnessing the drawing.

The name or names of the candidate or bracketed group of candidates first drawn from the box shall be printed directly below the proper title of the office for which they were nominated, and the name or names of the candidate or bracketed group of candidates next drawn shall be printed next in order, and so on, until the last name or bracketed group of names shall be drawn from the box.

The arrangement of names of any bracketed group of candidates for any office for which more than one are to be elected shall be printed in the same order on the ballot as they were arranged on the petition of nomination.

The drawing for the positions which the names of candidates and bracketed groups of names of candidates, nominated by petition for office, and for the columns which the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election and for the general election shall occupy upon the general election ballot, shall be held at 3 o’clock in the afternoon of the eighty-fifth day prior to the day of the general election.

19:14-13. Arrangement of public questions
All public questions to be voted upon by the voters of the entire State shall be placed first and shall be printed in the order as certified by the Secretary of State. All public questions to be voted for by the voters of a municipality shall be placed second and shall be printed in the order as determined by the drawing of lots by the county clerk. All public questions to be voted for by the voters of a county shall be placed last and shall be printed in the order as determined by the drawing of lots by the county clerk. The county clerk shall draw lots in substantially the same manner as the drawing is made for the arrangement of candidates’ names upon the ballot.

19:14-14. Public questions at foot of ballot; instructions to voters
Immediately below the six-point diagram rule to be printed in place of the last two-point hair line rule across the entire ballot, from one four-point rule to the other, shall be printed as near to the center of the ballot as possible the following words: “Public Questions to be voted upon” . Below these words and above the first public question, beginning one and one-half inches to the right of the four-point rule at the left of the ballot and extending to not more than one and one-half inches from the four-point rule at the right of the ballot, shall be printed in one line, if possible, the following instructions: “To vote upon the Public Questions printed below, if in favor thereof mark a cross x or plus + in the square at the left of the word “Yes’, and if opposed thereto, mark a cross x or plus + in the square at the left of the word “No’,” underscored with a two-point diagram rule. Below and flush with the left end of said two-point diagram rule shall be printed two separate squares, one under the other, three-eighths of an inch in size formed by two-point diagram rules. Immediately to the right of the upper square shall be printed the word “Yes” , and immediately to the right of the lower square shall be printed the word “No” . To the right of the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed a bracket embracing these words and to the right of the bracket shall be printed across the ballot, to not nearer than one and one-half inches from the four-point diagram rule at the right of the ballot, each public question to be voted upon. Below each such public question shall be printed two-point diagram rule beginning one and one-half inches to the right of the four-point rule at the left of the ballot and extending to not nearer than one and one-half inches from the four-point rule at the right of the ballot. In place of the last two-point diagram rule there shall be printed a four-point diagram rule extending across the entire ballot not less than a half inch from the lower edge of the paper and terminating at the lower ends of the four-point diagram rules at either side of the ballot.

19:14-16 Style of type, rulings and spacing.
The words to be printed on the perforated coupon shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters and the figures in eighteen and twenty-two-point bold-faced type. At the head of the ballot the words “Official General Election Ballot” shall be printed in at least thirty-point bold-faced capital letters. The name of municipality, ward, school district, fire district, election district, and date, as appropriate, shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters. For a fire district election, the number of the fire district shall also be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters. The words “Instructions to the voter” shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capitals and small letters, while the instructions embraced within the brackets shall be printed in eight-point bold-faced capital and small letters. The column designations shall be printed in eighteen-point bold-faced capital letters and the accompanying instructions shall be printed in eight-point capitals and small letters. The titles of office and accompanying instructions shall be printed in ten-point bold-faced capital and small letters. When there is no nomination made at the primary for an office, the title shall be printed in the space where such title should appear, and the words “No Nomination Made” in type large enough to fill the entire space or spaces shall be printed therein. The names of all candidates shall be printed in ten-point capital letters. The designations following the candidates’ names in the nomination by petition column or columns shall be printed in ten-point capitals and small letters, except that where they overrun the space within the column the designations may be abbreviated, and all spaces between the two-point hair line rules not occupied by the titles of office and names of candidates shall be printed in with scroll or filling to guide the voter against wrongly marking the ballot. On the foot of the ballot the words “Public Questions to be Voted Upon” shall be printed in eighteen-point bold-faced capital letters. The accompanying instructions shall be printed in eight-point capital and small letters. The public questions to be voted upon shall be printed in ten-point capital and small letters, and the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters.

19:14-18. Number of ballots on hand
Not later than noon of the fifth day preceding the general election the county clerk shall have printed and on hand in his office one and one-fifth times as many official ballots for each election district in each municipality in the county as there are voters registered in such election district.

19:14-19. Custody of printed ballots
The county clerk shall keep such ballots in his custody and be responsible therefor until they shall be delivered to the municipal clerks as hereinafter provided.

19:14-20. Correction of errors
When it shall appear that an error or omission has occurred in the copy prepared by the county clerk for the printer or in the printing of the ballots by any county clerk, any voter resident in the county may present to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county a verified petition setting forth such error or omission; and such judge being satisfied thereof, shall thereupon summarily, by his order, require the county clerk to correct such error or show cause before the judge at the shortest possible day, why same should not be corrected. The county clerk shall correct the same by causing new ballots to be immediately printed in place of those found to be inaccurate or incomplete; and those found to be inaccurate or incomplete shall be immediately destroyed.

Article 2. Sample Ballots

19:14-21 Preparation; delivery of sample ballots and envelopes to municipal clerk or commissioner of registration.
The county clerk shall cause samples of the official general election ballot to be printed in English, but for each election district within the county in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, shall cause samples of the official general election ballot to be printed bilingually in English and Spanish.

a. In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, the county clerk not later than noon of the eighth day prior to the general election shall furnish to the municipal clerk of each municipality in his county one and one-tenth times as many such sample ballots and stamped envelopes as there are voters registered, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, to enable each district board in each municipality to mail one of such sample ballots to each voter who is registered in the municipality, except those voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, for such election and shall take a receipt for the same from each of the municipal clerks, which receipt shall indicate the number of such sample ballots and stamped envelopes delivered by the county clerk and the date and hour of their delivery.

b. In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections may have the equipment or facilities to prepare a properly stamped envelope addressed to each registered voter in the county for mailing, the county clerk, not later than the thirtieth day preceding the general election, shall furnish to the commissioner of registration located in his county one and one-tenth times as many stamped envelopes as there are registered voters in the county, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, and not later than noon of the twelfth day preceding the general election shall furnish to the commissioner of registration located in the county, one and one-tenth times as many sample ballots as there are registered voters in the county to enable the commissioner of registration of the county to mail one of such sample ballots to each voter registered in the county, except those voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, for such election and shall take a receipt for the same from the commissioner of registration, which receipt shall indicate the number of such sample ballots and stamped envelopes delivered by the county clerk and the date and hour of their delivery. County boards of elections which elect to operate under the provisions of this paragraph shall notify their county clerk in sufficient time to enable him to make the necessary arrangements the first year.

c. The county clerk in counties having a superintendent of elections shall also deliver to the county board not later than the twelfth day preceding the general election 10 such sample ballots of each election district of each municipality in the county.

19:14-21.1 Notice of availability of sample ballot in lieu of delivery
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a voter who registers after the 29th day prior to a general election and who is eligible to participate in that election may be sent, instead of a sample ballot, notice of the voter’s polling place, information on where to obtain a sample ballot prior to the election, a statement indicating that a sample ballot will be available at the polling place on the day of the election, and, if applicable, information on a county website where a sample ballot may be viewed.

19:14-22 Form and contents; color of paper.
The official general election sample ballots shall be as nearly as possible facsimiles of the official general election ballot to be voted at such election and shall have printed thereon, after the words which indicate the number of the election district for which such sample ballots are printed, the name of the school district, when appropriate, the number or name and municipality or municipalities of the fire district, when appropriate, the street address or location of the polling place in the election district, and the hours between which the polls shall be open. Such sample ballots shall be printed on paper different in color from the official general election ballot, and have the following words printed in large type at the top: “This ballot cannot be voted. It is a sample copy of the official general election ballot used on election day.”

19:14-23. Envelopes for mailing official general election sample ballots
The stamped envelopes shall be of sufficient size and have sufficient postage to enable the official general election sample ballots and anything else required to be enclosed therewith to be mailed therein.

On the face of each of the envelopes shall be printed the words “Official General Election Sample Ballot” in large type and in small type in the upper left-hand corner, the words: “If not delivered in two days return to the “Superintendent of Elections’ ” in counties having a superintendent of elections and to the “Commissioner of Registration” in all other counties and in the lower left-hand corner shall be printed the words “Municipality” followed by a line ” ,” “Ward” followed by a line ” ,” and “district” followed by a line ” ,” arranged in three lines one under the other.

19:14-24. Delivery by municipal clerks to district boards
The municipal clerk to whom the sample ballots and stamped envelopes have been so delivered by the county clerk shall deliver the same at his office, or in any other way he sees fit, on or before noon of the Tuesday preceding the general election, to a member or members of each district board, and shall take a receipt for the same from the member or members of the district boards of such municipality, which receipt shall indicate the number of sample ballots and stamped envelopes delivered by the municipal clerk and the date and hour of their delivery.

19:14-25. Mailing by district board or commissioner of registration; duties of county board of elections
In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, all the members of each of the district boards shall prepare and deposit in the post office, on or before 12 noon on Wednesday preceding the general election day, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the sample ballot printed in English, addressed to each registered voter in the district of such board at the address shown on the register, except that for districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the bilingual sample ballot, addressed to each registered voter in the district of such board at the address shown on the register shall be prepared and deposited. The board shall also post the appropriate sample ballots in the polling place in its district.

The board shall return to the municipal clerk all ballots and envelopes not mailed or posted by it, with a sworn statement in writing signed by a majority of the board that all the remainder of such ballots and envelopes had been mailed.

In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b. of section 19:14-21 of this Title, the commissioner of registration shall prepare and deposit in the post office on or before 12:00 o’clock noon, on the Wednesday preceding the general election day, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the sample ballot printed in English addressed to each registered voter in the county at the address shown on the registry, except that for districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the bilingual sample ballot, addressed to each registered voter in the district of such board at the address shown on the register shall be prepared and deposited. The commissioner of registration shall return to the county clerk all ballots and envelopes not mailed or posted by him, with a sworn statement in writing signed by him that all the remainder of such ballots and envelopes have been mailed.

The county board of elections, in all counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b. of section 19:14-21 of this Title, shall, not later than noon of the second Monday preceding the election, deliver or mail to the members of the district board three appropriate sample ballots for their respective election district. The board shall post the appropriate sample ballots in the polling place in its district.

19:14-25.1 Sending of sample ballot not required under certain situations; acknowledgment
A county clerk shall not be required to send a sample ballot for any election to a voter who has been sent a mail-in ballot for that election, pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c. 79 (C.19:63-3), and whose voted ballot has been received by the county board of elections prior to the transmission of sample ballots to voters required by R.S.19:14-25. A county may send an acknowledgment to a voter when his or her mail-in ballot has been received by the board.

19:14-26. Preservation of envelopes and ballots returned by postmaster
The county board, commissioner, or superintendent, as the case may be, shall preserve all envelopes and sample ballots which shall have been mailed by the district boards but returned to it or him by the postmasters of the various municipalities of the county, for the space of six months and the same shall be open to public inspection for the space of three months after the primary or the general or other election, as the case may be.

Article 3. Printing and Distribution with Sample Ballots of Referendum Information

19:14-27. Inclusion with sample ballot; other arrangements in certain counties
Except as provided by section 19:14-33 of this Title, when any question or proposition shall be submitted to the people of the State at any general election or at any election held to vote on a constitutional amendment, there shall be mailed to each registered voter in the same envelope with the sample ballot a printed copy of the act of the Legislature or constitutional amendment which is so submitted; provided, however, in counties where sample ballots are so folded that they can be mailed to the registrants without being inserted in envelopes, as permitted by section 19:49-4 of this Title, the commissioner of registration shall make such arrangements for mailing the printed copy of the act of the Legislature or constitutional amendment as are practical to enable each registrant to receive a copy thereof.

19:14-28. Descriptive marks in case of amendments
When an amendment to the constitution or to a statute is so mailed, such part thereof as is new and not contained in the existing constitution or statute shall be underscored, and if any portion of the existing law or constitution is to be omitted in the proposed amendment, such portion shall be enclosed in brackets in the printed copies of the existing law or constitution so mailed, and there shall be annexed a note explaining the significance of the brackets and underscoring.

19:14-29. Relation to statute or constitution made clear
When a copy of an act of the legislature is required by section 19:14-27 of this title to be printed and mailed to each registered voter, and such act is an amendment or supplement to a statute of this state, there shall be printed and mailed to each registered voter as hereinbefore provided, in addition to the copy of the act submitted, such portion of the statute to which the same is an amendment or supplement as shall be necessary clearly to disclose to the voter the relation of the act submitted to the existing statute law.

When a copy of a constitutional amendment is required by said section 19:14-27 to be printed and mailed, then in addition to the copy of the constitutional amendments submitted, there shall be printed and mailed to each registered voter as hereinbefore provided, such portion of the constitution as shall be necessary clearly to disclose to the voter the relation of the amendment submitted to the existing constitution.

19:14-30. Attorney general to designate information to be sent
When under the provisions of this title it shall be necessary to mail to the voters any portion of the statute law of the state or any portion of the state constitution, the attorney general shall designate by writing filed with the secretary of state what portion of the statute law or state constitution shall be so printed and mailed.

19:14-31. Summary statement sufficient
The attorney general, in place of or in addition to designating any portion of the statute law or state constitution to be so printed and mailed, may, if he deems proper, make a summary statement of the existing law or constitutional provisions upon the subject so far as necessary to inform the voters of the effect which the adoption or rejection of the question or proposition submitted to them will have upon such statute law or state constitution, and the mailing of such summary statement shall be a compliance with the provisions of this title.

19:14-32. Printing and delivery by secretary of state
When by section 19:14-27 of this title copies of an act of the legislature or of a constitutional amendment are required to be printed and mailed, the secretary of state shall cause to be printed and, at least twenty days before the election at which the question or proposition is to be submitted, shall deliver to each county clerk a number of copies of the printed matter to be mailed as hereinbefore required, at least twenty per cent greater than the number of registered voters in the county.

19:14-33. When referendum notices unnecessary
It shall not be necessary for the secretary of state, or any other official, to cause notice to be published of any state-wide proposition directed by the legislature to be submitted to the people, nor shall it be necessary for the secretary of state, or any other official, to cause to be printed and mailed to the registered voters copies of the act or acts to be voted upon.

Article 4. Delivery of Ballots, Equipment and Supplies

19:14-34. County clerks to municipal clerks; packages sealed; record of delivery; receipts
The county clerks of the several counties, not later than three days prior to the general election shall cause to be delivered to the clerk of each municipality within their respective counties, the number of ballots hereinbefore required to be provided for each election district within his municipality at such election. The same shall be delivered in sealed packages, one for each election district of the municipality, with marks or directions on the outside of each clearly stating the election district for which it is intended, together with the number of ballots. The county clerk shall also keep a record of the time when and the manner in which each of the packages was delivered. Receipts for the ballots thus delivered shall be given by the clerk receiving the same and filed with the county clerk, and shall be preserved by such clerk for the period of one year.

19:14-35. Municipal clerk to member of district board; delivery by member of board to board; receipts
The municipal clerk shall on the day preceding any such general election, deliver, at his office or in any other way that he sees fit, to one of the members of each district board within his municipality, the ballot box, the ballot box keys, the ballots, and all other equipment and supplies received from the county clerk or the county board for such election district, and in addition shall deliver to the member all other equipment and supplies as herein provided to be furnished by the municipal clerk to the district boards of his municipality for balloting at the general election, and take the receipt of the member therefor, which last mentioned receipt the clerk of the municipality shall file and preserve for one year.

The member of each district board shall on the morning of election and before the proclamation of the opening of the polls, deliver the ballot box, the packages of ballots and all other equipment and supplies by him received to the district board of which he is a member, with the seals thereof unbroken, and shall take a receipt therefor from the board, which receipt the member shall file and preserve for one year.

Chapter 15. Balloting

Article 1. General Regulations

19:15-1. Supervision of district boards by county board; district boards to hold and conduct elections
The county board shall have supervision and direction of and authority over the district boards at all elections, including commission form of government elections held within the county.

The district boards shall in their respective election districts hold and conduct all elections at which the method of voting hereinafter prescribed shall be observed.

19:15-2 Opening and closing of polls; number of members of district board present
The district boards shall open the polls for such election at 6:00 A.M. and close them at 8:00 P.M., and shall keep them open during the whole day of election between these hours; except that for a school election held at a time other than at the time of the general election the polls shall be open between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. and during any additional time which the school board may designate between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M.

The board may allow one member thereof at a time to be absent from the polling place and room for a period not exceeding one hour between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. or for such shorter time as it shall see fit.

At no time from the opening of the polls to the completion of the canvass shall there be less than a majority of the board present in the polling room or place, except that during a school election held at a time other than at the time of the general election there shall always be at least one member of each district election board present or if more than two district board members are designated to serve at the polling place, at least two members present.

19:15-3. Lighting and equipment of booths
The board shall cause the booths of the polling places to be at all hours well and sufficiently lighted to enable voters to read and prepare their ballots with ease, and shall cause each booth to be kept provided with sufficient lead pencils to enable the voters to mark their ballots.

19:15-4. Official ballots only used; place of keeping and distribution; no envelopes
The board shall permit no other ballots to be used at the general election except the ballots which are by this title provided for. It shall confine the distribution and use of such ballots to the polling room in the manner herein directed, and shall distribute no ballots (other than official sample ballots as herein provided) outside the polling place.

The board shall keep no ballots in the polling booths and shall not permit the use of envelopes for enclosing ballots on election day.

19:15-5. Emergency ballots; preparation; use
If at any election the ballots to be furnished therefor shall not be delivered at the time above mentioned, or if after delivery they shall be destroyed or stolen and other official ballots cannot be obtained in time for such election, the clerk of the county or municipality, or the district board, as the case may require, shall cause other ballots to be prepared as nearly in the form heretofore prescribed as practicable, but without the indorsement on the top.

Upon the receipt of ballots thus prepared from the clerk of the county or municipality, accompanied by a statement, under oath, of the person preparing the same, that they have been so prepared and furnished because the original ballots have so failed to be received or have been destroyed or stolen, and that other official ballots could not be obtained in time for such election, or where the district board has caused such unofficial ballots to be prepared, the board shall cause the ballots so substituted to be used at the election.

19:15-6. Unofficial ballots; use permitted
If from any cause neither the official ballot nor ballots otherwise prepared as herein prescribed shall be ready for distribution at any polling place, or if the supply of ballots shall be exhausted before the polls are closed, unofficial ballots, made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot, may be used. The mode and manner of voting such unofficial ballots shall, nevertheless, in all respects conform as nearly as possible to the mode and manner of voting herein prescribed.

19:15-8 Persons allowed in polling place
a. No person shall be allowed or permitted to be present in the polling place or polling room during the progress of the election except the officers connected with the election, persons connected with the operation of a simulated election for minors as described in subsection b. of this section, the several candidates, the duly authorized challengers, such voters as are present for the purpose of voting and their dependent children, minors present for the purpose of voting in a simulated election, and such officers as may be duly detailed to be present, pursuant to this title, for preserving the peace or enforcing the provisions hereof.

b. A county board of elections may authorize a simulated election for minors at a polling place, provided the simulated election does not interfere with the orderly conduct of the official voting process.

19:15-9. Persons in polling place allowed to vote at closing of polls
After the hour fixed for closing the polls voters already within such place or room or in line shall be permitted to prepare and cast their ballots.

Article 2. Balloting Procedure

19:15-10. Proclamation of opening of polls
The district boards, before they receive any vote, shall make public proclamation of the opening of the election and of their readiness to receive the votes of the voters, and thereupon the election shall be opened.

19:15-11. Distribution and use of ballot box keys; locking ballot boxes
At the opening of the election each of the keys of the locks of the ballot box shall be taken by a different member of the board, who shall keep the same until the statement of the result of the election shall be made and certified, as directed by this title, and shall not during that time suffer any other member of the board, or any other person, on any pretense to take or have the same.

In all cases in which the members of the board are directed to lock the ballot box, each of the locks thereof shall be locked by the member who shall have the key belonging thereto, as directed by this title.

19:15-12. Ballot box shown to be empty; locking
Immediately before proceeding to receive the votes the board shall in an open and public manner exhibit the ballot box so that those present may see that there is nothing contained therein, and thereupon close and lock the same, leaving open the aperture in the lid thereof.

19:15-17 Comparison of signatures or statements made openly; provisional ballots for newly registered voters without proper identification
a. The comparison of signatures of a voter made upon registration and upon election day, and if the voter alleges his inability to write, the comparison of the answers made by such voter upon registration and upon election day, shall be had in full view of the challengers.

b. If a voter has registered by mail after January 1, 2003 to vote for the first time in his or her current county of residence and did not provide personal identification when registering pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4), the voter shall be permitted to vote starting at the first election held after January 1, 2004 at which candidates are seeking federal office after displaying one of the following items: (1) a current and valid photo identification card; (2) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or pay check; (3) any other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address; or (4) any other identifying document that the Attorney General has determined to be acceptable for this purpose. If the voter does not display one of these documents, the voter shall not be permitted to vote by machine but shall instead be provided with a provisional ballot, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et seq.). This subsection shall not apply to any voter entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the “Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act” (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1 et seq.) or to any voter who is provided the right to vote other than in person under section 3 of Pub.L.98-435, the “Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act,” or any other voter entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other federal law. This subsection shall also not apply to any person who registers to vote by appearing in person at any voter registration agency or to any person whose voter registration form is delivered to the county commissioner of registration or to the Attorney General, as the case may be, through a third party by means other than by mail delivery.
c. Each county commissioner of registration shall collect and maintain, in the manner prescribed by the Attorney General, the information provided pursuant to subsection b. of this section and section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4). Access to the personal identification information provided pursuant to subsection b. of this section and section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4). shall be prohibited, in accordance with subsection a. of section 6 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5).

19:15-18. Challenges; right to make; questions asked; prohibited challenges; violation
The members of the district boards and any duly authorized challenger, respectively, shall at any election challenge every person who shall claim to have a right to vote therein whom they or he shall know, suspect or believe not to be qualified or entitled to so vote, and said members of the district board or challenger shall have the power and right to ask all questions which are suitable and necessary to determine such person’s right.

No member of the district board and no duly authorized challenger shall, however, challenge, delay or prevent the right to vote of any person because of that person’s race, color, national origin, expected manner of casting a vote or residence in a particular ward, housing complex or section of a municipality or county, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a challenge based upon the failure of the challenged voter to meet the applicable statutory residency qualification for voting in the particular election district. Any member of the district board or duly authorized challenger who violates this section is guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:15-18.1. Challenged voter whose name does not appear on challenge list permitted to establish right to vote; affidavits
a. Any voter whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county but who is challenged as not qualified or entitled to vote by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of a district board of elections shall be permitted to establish his right to vote by:

(1) signing an affidavit which states the voter’s qualifications to vote on forms to be supplied by the superintendent of elections in those counties having a superintendent of elections or by the commissioner of registration in all other counties, and;
(2) presenting for inspection a suitable identifying document, which may be, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) a valid New Jersey driver’s license;
(b) a sample ballot which lists the voter’s name and address;
(c) an official federal, State, county or municipal document which lists the voter’s name and address;
(d) a utility or telephone bill or tax or rent receipt dated; or
(e) a piece of mail postmarked, on or after the 60th day before the day of the election at which the voter is challenged.

b. A copy of the affidavit signed by the challenged voter shall be given to that person.
c. The affidavit, or a form attached to it, shall state:

(1) the means by which a person whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county but who is challenged by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of the district board of elections may seek to establish the person’s right to vote, as provided in subsection a. of this section;
(2) that a challenger who succeeds in denying a voter the right to vote must sign an affidavit stating the reason why the voter is not entitled to vote and must furnish a copy of the affidavit to the challenged voter, as provided in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18.2);
(3) the legal remedy which a person whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county but who is challenged by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of the district board of elections and denied the right to vote may use to seek permission to vote, as provided in section 6 of P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18.3).

d. In counties in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, the affidavit and instructions for its completion and the information required by subsection c. of this section shall appear in both English and Spanish.

19:15-18.2. Grounds for challenge to be specified in signed document; official form; contents
If a person whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county is challenged as not qualified or entitled to vote by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of the district board of elections and if this challenge is sustained by the district board of elections, the person making the challenge shall specify the grounds for the challenge in a signed affidavit on forms to be supplied by the superintendent of elections in those counties having a superintendent of elections or by the county clerk in all other counties. This document also shall state that the challenged voter has sought to establish his right to vote by signing an affidavit which states the challenged voter’s qualifications to vote and by presenting a suitable identifying document, the identity of which shall be specified by the challenger. A copy of the challenger’s affidavit shall be given to the challenged voter.

19:15-18.3 Application by challenged voter for permission to vote; facts to be established by preponderance of the evidence; good faith attempt to register
Any person whose name does not appear on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections of the county but who is challenged and denied the right to vote on the day of a municipal, primary, general, or special election by a duly authorized challenger or by a member of a district board of elections, may apply to a Superior Court judge sitting at the county seat for permission to vote. No papers need be filed; the court shall entertain oral applications. The challenged voter may appear pro se or with counsel. The challenger or the member of the district board, as the case may be, may appear or be represented by counsel. The challenged voter shall be permitted to state by oath or affirmation the facts which the voter believes establish eligibility to vote, shall furnish a copy of the affidavit the voter signed when challenged, a copy of the affidavit signed by the challenger and the identifying document found invalid by the challenger and the district board. The rules of evidence shall not apply to those proceedings. The judge shall grant the application and provide the challenged voter with written authorization to vote on that day if the judge finds the following facts to be established by the testimony of the applicant or, in the case of a dispute of facts or some questions as to the challenged voter’s credibility, by a preponderance of the following evidence:

a. The challenged voter is at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States and of this State, has resided in the county at least 30 days prior to the date of the election, and has not been convicted of a crime which would disenfranchise a person under the laws of this State, and either:

b. The challenged voter is properly registered at his location; or

c. The challenged voter was properly registered at his location as of the last election at which the challenged voter voted but has moved to another location within the county since then and in good faith attempted to register at the new address within the time prescribed by law.

For the purposes of this section, a good faith attempt to register shall include: completing the prescribed registration form no later than 21 days before the election in the presence of a person who appears to be over 18 years old and says that he or she can and will witness the form and mail it to the register for the applicant; completing a form received in the mail from the commissioner of registration, superintendent of elections or the county board which states that information has been received that the applicant has moved and placing the completed form in a proper mailbox with proper postage, if necessary, no later than 21 days before the election; completing a registration form in any government office; and reasonably relying upon the oral statements of an official at a polling place that they will insure proper reregistration.

The judge of the Superior Court having the application shall cause a full record of the proceeding to be taken stenographically, transcribed and filed in the office of the county clerk of the county, which record shall be open and public record. All costs and expenses of such proceedings shall be paid by the county.

19:15-19. Challenge on ground of conviction of crime; questions and answers
If a person be challenged as convicted of a crime which bars him from exercising the right to vote, he shall be required to answer in relation to such alleged conviction, and if he shall admit that he has been so convicted, he shall not be permitted to vote unless he shall make oath that he has been pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage; but if he shall deny that he has been so convicted, no proof of such conviction shall be received, other than the duly authenticated record thereof, except such proof as may be necessary to establish his identity with the person named in such record, or may be adduced by him to rebut the evidence of identity produced on behalf of the challenge.

19:15-20. Challenge on ground of alienage; evidence of citizenship
If a person shall be challenged as not qualified or entitled to vote, and the person challenging him shall specify a ground for such challenge to be that the person so challenged is an alien, the judge of election may forthwith tender to him an oath or affirmation, in the following form: “You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that to the best of your knowledge, information and belief, you were born a citizen of the United States, and that you do not owe allegiance to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty” , and if the person so challenged shall refuse to take the oath or affirmation so tendered to him, he shall be deemed to be an alien, unless he shall produce at the time of claiming his vote, to the board, a lawful certificate, issued out of and under the seal of some court of record, having authority to admit aliens to the rights of a citizen of the United States, showing that he has been admitted to the rights of a citizen of the United States. In this case the judge shall tender to the person so challenged an oath or affirmation in the following form:

“You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that you are the person named in the certificate of naturalization which you have produced to the board.” In case the person producing the same shall claim to have derived the rights of such citizen through the naturalization of his parent, such certificate shall show that the person alleged to be such parent has been admitted to the rights of such citizen. In this event, an oath or affirmation, in the following form, shall be tendered to such person:

“You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that to the best of your knowledge, information and belief, the person named in the certificate of naturalization which you have produced to this board was your parent, and that you were at the time of the naturalization of your parent under the age of twenty-one years, and resident of the United States.” If the person so challenged shall in either case refuse to take the oath or affirmation so tendered to him, he shall be deemed to be an alien.

19:15-21. Challenge on grounds of disqualification; oath
If a person shall be challenged as not qualified or entitled to vote, the judge may forthwith tender to him an oath or affirmation, in the following form:

“You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that you are a citizen of the United States; that you have resided in this State and in this county for 30 days next before this election, and not elsewhere; that you are now a resident of this election district; that, as far as you know and verily believe, you are 18 years of age, and in all respects qualified to vote in this election, in this election district, and that you have not voted elsewhere in this election,” and if the person so challenged shall refuse to take the oath or affirmation so tendered to him, he shall be deemed not to be qualified or entitled to vote.

19:15-22. Examination of challenged voter
Upon any question or challenge of a voter duly registered it shall be the duty of the board, and the privilege of all its members, to put all such questions as are proper to determine the right of the voter to vote.

19:15-23. Questions asked persons challenged in municipalities having permanent registration
In municipalities having permanent registration, if a voter is challenged, the board shall ask him the questions which were asked him upon registration, the answers to which appear on the signature copy register and if the answers do not correspond a note of such fact shall be entered in the column of the poll book entitled “remarks” . If the signatures of the voter or the answers to the questions made by the voter do not correspond, then it shall be the privilege of the challengers to challenge, and the duty of each member of the district board to challenge, unless some other authorized person shall challenge.

19:15-24. Determination of challenge; arrest of persons attempting to vote illegally; record of challenges; violations of section by members of district board
The district boards shall not give a ballot to any person unless they shall be satisfied that such person is in all respects qualified and entitled to vote; and for the purpose of satisfying themselves as to the right of any person who shall claim a right to vote they shall have power to examine such person, and any other person or persons, under oath or affirmation, touching such right, except as hereinbefore restricted. The board shall determine the right of the voter to vote, after making use of, and giving due weight to, the evidence afforded by his signature, if any, such answers, and an affidavit which states the challenged voter’s qualifications to vote and a suitable identifying document, as provided under section 2 of P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18.1). If any member of the board shall give or assent to give a ballot to any person challenged, without requiring him to take the oath or affirmation hereinbefore prescribed to be made upon such challenge, and the person shall not be qualified and entitled to vote, the member so giving or assenting to give a ballot, shall be deemed to have given to such person a ballot, knowing it to be illegal. The question as to the giving of the ballot to the person shall be put in the following form: “Shall a ballot be given to this person by this board?”

If a majority of the board shall decide to give a ballot to such voter or in case of a tie vote, the voter shall be given a ballot and allowed to vote. If a majority of the board shall decide against giving a ballot to the voter no ballot shall be given. The board upon demand of a member of the board or any other citizen shall forthwith issue a warrant for the arrest of such person and deliver the same to a peace officer, who shall forthwith arrest him, and the right to challenge voters shall exist until the ballot shall have been deposited in the ballot box.

Every such challenge and the determination of the board shall in every instance be recorded in the signature comparison record, in the column “Sig. Comp. by,” used at the election at which the challenge has been made.

Any member of a district board who refuses or neglects to comply with the provisions of this section may be summarily removed from office by the county board, or any judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county.

19:15-25. Ballot given to voter; instructions
In all municipalities after the district board shall have ascertained that a voter is properly registered and qualified to vote the inspector of election shall furnish to the voter one official ballot numbered to correspond with the poll number of the voter, allowing for spoiled ballots, if any.

No ballot shall be handed to a voter until there is a booth ready for occupancy. The members of the district board shall not allow a voter to mark his ballot outside of an election booth unless the voter is unable to enter the booth by reason of his physical disability.

The inspector shall instruct the voter how to fold the ballot and shall crease the ballot so as to indicate the point where the voter shall fold the ballot, but before handing the ballot to the voter the inspector shall see that the face of the ballot including the coupon is exposed, and at the same time shall call off the ballot number to the member having charge of the polling book, who shall make certain that the ballot number and poll number agree, allowing for spoiled ballots, if any.

If the number of the ballot does not follow consecutively the missing number or numbers shall be written on a blank sheet of paper signed by the members of the district board and placed on the string with the coupons in its or their proper place or places.

19:15-26 Secrecy of balloting; violation
Every voter to whom a ballot is given shall thereupon retire into the polling booth. Not more than one voter, except as hereinafter provided, shall be permitted to enter or be in the same booth, at one time. The voter shall prepare his ballot in the booth secretly and screened from the observation of others.

Any person or voter who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:15-27. Method of marking ballot
To vote for any candidates whose names are printed in any column, the voter shall mark a cross x , plus + or check in ink or pencil in the square at the left of the name of each candidate in any column for whom he desires to vote to the number to be elected for each office.

To vote upon the public questions printed on the ballot the voter shall indicate his choice by marking a cross x , plus + or check in ink or pencil in the square at the left of either the word “Yes” or “No” of each public question.

19:15-28. Writing or pasting in names by voter
Nothing in this Title shall prevent any voter from writing or pasting under the proper title of office in the column designated personal choice the name or names of any person or persons for whom he desires to vote whose name or names are not printed upon the ballot for the same office or offices, and who shall mark a cross x , plus + or check in the square at the left of such name or names. Such writing shall be in ink or pencil. All pasters shall be printed with black ink on white paper.

19:15-29. Ballot spoiled by voter; procedure to obtain another
Should any voter to whom any official ballot has been handed spoil or render the same unfit for use, he may return it and obtain another from the district board, but no more than two official ballots shall be furnished to any voter, except at the discretion of the board.

The board shall preserve all the ballots, with their coupons attached, returned by a voter as spoiled or unfit for use, and after the proper correction has been made in the poll book and signature copy register or register of voters such ballot or ballots shall be placed upon the same string with the coupons.

19:15-30. Folding ballot; retention by voter until received by board
Before leaving the booth the voter shall fold his ballot so that no part of the face of it shall be visible and so as to display the face of the numbered coupon, and the ballot of such claimant shall remain in his hand until the board shall have decided to receive the same.

19:15-31. Delivery of ballot by voter to board; procedure thereon
He shall then hand the ballot with the coupon undetached to the member of the election board having charge of the ballot box, which member shall call off the number of the ballot and the name of the voter. If the name and number agree with the record in the poll book, the election officer having charge of the poll book shall so announce and place the word “voted” opposite the poll number to indicate that the person shown thereon as receiving the ballot has voted.

In districts having permanent registration the member of the board having charge of the signature copy register shall record the ballot number in the proper column of the record of voting form.

19:15-32. Ballot deposited in ballot box by member of board
Thereupon the member of the board having charge of the ballot box, without displaying any part of the face of the ballot, shall remove the coupon from the top of the ballot and place the ballot in the box and the coupon on a file string. The member of the board having charge of the ballot box shall keep the ballot in full view of the voter and the other election officers until it is deposited and the voter may take hold thereof, with the member of the board having charge of the ballot box, until it is actually deposited.

19:15-33. Ballot box filled
When one ballot box is filled with ballots the board shall seal the same and provide another box.

19:15-34. Time limit for challenging
The right to challenge voters shall exist until the ballot shall have been deposited in the ballot box, and the procedure in case the right of a person to vote is challenged shall be the same as herein prescribed when the right of a person to receive a ballot is challenged.

Chapter 16. Counting Ballots by District Boards

19:16-2. Votes counted publicly without adjournment
The district board shall then proceed forthwith to count the votes for each candidate or proposition and shall complete such count without delay or adjournment. The counting shall be open and public, but not to the extent that the number present shall hinder, delay or inconvenience the election officers in counting the ballots and ascertaining the result.

19:16-3. Counting votes; distinguishing marks; ballots improperly prepared
In canvassing the ballots the district board shall count the votes as follows:

a. If proper marks are made in the squares to the left of the names of any candidates in any column and the total number voted for, for each office, does not exceed the number of candidates to be elected to each office, a vote shall be counted for each candidate so marked.

b. If proper marks are made in the squares to the left of any names of any candidates in any column and in addition thereto, proper marks are made to the right of said names, a vote shall be counted for each candidate so marked; but if the district board canvassing the ballots or the county board, judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting a recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of such marks to the left and right of the names was intended to identify or distinguish the ballot, then the ballot shall not be counted and shall be declared null and void.

c. If no marks are made in the squares to the left of the names of any candidates in any column, but are made to the right of said names, a vote shall not be counted for the candidates so marked, but shall be counted for such other candidates as are properly marked; but if the district board canvassing the ballot or the county board, judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting a recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of the marks to the right of the names was intended to identify or distinguish the ballot, the ballot shall be declared null and void.

d. Where the name of any person is written or pasted in the column designated personal choice, and a cross x , plus + or check X appears in the square to the left of the name, it shall be counted as a vote for such person.

e. In the case of any public question printed on the ballot where a proper mark is made in the square to the left of the word “Yes,” it shall be counted as a vote in favor of such public question. If a proper mark is made in the square to the left of the word “No,” it shall be counted as a vote against same. If no mark is made in the square to the left of either the word “Yes,” or “No,” it shall not be counted as a vote either in favor of or against said public question. If a mark is made in each of the squares to the left of both the words “Yes” and “No,” it shall not be counted either as a vote in favor of or against the public question nor shall it invalidate the ballot.

f. If a voter marks more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or writes or pastes the name of any person in the column designated personal choice, whose name is printed upon the ballot as a candidate under the same title of office, or his choice cannot be determined, his ballot shall not be counted for that office, but shall be counted for such other offices as are plainly marked.

g. If the mark made for any candidate or public question is substantially a cross x , plus + or check X and is substantially within the square, it shall be counted for the candidate or for or against the public question, as the case may be. No vote shall be counted for any candidate in any column or for or against any public question unless the mark made is substantially a cross x , plus + or check X and is substantially within the square.

19:16-4. Void ballots; distinguishing marks
In counting the ballots the board shall deem null and void all ballots which are wholly blank, or on which more names have been marked for every office than there are persons to be elected to such office, and on which both “Yes” and “No” have been marked upon every public question. All ballots still remaining in the ballot box after ballots equal in number to the number of names of voters in the registry binders who have voted at such election inclusive of void ballots, have been counted shall be deemed null and void.

No ballot which shall have, either on its face or back, any mark, sign, erasure, designation or device whatsoever, other than is permitted by this Title, by which such ballot can be distinguished from another ballot, shall be declared null and void, unless the district board canvassing such ballots, or the county board, judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting the recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of the mark, sign, erasure, designation or device upon the ballot was intended to identify or distinguish the ballot.

No ballot shall be declared invalid by reason of the fact that the mark made with ink or the mark made with lead pencil appears other than black.

No ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the fact that the name of such candidate may be misprinted, or his Christian name or his initials may be omitted.

No ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the use of any paster permitted by this Title on which the title of office may be printed or the name of such candidate may be misprinted or part of his Christian or surname or initials may be omitted, or because the voter in writing the name of such candidate may misspell the same or omit part of his Christian name or surname or initials.

No ballot shall be declared null and void or invalid, by reason of having a cross x , plus + or check X appearing in a square at the left of a blank space, or a space wherein no name is printed.

19:16-5. Numbering and stringing void and partially void ballots
In every case in which a ballot shall be declared invalid, the same shall not be canvassed or counted, but shall be marked “void” on the outside thereof, and shall be numbered consecutively along with valid ballots, and shall be preserved like other ballots and placed in proper order on the string or wire with the valid ballots.

Ballots which shall be declared invalid with respect to a part of the officers to be voted for or public questions to be voted upon shall be canvassed, estimated and numbered with respect to the part which is not invalid and preserved as other ballots and placed in their proper order on the string with the valid ballots.

19:16-6. Majority decision of board final; dissents entered
The decision of a majority of the district board on any question shall be deemed the decision of the board and final. If any member of the board shall dissent from any such decision and shall desire to protect himself from the consequences which may result from such decision, such member may record his dissent, in cases relating to registration, in the register, and in all other cases, in the poll book of such election, signing his name to such record with his own hand, and unless he shall do so, he shall be deemed to have assented to the decision so made.

19:16-7. Reading and stringing of ballots
The board in the actual procedure of counting the ballots shall thereupon unlock and open the ballot box; the ballots shall then be taken singly and separately therefrom by the judge of the election, and while each ballot shall remain in his hands, he shall audibly and publicly read the same in full view of the inspector. The inspector shall be satisfied that the ballot is being correctly read by the judge.

After the reading of the ballot, including a ballot determined to be void, and before taking another ballot from the box, the judge shall fold the ballot to a size about five inches square, and shall deliver the same so folded to the inspector, who shall write on the back thereof the number of such ballot from one onward, in the order in which the same shall have been taken from the box; and shall string the ballot as one ticket in the order in which the same shall be taken from the box and numbered, by means of a needle and string to be provided for that purpose.

19:16-8. Tally sheets; entries; disposition
The clerks of the board, under its inspection and direction, shall each, upon a tally sheet provided for that purpose, make a list of the names of all persons for whom one or more votes shall have been given, designating the office which such person shall be voted for or any public question voted upon, upon two sheets known as tally sheets provided for that purpose; and as each ballot shall be read they shall write the figure “1” opposite the name of each person whose name shall be contained thereon, as designated for any office or in the proper column designating the vote upon the public question. One of the tally sheets shall be placed in the ballot box and the other shall be filed with the county clerk at the same time the statements of results are delivered.

19:16-9. Casting of totals; notation on tally sheets
When all the votes which shall have been received shall have been read, examined, numbered and strung, as above directed, the board shall carefully and accurately add up the votes given for each person for any office to be filled at such election or any public question and note the same upon the tally sheets, which tally sheets shall be signed by all the members of the district board.

19:16-10. Public announcement of results
After completing the same the chairman of the board shall audibly and publicly announce the result thereof, particularly specifying the whole number of the votes in the poll book, the name of each person for whom any vote shall have been given for any office to be filled by such election, and the number of votes for each person for the office designated for him by such votes, together with those cast upon any public question.

Chapter 17. Returns by District Boards

19:17-1. Statements of result of count of votes; number; form
After the district board shall have counted the ballots cast at such election it shall make quadruplicate statements of the result thereof in substantially the following form; provided, that if no officers or public questions were voted upon at the election by the voters of the entire State or of more than one county thereof or of a congressional district, such statements need only be made in triplicate:

Form of Statement

A statement of the result of an election held in the …….. ward of the ……… election district of the …….. of …….. in the county of …….. , on the …….. day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ……. , for a member of the Senate, members of the General Assembly, a sheriff and three coroners, for said county or as the case may be.

The whole number of names on the signature copy register or register of voters is ……. .

The whole number of names on the poll book is ………………… .

The whole number of ballots rejected is …………………….. .

For member of Senate,

received votes.

received votes.

For members of the General Assembly,

received votes.

received votes.

For sheriff,

received votes.

received votes.

For coroners,

received votes.

received votes.

For each public question,

received Yes votes.

received No votes.

Make under each head a list of the names of all the persons for whom any vote or votes were cast for the office or offices or cast upon any public question designated therein; state opposite to the same, in words written at full length, the number of votes cast for each person for such office or offices or votes cast upon any public question and fill in all other blanks in the form above given to conform to the facts of the case.

19:17-2. Certification of statement of result of count of votes; form
The district board shall then certify such statement in substantially the following form:

“We do certify that the foregoing is a true, full and correct statement of the result of the election above mentioned.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, this day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and

………………………………………….) District Board

…………………………………………..) of Registry

…………………………………………..) and Election.”

…………………………………………..)

No member of any district board shall sign any returns of election until after the completion of the counting of votes and his personal examination of the tally sheets to determine the correctness of the results.

19:17-3 Statements filed
After the district board shall have made up and certified such statements, it shall at the same time and with the ballot boxes, as hereinafter provided, deliver or safely transmit one of the statements to the clerk of the municipality wherein such election is held, who shall forthwith file the same. In counties having a superintendent of elections one of such statements shall forthwith be filed with the superintendent of elections of the county. The superintendent may arrange to accept such certificates in such municipality within the county at the office of the clerk of such municipality or some other convenient place. Any municipal clerk who shall refuse to permit such superintendent or his deputies or assistants access to his office for the purpose of collecting such certificates or any municipal clerk or other person who shall interfere or obstruct the superintendent, his deputies or assistants in the collection of such certificates, or any member of a district board who shall willfully fail or refuse to deliver such statement to the superintendent, his deputies or assistants as the case may be, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. In all counties the board shall, immediately after election, deliver or safely transmit another of the statements to the clerk of the county, who shall forthwith file the same.

For a school election a statement shall also be delivered to the board of education of the district holding the election and to the county superintendent of schools in the county in which the district is situated.

If officers were voted for or public questions were voted upon at the election by the voters of the entire State or of more than one county thereof, or of a congressional district, then the board shall, immediately after the election, inclose, seal up and transmit the fourth statement to the Attorney General by mail in stamped envelopes to be furnished by the Attorney General, addressing the same in the following manner: “To the Attorney General of New Jersey, Trenton, New Jersey.” Upon receiving such statements the Attorney General shall forthwith file the same in his office.

19:17-5. Penalty for failure to deliver proper statements, books and other articles
If any district board neglects to give the following information on the statements of results: the total number of names on the signature copy register or register of voters, the total number of ballots rejected, the number of votes given for each person, and the number of votes given for or against each public question, or fails to deliver or safely transmit any statement of the result of any election, tally sheet, signature copy registers, register of voters, ballot box or boxes, ballot box keys, flag or any other document or book pertaining to any election, within the time required by this Title, or destroys or damages, or causes or allows any loose leaf binder, registry book or other book or document to be destroyed or damaged or fails to perform any duties provided by this Title or imposed by the county board or by the commissioner, the payment of part or all of the compensation of the members of the board shall be withheld by the county treasurer or collector, as the case may be, by order of the county board or the commissioner, as the case may be, or may be forfeited by like order; and the Secretary of State or the clerk of the county or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall certify to the county board the name of any district board so failing to deliver or transmit such statements, books, documents or articles as hereinbefore mentioned.

In case of failure of a district board to produce the required statements, books or other documents within twenty-four hours after being notified, the county board may make application to the Superior Court for an order to show cause why the members of such district board shall not be held in contempt of court for such neglect or failure, and punished accordingly.

Chapter 18. Disposition of Ballot Boxes, Election Records and Equipment

19:18-1 Election records placed in ballot box; inspection of signature copy records in counties having superintendent of elections; compelling production
As soon as the election shall be finished and the votes canvassed and the statements made and certified by the district board as herein required, all ballots which have been cast, whether the same have been canvassed and counted or rejected for any cause, and one tally sheet, spoiled and unused ballots, shall be carefully collected and deposited in the ballot box.

In all municipalities the signature copy registers shall not be placed in the ballot box but shall be delivered immediately by the district board to the commissioner of registration.

In order to carry out his duties, any superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections shall have access and be permitted to inspect and examine any and all signature copy registers for said county for any election which may have been or shall be held in said county and any official or person having possession or custody of same who shall refuse to deliver said signature copy registers to the office of said superintendent of elections forthwith upon demand having been made upon him by said superintendent of elections as aforesaid shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Unless the said official having custody or possession of said signature copy registers shall forthwith produce the same at the office of the superintendent of elections when demanded by him so to do, the said superintendent of elections may apply to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county and such judge shall forthwith make an order directing the official having possession or custody of the said signature copy registers to produce them at once in the court in which said judge may be sitting, and upon their being produced said judge shall deliver the same to the superintendent of elections.

19:18-2. Ballot boxes delivered to municipal clerks
The ballot box, after being locked and bound with tape and sealed, shall in all municipalities be immediately taken in charge by 2 members of the district board. It shall then be delivered to the office of the clerk of the municipality in which the election may be held, by said members or by said members with the assistance of an officer or officers to be designated by the governing body thereof, by the most direct route and without delay, and such members or officers shall not stop at any place between the polls and the municipal clerk’s office.

When the municipal governing body designates an officer or officers to assist said members in transmitting the ballot boxes it shall provide for suitable transportation.

19:18-3. Municipal clerk’s office open until all ballot boxes delivered; record of times of delivery
The clerk of the municipality shall attend at his office on election day, or appoint one of the clerks in his office to act for him, and keep his office open from the time the polls shall be closed until all the ballot boxes used at the various polls in the municipality at such election shall have been delivered at his office.

The clerk of the municipality or his subordinate whom he may have appointed to act in his stead shall enter in a book to be kept for that purpose the exact time when each ballot box may be delivered at such office, the district whence it was brought, names of the members of the district board delivering it, and the name of the police officer or other witness who may accompany them, and any other particulars he may deem important; such book shall be filed in the office of the municipal clerk and be preserved by him for two years.

19:18-4. Preservation of ballot boxes and contents; when contents removable
Every municipal clerk to whom the ballot boxes shall be delivered shall thereupon keep the same, with their contents, but shall not have the keys thereof in his possession until required for the next ensuing election, and shall not open or permit to be taken or opened any ballot box for the space of three months after the same has been so deposited, except when he shall be called upon by some court or other tribunal authorized to try the merits of such election or to take testimony regarding the same; and after such trial or investigation the clerk shall have such box or boxes returned to be held for any purpose within the time that same are required to remain in his custody.

After the space of three months the municipal clerk may remove the contents thereof and preserve the same for two years, and permit the ballot boxes to be used at any election, unless an order shall have been made directing a recount of the ballots contained therein, or a petition filed contesting any nomination or election necessitating the use of the ballots contained in such boxes, within the time limited by law.

When any election is required to be held for any purpose within such three months, the judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county, upon application of the governing body of any municipality, may direct that the contents of such ballot boxes be removed and preserved for two years and that these ballot boxes be used at such election.

19:18-5. Register of voters in municipalities not having permanent registration filed with county clerk
Not later than noon of the day following the canvass of the votes cast at the general election the register of voters, kept and checked by the district boards in municipalities not having permanent registration, shall be filed by the boards with the county clerk.

19:18-6. Ballot box keys deposited with county clerk
Not later than noon of the day following the canvass of the votes the keys of each ballot box shall be deposited by a member of the district board with the county clerk.

19:18-7. Preservation of records; sale as waste paper
All registry books and statements of results of elections required to be filed with the Secretary of State, the superintendent of elections, the county clerks of the various counties and the municipal clerks of the various municipalities shall be preserved by such officials for a period of five years after the holding of any election at which they were used, and all ballots, used or unused, for any election shall be preserved by such officials for a period of two years after the holding of any election, and thereafter shall be sold by such officials as waste paper, the proceeds to be paid into the State, county and municipal treasuries, respectively. The several county and municipal clerks may also sell all registry books which have been on file in their office for a period of five years, the proceeds to be paid into the county and municipal treasury, respectively.

19:18-8. Inspection of ballot boxes, books and documents by Superior Court
A judge of the Superior Court may at any time for satisfactory reasons shown, and when he deems it necessary, issue an order for the opening of any ballot box or boxes and the removal of the contents thereof and for the removal from the file of any municipal or county office of any documents and books for any necessary purpose, which order shall also set forth the return of such contents to the ballot box or boxes and their return together with the documents and books to the files of the office from which the same were removed.

Chapter 19. Canvass of Returns by Board of County Canvassers

Article 1. Meeting and Adjournments

19:19-1. Time and place of meeting; tabulation by clerk of statements of district boards and combined results
The board of county canvassers of each county shall meet on the Monday next, after any such election, at 12 o’clock noon, at the courthouse of the county, for the purpose of checking the canvass which shall have been made by the county clerk from the statements of the district boards filed in his office as hereinbefore provided. For such purpose the county clerk shall have prepared a compilation in tabulated form of such statements and the combined results shown thereby for the use of the board of canvassers.

19:19-2. Absence of county clerk; substitute
If the clerk of the county shall be absent from the meeting at the time appointed therefor, the board shall forthwith proceed to appoint a fit person to be its clerk, who shall obtain such statements from the office of such clerk.

19:19-3. Oath of substitute clerk
Before proceeding to canvass and estimate the votes the chairman of the board shall administer to the person appointed as clerk in the absence of the county clerk an oath or affirmation in the following form: “You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will faithfully execute the duties of the clerk of this board according to law.”

19:19-4. Adjournment of meeting
If on the day appointed for the meeting of such board, a major part thereof shall not attend at the courthouse of the county at the hour of twelve o’clock noon, or if at that time the statements of the result of such election from every election district in the county shall not be produced, the members of the board present shall adjourn to some convenient hour on the next day.

19:19-5. Statements obtained
If such adjournment is occasioned by the fact that at the time fixed for the meeting of the board the statements from every election district have not been filed with the clerk of the county, such clerk shall forthwith, by a special messenger, or otherwise, at the expense of the county, obtain the statement or statements that shall be lacking, in time to be produced to the board at its next meeting, and for this purpose the statements directed to be filed with the clerk of any municipality wherein such election was held, or those directed to be filed with the county clerk, or a copy certified by the secretary of state of the statements transmitted to him, shall be sufficient. The clerk of the board shall lay before it, at its subsequent meeting, all the statements and certified copies that he shall have obtained as above directed.

19:19-6. Second adjournment of meeting
At the hour to which such adjournment shall have been ordered, the member or members present may proceed as hereinafter directed, or may again adjourn for a period not exceeding three days, at which time the member or members present shall so proceed. The board is hereby authorized to reconvene at any time for the purpose of correcting any errors.

19:19-7. Custody of statements during adjournment
When such board shall find it necessary to adjourn, as herein provided, all statements of the result of an election which shall have been delivered to it or to any member thereof, shall in the presence of the board, and before it shall adjourn, be securely inclosed and sealed and delivered to the county clerk for safe-keeping until the next meeting of the board.

Article 2. Procedure on Canvass;  Statements and Certificates

19:19-8. Canvass and statement of result of election
The members of the board shall proceed to examine the statements and copies of statements produced before them and shall canvass and determine the votes cast at such election; and shall forthwith make four statements of the result of such election; but if no officers were voted for or public questions were voted upon at the election by the voters of the entire State or of more than one county thereof or of a congressional district, one statement shall be sufficient.

19:19-9. Contents of statement of canvass; certification
Each of such statements shall contain the name of each election district, the number of names on the signature copy register or the register of voters, the number of names of the voters on the poll books of each election district, and of the ballots rejected, and the whole number of such names registered and rejected ballots in all of such election districts; the number of votes cast in each election district for each person for whom any vote or votes shall have been cast for any office to be filled or any public question to be voted upon at the election, mentioning the office for which each person shall have been designated and the name of such person (which numbers of names and numbers of votes cast, and of ballots rejected, may be in figures), and the whole number of votes which shall have been given for each person for any such office, mentioning the office for which each person shall have been designated, and the name of the person (which numbers of votes and the names of persons and election districts shall be in words, written at full length).

There shall also be specified in the statements each public question voted upon at the election and the votes cast thereupon.

Each of the statements shall be certified to be true and correct by a certificate which shall be appended to the same, signed by the members of the board making the canvass.

19:19-10. Form of statement of canvass
The statements shall be in substantially the following form: “A statement of the result of election held in the county of , on the day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and , to elect a member of the senate, members of the general assembly, a sheriff and coroners of said county (naming the officers as the case may be), together with the public questions voted upon, made by the board of county canvassers of said county.”

19:19-11. Form of certificate to statement of canvass
The certificate shall be in substantially the following form: “I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true, full and correct statement of the result of the election above-mentioned, as the same is exhibited by the statements produced and laid before the board of county canvassers according to law, and that the same exhibits the number of the names in the signature copy registers and the registers of voters, the number of names of the voters in the poll books of the election districts, respectively, and of the ballots rejected, the whole number of the names in the signature copy registers and the registers of voters, the whole number of names of the voters in the poll books of the several election districts, the name of each person for whom any vote or votes were cast, the number of votes cast for each person in each election district, and the whole number of votes cast for each person for each office designated, and also specifies each public question voted upon and the number of votes cast thereupon in each election district respectively, and the whole number of votes cast thereupon in the several election districts as they appear by the statements so produced and laid before the said board. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this day of , in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and Chairman of the board of county canvassers. Attest: , Clerk.”

19:19-12. Statements to county clerk and chairmen of Republican and Democratic State Committees
The board shall deliver one of the statements to the clerk of the county, who shall forthwith file the same, and one statement to the respective chairmen of the Republican and Democratic State Committees.

19:19-13. Other statement delivered to secretary of state
The clerk of the board shall inclose and seal up the other statement and deliver or safely transmit the same so inclosed and sealed up, to the secretary of state at Trenton, so that he shall receive the same within three days next after the meeting of the board, and he shall forthwith file the same.

19:19-14. Statements of results by district boards preserved
All the statements made by the district boards and copies of such statements which shall be produced and laid before the board shall, by it be delivered to the clerk of the county, and shall be filed and preserved by him in his office for a period of five years.

19:19-15. Secretary of state to procure missing statements
If the secretary of state shall not, on or before the seventh day after the time appointed for the meeting of the board of canvassers in the several counties, have received the statements of the result of such election in every county hereinbefore directed to be delivered or transmitted to him by the clerk of the board, such secretary shall forthwith, by a special messenger or otherwise, obtain the statement or statements as are lacking; and for this purpose a copy of the statement directed to be filed with the clerk of the county, certified by such clerk, shall be sufficient.

19:19-16. Defective statements completed by secretary of state
When and as soon as such secretary shall receive or obtain any statement of the result of such election, in any county, in the manner hereinbefore provided for, he shall ascertain whether or not the statement includes the statement of the results of the election in every election district of the county; and if it appears to him that the statement of the result of election in any election district is not exhibited by or included in the statement of the result of the election in the county, he shall forthwith ascertain whether or not a copy of the lacking statement has been received in his office; and if it appears to him that such copy has not been so received, he shall forthwith, by special messenger or otherwise, obtain a copy of the statement directed to be filed with the clerk of the county, or with the clerk of any municipality within the county, certified by such clerk, which shall be sufficient.

19:19-17. Statements delivered to messenger of secretary of state
The district board, the clerk or the chairman of the board of canvassers of any county, or any other person who shall be in possession of any statement, or copy of any statement, which shall have been made and subscribed under the provisions of this title, shall forthwith, on application by any messenger who shall have been dispatched for the same by the secretary of state, deliver to the messenger such statement or copy. The messenger shall be commissioned as such in writing, under the hand and official seal of the secretary of state, and shall exhibit his commission to the person to whom he shall apply for such statement or copy; and when he shall have obtained the statement or copy he shall forthwith deliver the same to the secretary of state.

Chapter 20. Determination of Results by Board of County Canvassers

19:20-1. Scope of authority
The board of county canvassers, in case of officers voted for or public questions voted upon exclusively by the voters of a single county or any political subdivision thereof, except for any congressional district or part of a congressional district, shall proceed to determine what officers have been elected, and the result of the vote cast upon any public question setting forth that it was approved or rejected.

19:20-2. Statement of determination
The board in the case of an election for a member of the senate, members of the general assembly, or other officer elected or public question approved or rejected by all of the voters of the county, except for members of the house of representatives, shall make two statements of its determination in substantially the following form:

“A statement of the determination of the board of county canvassers relative to an election held in the county of on the day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and , for the election of a member of the senate, members of the general assembly of this state, and a sheriff and coroners for said county and public questions (naming the officers and public questions, as the case may be).

The said board does determine that at the said election, was duly elected a member of the senate of this state; were duly elected members of the general assembly; was duly elected sheriff and were duly elected coroners for said county, and public questions were approved or rejected (as the case may be).”

19:20-3. Certification of statement; form
The board shall thereupon certify such statement to be true and correct, by a certificate appended to the same, and signed by the chairman of the board in the presence of the clerk of the board:

“I do certify that the foregoing is a true, full and correct statement of the determination of the board of canvassers therein mentioned.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and

Chairman of the board of county canvassers.

Attest: , Clerk.”

The clerk of the board shall attest the signing of the same by the chairman by signing his name thereto.

19:20-4. Statements and certifications filed with county clerk
One of the statements of such determination, and the certificate thereto, shall be annexed to one of the statements of the results of the canvass of the election, and delivered therewith to the clerk of the county and filed in his office.

19:20-5. Certificates to successful candidates; signing and attestation
The chairman of the board, in the case of an election for senator or members of the assembly, or for any officer voted for by the voters of the entire county or of any subdivision thereof, except for members of the house of representatives, shall issue a certificate to the successful candidate based upon the statement of the determination of the board, and shall sign his name thereto, which shall be attested by the clerk of the board by signing his name and affixing the seal of the county. The clerk shall without delay deliver one of such certificates to each person who shall be so elected.

19:20-6. Statement of result of canvass for secretary of state
In the case of a state senator, member of the general assembly or any county officer, or any public questions to be voted upon by the voters of the entire state or any political subdivision thereof greater than a county, the board shall inclose, seal up and transmit one of the statements of the results of the canvass of the election, together with one of the statements of the determination and the certificate thereto annexed, to the secretary of state at Trenton within five days next after the meeting of the board, who shall file the same in his office.

19:20-7. Certificate prima facie evidence of legislator’s right to seat
In the organization of the senate and general assembly the certificates so issued by the board based upon such statements of its determination shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the right of the persons therein mentioned to seats in the houses, respectively, to which they shall have been so determined to be elected.

19:20-8. Statements and certificates filed with municipal clerks
The board in the case of officers elected or public questions approved or rejected by the voters of a municipality or part thereof shall in the same manner and form make, certify and sign as many statements as to its determination and certificates thereto annexed, together with the statements of the results of the canvass of the election, as there are municipalities concerned, and file the same with the clerks of such municipalities.

19:20-9. Certificates issued to successful municipal candidates; signing and attestation
The chairman of the board, in the case of an election of officers of a municipality or part thereof, or public questions voted upon in such municipalities, shall issue a certificate to the successful candidate and also a certificate of the approval or rejection of any public question, based upon the statement of the determination of the board, and shall sign his name thereto, which shall be attested by the clerk of the board by signing his name and affixing the seal of the county. The clerk shall without delay deliver such certificates to the various municipal clerks, who shall without delay deliver one of the same to each person who shall be elected.

Chapter 21. Canvass of Returns by Board of State Canvassers

Article 1. Meeting

19:21-1 Time and place
a. The Board of State Canvassers shall meet at Trenton as soon as practicable but no later than the 28th day after the day of election, for the purpose of canvassing and estimating the votes cast for each person for whom any vote or votes shall have been cast for one or more members of the United States senate or of the house of representatives, or for electors of president and vice president, or for governor and lieutenant governor, or for members of the Legislature, and upon each public question voted upon by the voters of the entire state or political division thereof greater than a county and of determining and declaring the person or persons who shall, by the greatest number of votes, have been duly elected to such office or offices, and the result of the vote cast upon any public question setting forth that it was approved or rejected.

b. For the purpose of canvassing and estimating the votes cast for each person for whom any vote or votes shall have been cast in any special election, the board shall meet in Trenton as soon as practicable but no later than the 28th day after the day of the special election.

19:21-2. Substitutes for absentee members
If a number of the members of the Legislature who shall have been summoned as members of the board sufficient to constitute it shall not attend the meeting thereof, the chairman shall summon as members of the board as many fit persons who shall possess the qualifications required for members of the General Assembly as shall be necessary to complete the number required to constitute the board.

19:21-3. Oath of members
The chairman of the board shall administer, and each member thereof shall take, an oath or affirmation in the following form: “You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will faithfully and impartially execute the duties of a member of this board according to law” ; and thereupon one of the members of the board, to be appointed by it for that purpose, shall administer to the chairman thereof an oath or affirmation in the same form as that which shall have been taken by the other members.

19:21-4. Clerk of board absent; appointment of replacement; oath
If the clerk of the board be absent from such meeting at the time appointed therefor, the chairman of the board shall forthwith, after the oaths or affirmations shall have been administered and taken, proceed to appoint a fit person to be the clerk of the board; and before proceeding to canvass and estimate the votes, the chairman of the board shall administer to the clerk thereof, and such clerk shall take, an oath or affirmation in the following form: “You do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will faithfully execute the duties of clerk of this board.”

Article 2. Procedure on Canvass

19:21-5. Statements presented by secretary of state or designee
The Secretary of State or the secretary’s designee shall thereupon produce and lay before the board all statements and copies relating to such election which the secretary shall have received or obtained, as hereinbefore provided. If he shall neglect to produce and lay before the board or shall withhold any such statement or copy received or obtained by him, the chairman of the board shall forthwith summon the secretary or the secretary’s designee, as appropriate, to appear and produce and lay before the board the statement or copy, and thereupon the secretary or the secretary’s designee shall forthwith produce and lay the same before the board.

19:21-6. Statement and certification of canvass
The board shall forthwith canvass such statements and proceed to make a statement of the result of the election in the state; the statement shall contain the whole number of names of the voters in all the signature copy registers and registers of voters, the whole number of the names of the voters in all the poll books and the whole number of ballots rejected in the state, the names of all the persons for whom any vote or votes shall have been given for any office or offices to be filled at such election, and the whole number of the votes which shall have been given to each person for any such office or offices, mentioning the office or offices for which each person shall have been designated, together with the results of the votes cast upon any public questions voted upon by the voters of the entire state or of any political subdivision thereof greater than a county, and shall contain the name of each county, the number of names in the poll books in the counties respectively, the number of votes given for each person in each county for any such office or offices. In such statement the name of each person for whom any vote or votes shall have been given, the whole number of votes given for each person, and the name of each county, shall be in words written at full length.

The whole number of names of the voters in all the signature copy registers and registers of voters, and the whole number of the names of the voters in all the poll books and the whole number of ballots rejected in the state, together with the result of the votes cast upon any public questions voted upon by the voters of the entire state or any political subdivision thereof greater than a county, the number of names of the voters in all the signature copy registers and registers of voters and the number of names in the poll books and the number of ballots rejected in the counties respectively, together with the result of the votes cast upon any public questions voted upon by the voters of the entire state or any political subdivision thereof greater than a county, and the number of votes given for each person in each county may be in figures.

Such statement shall be certified to be true and correct by a certificate appended to the same; and the chairman of the board shall sign his name thereto in the presence of the clerk of the board, which such clerk shall attest by signing his name thereto.

19:21-7. Form of statement and certificate
Such statement and certificate appended thereto shall be in a form similar to that hereinbefore prescribed for the board of county canvassers, as far as the nature of such election will admit.

Chapter 22. Determination of Results by Board of State Canvassers

19:22-1. Statement of determination
When such statement and certificate shall have been made and subscribed, the board shall proceed to determine the person or persons who shall, by the greatest number of votes, have been duly elected to the office or offices for which he or they shall have been designated, together with the result of the vote cast upon any public question setting forth that it was approved or rejected; and thereupon the board shall make a statement of its determination.

19:22-2. Basis of statement
The board shall base the statement of the result of the canvass of such election in the state and its determination as to the person or persons who shall have been elected, or any public question approved or rejected therein upon the statements of the result of the election, or the copies of the statements which shall have been made by the board of county canvassers in the several counties, and laid before the board.

If it appears by any such statement from any county, that the statement of the result of such election in any election district of the county is not exhibited by or included in such statement, the board shall give full force and effect to the statement of the result of the election in such district, or the copy of the statement, which shall be laid before it by the secretary of state as hereinbefore directed.

19:22-3. Certification and signing of statement
Such statement shall be certified to be true and correct by a certificate appended to same; and the chairman of the board shall sign his name thereto, in the presence of the clerk thereof, which such clerk shall attest by signing his name thereto.

19:22-4. Form of statement and certificate
The statement of such determination and the certificate appended thereto shall be in a form similar to that hereinbefore prescribed for the board of county canvassers, as far as the nature of such election will admit.

19:22-5. Statements filed with secretary of state
The statement of determination shall be annexed to the statement of the result of the canvass of such election; and both of the statements and certificates attached thereto shall forthwith be delivered to the secretary of state, who shall file the same in his office. All the statements and copies of statements which shall have been produced and laid before the board shall be delivered to the secretary of state, and by him filed in his office.

19:22-6. Certificates to successful candidates by secretary of state
The secretary of state shall issue a certificate to each successful candidate, based upon a statement of the determination of the board of state canvassers, and shall sign his name thereto and affix the seal of the state, and shall without delay deliver the same to each of the persons who shall be so elected.

19:22-7. Certificates of election for members of United States senate or house of representatives
In case of an election for one or more members of the United States senate or of the house of representatives, the secretary of state shall prepare a general certificate of the election of such member or members of the United States senate and one of the member or members of the house of representatives, and lay the same before the governor, who shall sign his name thereto in the presence of such secretary, which the secretary shall attest by signing his name thereto, and shall thereupon affix the seal of the state thereto and transmit the same forthwith to the clerk of the United States senate and of the house of representatives, as the case may be, if they shall then be in session, and if not, then at their first meeting.

19:22-8 Certificates of election of presidential and vice presidential electors
In case of an election for electors of president and vice president of the United States:

a. The secretary shall prepare a general certificate of the election of such electors, and lay the same before the Governor, who shall sign his name thereto, in the presence of such secretary, which the secretary shall attest by signing his name thereto, and shall thereupon affix the seal of the State thereto, and deliver the same to the president of the college of electors of this State, on the day and at the time and place appointed for the meeting of such college;
b. The secretary shall also prepare a general certificate or certificates, as the case may be, of the electors who were not elected, and lay the same before the Governor, who shall sign his name thereto, in the presence of such secretary, which the secretary shall attest by signing his name thereto, and shall thereupon affix the seal of the State thereto, and deliver the same to the president of the college of electors of this State, on the day and at the time and place appointed for the meeting of such college;
c. Only one general certificate shall be certified as the elector slate for the purpose of electing the president and vice president of the United States. In any year in which, on July 20, the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement, the elector slate for the purpose of electing the president and vice president shall be certified in accordance with section 1 of this act, P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4).

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Subtitle 3 – Primary Elections

Chapter 23. Primary for General Election

Article 1. Notice of Elections

19:23-1 State committee to county committees; county committees to municipal clerks
The chairman of the State committee of a political party shall, on or before March 1 in the year when a Governor is to be elected, notify in writing the chairman of each county committee of such party of the number of male or female members or members with less than one full vote to be elected from the county at the ensuing primary election for the general election, and each such chairman shall, on or before April 1 of such year, send a copy of such notice to the county clerk.

The chairman of each county committee shall also, on or before April 1 in each year, file with the clerks of the several municipalities the number of committeemen to be elected at the ensuing primary for the general election to the county committee.

Article 2. Registry Book—Municipalities Not Having Permanent Registration [Repealed]

Article 3. Nomination of Candidates

19:23-5. Party candidates for primary nominated by members of same party by petition
Candidates to be voted for at the primary election for the general election shall be nominated exclusively by the members of the same political party by petition in the manner herein provided.

19:23-6. Address of petitions
Petitions nominating candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout the entire State or of any subdivisions thereof more than a single county or any congressional district shall be addressed to the Secretary of State. Petitions nominating candidates for election to the Senate or General Assembly shall be addressed to the Secretary of State. Petitions nominating candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout a county or any county election district or subdivision of a county comprising more than a single municipality, shall be addressed to the clerk of the county. All other petitions shall be addressed to the clerks of municipalities.

19:23-7. Contents of petition; certificate; oath of allegiance
Each such petition shall set forth that the signers thereof are qualified voters of the State, congressional district, county, or county election district, municipality, ward or election district, as the case may be, in which they reside and for which they desire to nominate candidates; that they are members of a political party (naming the same), and that they intend to affiliate with that political party at the ensuing election; that they indorse the person or persons named in their petition as candidate or candidates for nomination for the office or offices therein named, and that they request that the name of the person or persons therein mentioned be printed upon the official primary ballots of their political party as the candidate or candidates for such nomination. The petition shall further state the residence and post-office address of each person so indorsed, and shall certify that the person or persons so indorsed is or are legally qualified under the laws of this State to be nominated, and is or are a member or members of the political party named in the petition.

Accompanying the petition, each person indorsed therein shall file a certificate, stating that he is qualified for the office mentioned in the petition, that he is a member of the political party named therein, that he consents to stand as a candidate for nomination at the ensuing primary election of such political party, and that, if nominated, he consents to accept the nomination, to which shall be annexed the oath of allegiance prescribed in R.S.41:1-1, duly taken and subscribed by him before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State.

Each petition shall be arranged to contain double spacing between the signature lines of the petition, so that each signer thereof is afforded sufficient space to provide his or her printed name, address and signature.

Any form of a petition of nomination, other than petitions for federal office, which is provided to candidates by the Secretary of State, the county clerk, or the municipal clerk shall contain the following notice: “Notice: All candidates are required by law to comply with the provisions of the ‘New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.’ For further information, please call (insert phone number of the Election Law Enforcement Commission).”

19:23-8. Numbers of signers to petitions
The petitions for candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout the entire State shall in the aggregate be signed by at least 1,000 such voters; in the case of candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout a congressional district by at least 200 of such voters; in the case of candidates for the Senate and General Assembly at least 100 such voters; in the case of candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout a county or any county election district, by at least 100 of such voters; in the case of candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout a municipality having a population in excess of 14,000 as ascertained by the last Federal census by at least 50 of such voters; in the case of candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout all other municipalities or any ward of any municipality by at least 25 of such voters; in the case of a candidate to be voted for by the voters of a political party within a single election district by at least 10 of such voters.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, in the case of petitions for candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party throughout any municipality, ward, or election district, the number of signers of any such petition may be fewer than the minimum number specified above but shall be at least 5% in number of the total vote cast by the voters of that political party at the last preceding primary election held for the election of that party’s candidates for the General Assembly. In no case, however, shall there be fewer than one signer of any such petition.

19:23-10 Single or several petitions; signing rules and regulations.
Not all of the names of petitioners need be signed to a single petition, but any number of petitions of the same purport may be filed; but in the aggregate the signatures thereto indorsing any one person shall be the number required by this title. The signers to petitions shall not therein indorse or recommend more persons as candidates for the position than are to be chosen at the ensuing primary election in the State or political subdivision in which the signers to the petition reside, nor shall such signers indorse more persons as candidates for nomination to office than are to be elected in the state or political subdivision.

No member of one political party shall sign his name to any petition purporting to indorse any person as a candidate for office of another political party.

A candidate shall be permitted to sign or circulate, or both sign and circulate, the petition required for that candidate to seek nomination for elective office.

19:23-11 Verification of petition.
Such petitions shall be verified by the oath or affirmation by affidavit of the person who circulates each petition, including a candidate who signs or circulates, or both signs and circulates, such a petition, taken and subscribed before a person qualified under the laws of New Jersey to administer an oath, to the effect that the affiant personally circulated the petition; that the petition is signed by each of the signers thereof in his proper handwriting; that the signers are to the best knowledge and belief of the affiant legal voters of the State or political subdivision thereof, as the case may be, as stated in the petition, belong to the political party named in the petition; and that the petition is prepared and filed in absolute good faith for the sole purpose of indorsing the person or persons therein named, in order to secure his or their nomination or selection as stated in such petition. The person who circulates the petition shall be a registered voter in this State whose party affiliation is of the same political party named in the petition.

19:23-12 Vacancy committee named in petition; filling vacancies; certificate; oath of allegiance and statement regarding criminal convictions
The signers to petitions for “Choice for President,” delegates and alternates to national conventions, for Governor, United States Senator, member of the House of Representatives, State Senator, member of the General Assembly and any county office may name three persons in their petition as a committee on vacancies.

This committee shall have power in case of death or resignation or otherwise of the person indorsed as a candidate in said petition to fill such vacancy by filing with the Secretary of State in the case of officers to be voted for by the voters of the entire State or a portion thereof involving more than one county thereof or any congressional district, and with the county clerk in the case of officers to be voted for by the voters of the entire county or any county election district, a certificate of nomination to fill the vacancy.

Such certificate shall set forth the cause of the vacancy, the name of the person nominated and that he is a member of the same political party as the candidate for whom he is substituted, the office for which he is nominated, the name of the person for whom the new nominee is to be substituted, the fact that the committee is authorized to fill vacancies and such further information as is required to be given in any original petition of nomination.

The certificate so made shall be executed and sworn to by the members of such committee, and shall upon being filed at least 55 days before election have the same force and effect as the original petition of nomination for the primary election for the general election and there shall be annexed thereto the oath of allegiance prescribed in R.S.41:1-1 duly taken and subscribed by the person so nominated before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State. The name of the candidate submitted shall be immediately certified to the proper municipal clerks. In addition, a person so nominated for the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly shall annex to the certificate a statement signed by the candidate that he or she:

a. has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or

b. has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.

19:23-13. Vacancies caused by death or declining the office; new petition; oath of allegiance
Should any person indorsed in any petition as a candidate to be voted for at any primary election, except for the office of “Choice for President,” delegates and alternates to national conventions, Governor, United States Senator, member of the House of Representatives, State Senator, members of the General Assembly, and any county office, die within three days after the last day for filing such petition, or in writing filed within three days after the last day for filing such petition with the county clerk or municipal clerk with whom such petition had been filed, decline to stand as a candidate, the vacancy or vacancies thus caused shall be filled by a majority of the persons signing the petition in and by which the person so dying or declining was indorsed, filing within three days after the occurrence of the vacancy with the municipal clerk, a new petition, setting forth the name of the person dying or declining the office for which he was indorsed, and the name of the person to be substituted, to which shall be annexed the oath of allegiance prescribed in section 41:1-1 of the Revised Statutes duly taken and subscribed by the person so nominated before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State.

Such petition shall be verified by three of the signers, and shall have the same force and effect as the original petition.

19:23-14 Filing petitions; certifying names; transmittal to Election Law Enforcement Commission
Petitions addressed to the Secretary of State, the county clerks, or the municipal clerks shall be filed with such officers, respectively, before 4:00 p.m. of the 64th day next preceding the day of the holding of the primary election for the general election.

Not later than the close of business of the 54th day preceding the primary election for the general election, the municipal clerk shall certify to the county clerk the full and correct names and addresses of all candidates for nomination for public and party office and the name of the political party of which such persons are candidates together with their slogan and designation. The county clerk shall transmit this information to the Election Law Enforcement Commission in the form and manner prescribed by the commission and shall notify the commission immediately upon the withdrawal of a petition of nomination.

19:23-15 Acceptance by candidate to accompany petitions; oath of allegiance and statement regarding criminal convictions
Accompanying the petition and attached thereto each person indorsed therein shall file a certificate, stating that he is qualified for the office mentioned in the petition; that he consents to stand as a candidate for nomination at the ensuing primary election, and that if nominated, he agrees to accept the nomination. Such acceptance shall certify that the candidate is a resident of and a legal voter in the jurisdiction of the office for which the nomination is to be made and there shall be annexed thereto the oath of allegiance prescribed in section 41:1-1 of the Revised Statutes duly taken and subscribed by the person so nominated before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State.

No candidate who has accepted the nomination by a direct petition of nomination for the general election shall sign an acceptance to a petition of nomination for such office for the primary election. In addition, no candidate named in a petition for the office of member of the House of Representatives shall sign an acceptance if the candidate has signed an acceptance for the primary nomination or any other petition of nomination for the office of member of the House of Representatives in another congressional district in the same calendar year.

Each person indorsed as a candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly shall annex to such petitions a statement signed by the candidate that he or she:

a. has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or

b. has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.

If the same person is nominated for the same office in more than one petition, the statement shall be annexed to one of such petitions.

19:23-16 Acceptance by persons nominated by writing or pasting names on ballot; certificate; oath of allegiance and statement regarding criminal convictions
Any person nominated at the primary by having his name written or pasted upon the primary ballot shall file a certificate stating that he is qualified for the office for which he has been nominated, that he is a resident of and a legal voter in the jurisdiction of the office for which the nomination is made and that he consents to stand as a candidate at the ensuing general election to which shall be annexed the oath of allegiance prescribed in section 41:1-1 of the Revised Statutes duly taken and subscribed by the person so nominated before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State.

In addition, a person so nominated for the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly shall annex to the certificate a statement signed by the candidate that he or she:

a. has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or

b. has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.

Such acceptance shall be filed within seven days after the holding of the primary with the county clerk in the case of county and municipal offices and with the Attorney General for all other offices.

19:23-17. Designation on primary ticket of policy or faction
Any person indorsed as a candidate for nomination for any public office or party position whose name is to be voted for on the primary ticket of any political party, may, by indorsement on the petition of nomination in which he is indorsed, request that there be printed opposite his name on the primary ticket a designation, in not more than six words, as named by him in such petition, for the purpose of indicating either any official act or policy to which he is pledged or committed, or to distinguish him as belonging to a particular faction or wing of his political party; provided, however, that no such designation or slogan shall include or refer to the name of any person or any incorporated association of this State unless the written consent of such person or incorporated association of this State has been filed with the petition of nomination of such candidate or group of candidates.

19:23-18. Grouping of candidates
Several candidates for nomination to the same office may in such petitions request that their names be grouped together, and that the common designation to be named by them shall be printed opposite their names. If two candidates or groups shall select the same designation, the secretary of state, county clerk or municipal clerks, as the case may be, shall notify the candidate or group whose petition was last filed, and such candidate or group shall select a new designation.

19:23-19. Defective petition; notice to candidates
In case a petition of nomination shall be defective excepting as to the number of signatures, the officer with whom such petition has been filed shall forthwith notify any candidate so indorsed whose petition for nomination is defective, setting forth the nature of such defect and the date when the ballots will be printed.

19:23-20. Amendment of defective petition; time for
Such candidate shall be permitted to amend the petition either in form or in substance, but not to add signatures, so as to remedy the defect within three days.

19:23-21 Certification by Secretary of State of nominees to county clerk; transmittal to Election Law Enforcement Commission
The Secretary of State shall certify the names of the persons indorsed in the petitions filed in his office to the clerks of counties concerned thereby not later than the 54th day prior to the holding of the primary election, specifying in such certificate the political parties to which the persons so nominated in the petitions belong. In the case of candidates for offices other than federal office, the Secretary of State shall also transmit this information to the Election Law Enforcement Commission in the form and manner prescribed by the commission and shall notify the commission immediately upon the withdrawal of a petition of nomination.

19:23-22 Certification by county clerks of nominees to municipal clerks; transmittal to Election Law Enforcement Commission
The county clerk shall certify all of the persons so certified to him by the Secretary of State and in addition the names of all persons indorsed in petitions filed in his office to the clerk of each municipality concerned thereby in his respective county not later than the close of business of the 53rd day prior to the time fixed by law for the holding of the primary election, specifying in such certificate the political party to which the person or persons so nominated belong. The county clerk shall also transmit this information with respect to persons, other than candidates for federal office, indorsed in petitions filed in his office to the Election Law Enforcement Commission in the form and manner prescribed by the commission and shall notify the commission immediately upon the withdrawal of a petition of nomination filed in his office.

Article 3a. Certification of Nominations and Furnishing of Ballots in Certain Second–Class Counties

19:23-22.1. Certification by municipal clerks of nominees to county clerks in certain counties
In counties having a population of 700,000 or more inhabitants and in second class counties having a population of not less than 300,000 or more than 425,000 inhabitants and in counties having a population of not less than 150,000 or more than 300,000 inhabitants, each municipal clerk shall, on or before the sixth day following the last day for the filing of petitions for the primary election in each year, certify to the county clerk the full and correct names and addresses of all candidates for nomination for public and party office, and the name of the political party of which such persons are candidates, together with their slogan and designation, and the order in which their names were drawn in accordance with the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

19:23-22.4. Printing ballots in counties
In all counties the county clerk shall cause to be printed a sufficient number of official primary ballots and official primary sample ballots of each political party, in proper form for the mailing of such sample ballots at the times and in the manner and number as required by the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, and shall furnish such official primary sample ballots to the proper officer or officers on the earliest possible date preceding the primary election.

In the counties described by this section, for each election district within the county in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, the county clerk shall similarly cause to be printed bilingually in English and Spanish a sufficient number of official primary sample ballots of each political party, and shall similarly furnish such official primary sample ballots to the proper officer or officers.

19:23-22.5. Cost of printing ballots in certain counties
In counties having a population of 700,000 or more inhabitants and in second class counties having a population of not less than 300,000 or more than 425,000 inhabitants and in counties having a population of not less than 150,000 or more than 300,000 inhabitants, the cost of printing of the official primary election ballots and primary election sample ballots shall be paid by the county but the county shall be reimbursed by the municipalities, each municipality paying such amount as shall be apportioned to it by the county clerk based on the proportion of the number of such official primary election ballots and primary election sample ballots required for use in such municipality.

Article 4. Official Ballots

19:23-23. Separate ballot for each party
There shall be separate ballots for each political party. Such ballots shall be alike in form for all political parties.

19:23-24 Drawing for positions on primary ballots; procedure; certification
The position which the candidates and bracketed groups of names of candidates for the primary for the general election shall have upon the ballots used for the primary election for the general election, in the case of candidates for nomination for members of the United States Senate, Governor, members of the House of Representatives, members of the State Senate, members of the General Assembly, choice for President, delegates and alternates-at-large to the national conventions of political parties, district delegates and alternates to conventions of political parties, candidates for party positions, and county offices or party positions which are to be voted for by the voters of the entire county or a portion thereof greater than a single municipality, including a congressional district which is wholly within a single municipality, shall be determined by the county clerks in their respective counties; and, excepting in counties where R.S.19:49-2 applies, the position on the ballot used for the primary election for the general election in the case of candidates for nomination for office or party position wherein the candidates for office or party position to be filled are to be voted for by the voters of a municipality only, or a subdivision thereof (excepting in the case of members of the House of Representatives) shall be determined by the municipal clerk in such municipalities, in the following manner: The county clerk, or his deputy, or the municipal clerk or his deputy, as the case may be, shall at his office on the 53rd day prior to the primary election for the general election at three o’clock in the afternoon draw from the box, as hereinafter described, each card separately without knowledge on his part as to which card he is drawing. Any legal voter of the county or municipality, as the case may be, shall have the privilege of witnessing such drawing. The person making the drawing shall make public announcement at the drawing of each name, the order in which same is drawn, and the office for which the drawing is made. When there is to be but one person nominated for the office, the names of the several candidates who have filed petitions for such office shall be written upon cards (one name on a card) of the same size, substance and thickness. The cards shall be deposited in a box with an aperture in the cover of sufficient size to admit a man’s hand. The box shall be well shaken and turned over to thoroughly mix the cards, and the cards shall then be withdrawn one at a time. The first name drawn shall have first place, the second name drawn, second place, and so on; the order of the withdrawal of the cards from the box determining the order of arrangement in which the names shall appear upon the primary election ballot. Where there is more than one person to be nominated to an office where petitions have designated that certain candidates shall be bracketed, the position of such bracketed names on the ballot (each bracket to be treated as a single name), together with individuals who have filed petitions for nomination for such office, shall be determined as above described. Where there is more than one person to be nominated for an office and there are more candidates who have filed petitions than there are persons to be nominated, the order of the printing of such names upon the primary election ballots shall be determined as above described.

The county clerk in certifying to the municipal clerk the offices to be filled and the names of candidates to be printed upon the ballots used for the primary election for the general election, shall certify them in the order as drawn in accordance with the above described procedure, and the municipal clerk shall print the names upon the ballots as so certified and in addition shall print the names of such candidates as have filed petitions with him in the order as determined as a result of the drawing as above described. Candidates for the office of the county executive in counties that have adopted the county executive plan of the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), shall precede the candidates for other county offices for which there are candidates on the ballot used for the primary election for the general election.

19:23-25. Contents of ballots
The ballots shall be made up and printed in substantially the following form:
Each ballot shall have at the top a coupon at least two inches deep extending across the ballot above a perforated line. The coupon shall be numbered for each of the political parties, respectively, from one consecutively to the number of ballots delivered and received by the election officers of the respective polling places. Upon the coupon and above the perforated line shall be the words “To be torn off by the judge of election. Fold to this line.” Below the perforated line shall be printed the words “Official Democratic Party Primary Ballot,” or “Official Republican Party Primary Ballot,” or, as the case may be, naming the proper political party, as provided in this Title; below which and extending across the ballot in one or more lines, as may be necessary, shall be printed the words ……………. name of municipality ………………. ward ……………. election district ………………… date of election ………………. John Doe, municipal clerk; the blank spaces shall be filled in with the name of the proper municipality, the ward and the district number and the date of election. The name of the municipal clerk shall be a facsimile of his signature. This heading shall be set apart from the body of the ballot by a heavy diagram rule. Below this rule shall be printed the following directions instructing the voter how to indicate his choice for each office and position, and for how many persons to vote for each office and position: To vote for any person whose name is printed upon this ballot mark a cross x , plus + or check with ink or pencil in the square at the left of the name of such person. To vote for any person whose name is not printed upon this ballot write or paste the name in the blank space under the proper title of office and mark a cross x , plus + or check with ink or pencil in the square at the left of the name of such person. Below these instructions shall be printed a heavy diagram rule below which shall be printed the titles of offices and positions for which candidates are to be voted for at the primary election, together with such directions to the voter as may be necessary, as “Vote for one,” “Vote for two,” or a greater number, as the case may be. Underneath the proper title of office and position shall be printed the names of all those persons certified as candidates for the offices to the municipal clerk by the county clerk as hereinbefore provided, and the names of persons indorsed as such candidates in petitions on file in the office of the municipal clerk as they appear signed to the certificate of acceptance. The name of any person indorsed in a petition as provided who shall fail to certify his consent and agreement to be a candidate for nomination to the office specified therein shall not be printed upon the ballots to be used at the primary election. In the case of a vacancy among nominees the name of the person selected in the manner provided in this Title to fill same shall be printed upon the ballots in the place of the person vacating such nomination. The candidates shall be arranged in groups and the groups bracketed in all cases where the petitions indorsing such candidates request such grouping. The designation named by candidates in their petitions for nomination, as provided by this Title shall be printed to the right of the names of such candidates or groups of candidates in as large type as the space will allow. Immediately to the left and on the same line with the name of each candidate for office and position shall be printed a square approximately one-quarter of an inch in size, or by printing vertical single line rules connecting the single line rules between the names of the candidates and thus form a square in which the voter shall indicate his choice. A single light-faced rule shall be used to separate the different names in each group of candidates. A heavy diagram rule shall be used between each group of candidates for different offices. Where candidates are arranged in groups and the groups bracketed, the groups shall be separated from other groups and candidates by two single line rules approximately one-eighth of an inch apart.
Each primary ballot shall contain, at the end of the list of candidates for each different office, blank squares and spaces or lines equal to the number of persons to be elected to the office, for the purpose of allowing any voter to write or paste the name of any person for whom he desires to vote for any office or party position.

19:23-25.1. Designation or slogan on primary ballots
No designation or slogan shall be printed on any ballot to be used in the conduct of any primary election in connection with any candidate or group of candidates for office, which designation or slogan includes or refers to the name of any other person unless the written consent of such other person has been filed with the petition of nomination of such candidate or group of candidates.

19:23-26.1. Primary election for U.S. Senate and Governorship; placement of names of candidates on ballot
In the case of a primary election for the nomination of a candidate for the office of United States Senator and in the case of a primary election for the nomination of a candidate for the office of Governor, the names of all candidates for the office of United States Senator or Governor shall be printed on the official primary ballot in the first column or horizontal row designated for the party of those candidates.

In the event that the nomination of candidates for both offices shall occur at the same primary election, the names of all candidates for the office of United States Senator shall be printed in the first column or horizontal row designated for the party of those candidates, and the names of all candidates for the office of Governor shall be printed in the second column or horizontal row.

No candidate for nomination for any other office shall have his name printed in the same column or horizontal row as the candidates for nomination for the office of United States Senator or Governor.

19:23-26.2. Application of laws on primary election for general election
The provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes which apply particularly to a primary election for the general election shall apply to this act insofar as they are not inconsistent with its special provisions.

19:23-27. Printing of ballots; number; cost paid by municipalities
Not later than twelve o’clock noon of the Saturday preceding a primary for the general election each municipal clerk shall have had printed and on hand in his office for the use of each of the political parties official primary ballots equal in number to one and one-tenth times the number of votes cast by such political party at the last preceding general election at which electors for president and vice president of the United States were voted for in such election district.

When an election district shall have been divided or the boundaries thereof changed, or a new district created, the municipal clerk shall ascertain as nearly as may be possible the number of voters in the new or rearranged or divided district, and provide therefor a sufficient number of official primary ballots in the above proportion.

The cost of printing the official primary ballots shall be paid by the respective municipalities.

19:23-28. Style of ballot; paper and type
The ballots shall be printed on plain white paper uniform in size, quality and type and of such thickness that the printing thereon cannot be distinguished from the back of the paper, and without any mark, device or figure on the front or back except as in and by this title provided.

19:23-29. Error in ballots; correction
When it shall appear that any error or omission has occurred in the copy prepared by the municipal clerk for the printer or in the printing of the official ballots for any primary election by any municipal clerk, any voter resident in any election district affected by such error or omission may present to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county containing the election district, a verified statement setting forth the error or omission, and such judge, being satisfied thereof, shall thereupon summarily, by his order, require the municipal clerk to correct the error or omission, or show cause why it should not be corrected.

Article 5. Sample Ballots

19:23-30 Number of ballots and envelopes; printing; delivery; cost paid by municipalities.
a. In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, the municipal clerk shall cause to be printed as herewith prescribed a sufficient number of official primary sample ballots of each political party in each election district and shall furnish a sufficient number of stamped envelopes to enable every district board to mail one copy of such ballot of each political party to each voter who is registered in the district for the primary election, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded. The municipal clerk shall deliver to the county clerk in all counties and the county board in counties having a superintendent of elections one official primary sample ballot of each political party for each district in his municipality. The cost of printing the official primary sample ballots and the stamped envelopes therefor shall be paid by the respective municipalities.
b. In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections may have the equipment or facilities to prepare a properly stamped envelope addressed to each registered voter in the county for mailing, the municipal clerk shall cause to be printed as herewith prescribed a sufficient number of official primary sample ballots of each political party for each election district and shall furnish a sufficient number of stamped envelopes to enable the commissioner of registration of the county to mail one copy of such ballot of each political party to each voter who is registered in the district for the primary election, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded. The municipal clerk shall also deliver to the county board ten official primary sample ballots of each political party for each district in his municipality. The cost of printing of the official primary sample ballots and stamped envelopes therefor shall be paid for by the respective municipalities. County boards of elections which elect to operate under the provisions of this paragraph shall notify their respective municipal clerks in sufficient time to enable them to make the necessary arrangements the first year.

19:23-30.1 Notice of availability of sample ballot in lieu of delivery
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a voter who registers after the 29th day prior to a primary election and who is eligible to participate in that election may be sent, instead of a sample ballot, notice of the voter’s polling place, information on where to obtain a sample ballot prior to the election, a statement indicating that a sample ballot will be available at the polling place on the day of the election, and, if applicable, information on a county website where a sample ballot may be viewed.

19:23-31. Sample ballot facsimile of official ballot
The official primary sample ballot shall be, as nearly as possible, a facsimile of the official primary ballot to be voted at the primary election and shall be printed on paper different in color from the official primary ballot, so that the same may be readily distinguished from the official primary ballot. The official primary sample ballot shall have printed at the top in large type the words: “This official primary sample ballot is an exact copy of the official primary ballot to be used on primary election day. This ballot cannot be voted.” The official primary sample ballot shall also have printed thereon, following the words which indicate the election district, the following words: “The polling place for this election district is

(Stating the location of said polling place).”

19:23-32. Words on envelopes
Each of such envelopes shall have printed on the face thereof, in large type, the words, “Official Primary Sample Ballot,” and in smaller type, in the upper left-hand corner, the words, “If not delivered in two days return to the superintendent of elections” in counties having a superintendent of elections, to the “Commissioner of Registration” in other counties and in the lower left-hand corner shall be printed the words “Municipality” followed by a line ” ” “Ward” followed by a line ” ” and “District” followed by a line ” ” arranged in three lines one under the other.

19:23-33 Sample ballots and envelopes furnished to district boards or commissioner of registration.
In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, the municipal clerk in each municipality shall furnish to a member of each district board in his municipality, at his office, or in any other way that he sees fit, on or before Tuesday preceding the primary election in each year, sufficient sample ballots and sufficient stamped envelopes to enable the board to mail sample ballots to the voters as hereinbefore provided. Each of the boards shall give the municipal clerk a receipt for such sample ballots and envelopes signed by one of its members.
In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b. of section 19:23-30 of this Title, the municipal clerk in each municipality shall furnish to the commissioner of registration of his county not later than thirty days preceding the primary election of each year, sufficient stamped envelopes to enable the commissioner of registration to mail sample ballots to each voter who is registered in the county, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, and shall, not later than noon of the twelfth day preceding the primary election furnish sufficient sample ballots to the commissioner of registration of his county for that purpose. The commissioner of registration shall give the municipal clerk a receipt for such sample ballots and envelopes.

19:23-34. Mailing sample ballots
Each of such district boards, in counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, and the commissioner of registration in all other counties, shall prepare and deposit in the post office, on or before twelve o’clock noon on Wednesday preceding the primary day, the stamped envelopes containing a copy of the sample primary ballot of each political party addressed to each voter whose name appears in the primary election registry book.

19:23-35. Posting sample ballots
In counties not having a superintendent of elections, where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, such district board shall also post three sample ballots in the polling place in its district.

The county board of elections in all counties of the first class, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b of section 19:23-30 of this Title, shall, not later than noon of the second Monday preceding the primary election, deliver or mail to the members of the district board three sample ballots for their respective election district. The board shall post the sample ballots in the polling place in its district.

19:23-36. Return of unused sample ballots and envelopes
In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to mail sample ballot envelopes, the district boards shall return to the municipal clerk the unused sample ballots and stamped envelopes, with a sworn statement in writing, signed by a majority of the members of the board, to the effect that the remainder of the sample ballots in envelopes were actually mailed or posted as provided in this Title, and the members of the board failing to file such statement shall receive no compensation for the service of mailing.

In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b of section 19:23-30 of this Title, the commissioner of registration shall return to the municipal clerk the unused sample ballots and stamped envelopes with a sworn statement to the effect that the remainder of the sample ballots and envelopes were actually mailed or posted as herein provided.

19:23-37. Public display of returned envelopes
All the envelopes which shall have been mailed but not delivered to the addresses and shall have been returned to the superintendent, commissioner or county board, shall be retained by the superintendent, commissioner or county board, as the case may be, for thirty days, open to public inspection.

Article 6. Delivery of Ballots, Ballot Boxes and Documents

19:23-38. Municipal clerk to members of district boards; receipt
The municipal clerk shall on the day preceding the primary election cause to be delivered, at his office, to a member or members of the district board of each election district within his municipality, the ballots and the ballot boxes provided for each election district, and any registers, poll books and other documents that he may have received from the county clerk, the county board or the commissioner, and take a receipt from such member or members therefor, which last mentioned receipt the clerk of the municipality shall file and preserve for one year.

19:23-39. Members of district boards to board; receipts
Such member or members shall on the morning of the primary election, before proclamation of the opening of the polls, deliver the ballot boxes and the ballots by them received to the election boards of their respective election districts, with the seals thereof unbroken, and shall take receipts therefor from the district board, which receipts such member or members shall preserve for one year.

Article 7. Conduct of Primary in General

19:23-40 Time and place of holding
The primary election for the general election shall be held for all political parties upon the Tuesday next after the first Monday in June between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M., Standard Time. It shall be held for all political parties in the same places as hereinbefore provided for the ensuing general election.

19:23-41. Officers in charge
All of the members of the district board shall conduct the primary election for all political parties holding primary elections under this title.

19:23-42 Method of conducting primary elections.
The primary election for the general election shall be conducted by the district boards substantially in the same manner as the general election, except as herein otherwise provided.

Each district board may allow one member thereof at a time to be absent from the polling place or room for a period not exceeding one hour between the hours of one o’clock and five o’clock in the afternoon or for such shorter time as it shall see fit; but at no time from the opening of the polls to the completion of the canvass shall there be less than a majority of the board present in the polling room or place.

Article 8. Registry and Poll Books [Repealed]

Article 9. Balloting Procedure

19:23-45 Balloting regulations; political party affiliation declaration forms
No voter shall be allowed to vote at the primary election unless his name appears in the signature copy register.

A voter who votes in a primary election of a political party or who signs and files with the municipal clerk or the county commissioner of registration a declaration that he desires to vote in the primary election of a political party, or who indicates on a voter registration form the voter’s choice of political party affiliation and submits the form to the commissioner of registration of the county wherein the voter resides, to the employees or agents of a public agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 15 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.3), or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11), or to the Secretary of State, shall be deemed to be a member of that party until the voter signs and files with the municipal clerk or the commissioner of registration a declaration that he desires to vote in the primary election of another political party at which time he shall be deemed to be a member of such other political party. The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared political party affiliation declaration forms and shall provide such forms to the commissioners of registration of the several counties and to the clerks of the municipalities within such counties.

No voter, except a newly registered voter at the first primary at which he is eligible to vote, or a voter who has not previously voted in a primary election, may vote in a primary election of a political party unless he was deemed to be a member of that party on the 55th day next preceding such primary election.

A member of the county committee of a political party and a public official or public employee holding any office or public employment to which he has been elected or appointed as a member of a political party shall be deemed a member of such political party.

A voter may declare the voter’s party affiliation or change the voter’s party affiliation, or declare that the voter is unaffiliated with any party regardless of any previously declared party affiliation, by so indicating on a political party declaration form filed with the municipal clerk or the county commissioner of registration. A voter may also indicate that the voter wishes to declare a political party affiliation or that the voter does not want to declare a political party affiliation on a voter registration form filed at the time of initial registration.

Any person voting in the primary ballot box of any political party in any primary election in contravention of the election law shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, and any person who aids or assists any such person in such violation by means of public proclamation or order, or by means of any public or private direction or suggestions, or by means of any help or assistance or cooperation, shall likewise be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:23-45.1 Notice of requirements for voting in primary elections, publication.
a. The county commissioner of registration in each of the several counties shall cause a notice to be published in each municipality of their respective counties in a newspaper or newspapers circulating therein. The notice to be so published shall be published once during each of the two calendar weeks next preceding the week in which the 55th day next preceding the primary election of a political party occurs.
b. The notice required to be published by the preceding paragraph shall inform the reader thereof that no voter, except a newly registered voter at the first primary at which he is eligible to vote, or a voter who has not previously voted in a primary election may vote in a primary election of a political party unless he was deemed to be a member of that party on the 55th day next preceding such primary election. It shall further inform the reader thereof that a voter who votes in the primary election of a political party, or who signs and files with the municipal clerk or the county commissioner of registration a declaration that he desires to vote in the primary election of a political party, or who indicates on a voter registration form the voter’s choice of political party affiliation and submits the form to the commissioner of registration of the county wherein the voter resides, to the employees or agents of a public agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 15 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.3), or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11) or to the Secretary of State, shall be deemed to be a member of that party until the voter signs and files with the municipal clerk or the commissioner of registration a declaration that he desires to vote in the primary election of another political party, at which time he shall be deemed to be a member of such other political party, or that the voter chooses not to be affiliated with any political party. The notice shall also state the time and location where a person may obtain political party affiliation declaration forms or voter registration forms.

19:23-45.2. Cost of publication; payment by counties
The cost of the publishing of the notices required to be published by this act by the county commissioners of registration shall be paid by the respective counties.

19:23-45.3. Rules and regulations
The Secretary of State shall promulgate such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to implement this act, including the procedures to be followed in the filing, reporting and authentication of declarations of political party affiliation pursuant to R.S. 19:23-45.

19:23-46 Determination of right to vote.
Each voter offering to vote shall announce his name and the party primary in which he wishes to vote. The district board shall thereupon ascertain by reference to the signature copy register or the primary election registry book required by this title and, in municipalities not having permanent registration, if necessary by reference to the primary party poll books of the preceding primary election for the general election, that such voter is registered as required by this title and also that he is not ineligible or otherwise disqualified by the provisions of section 19:23-45 of this title; in which event he shall be allowed to vote.

19:23-47. Preparation and casting of ballots
Such voter shall thereupon prepare and cast his ballot in substantially the same manner as is herein provided for the preparation and casting of ballots at the general election and subject to the same regulations. The blank space or spaces under each title of office or party position shall be used for the writing in or pasting of names in the same manner as is provided for voting in the personal choice column of the general election ballot.

19:23-48. Challenges; procedure
If a voter who desires to vote in the same political party box in which he voted at the next preceding primary election is challenged, he shall take an oath or affirmation, to be administered by a member of the district board in the following form: “You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you are a member of the political party (specifying the political party in which ballot box the affiant voted at the next preceding primary election); that at the last election for members of the general assembly at which you voted you voted for a majority of the candidates of said party nominated for national, state and county offices, and that you intend to support the candidates of said party at the ensuing election, and that you are not ineligible or otherwise disqualified by law to vote in this party primary of the said political party.” If the person so challenged shall refuse to take the oath or affirmation so tendered to him, he shall be deemed not qualified or entitled to vote at such primary election.

Article 10. Canvass of Votes;  Certification of Results

19:23-49 Counting of votes.
At the close of the primary election for the general election each district board shall immediately proceed to count the votes cast at the election and ascertain the results thereof for the candidates of each political party holding such elections, proceeding in the manner indicated by the statement hereinafter provided for, and as nearly as may be in the manner herein required for the counting by the district board of votes cast at the general election.

19:23-50. Statements of result; contents
The district boards shall at the conclusion of the canvass make up and sign three statements of the result of such election. The statements shall in words at length show the total number of names of persons entitled to vote, the whole number of ballots cast for each political party as indicated by the party names at the head of the respective party tickets, the whole number of ballots rejected for each political party, and the number of votes received by each person as a candidate for nomination for office or position.

19:23-51. Form of statement
Such statement shall be substantially in the following form:

Statement of the result of a primary election held in the ward election district of the of (municipality) in the county of and state of New Jersey, on the day of 19 :

Total number of names of persons entitled to vote at the primary election was :

The total number of ballots cast was .

The total number of ballots rejected was .

(Fill in the name of the political party in each instance and the number of ballots cast or rejected in words at length and in figures.)

For candidates of the party for the office or position received votes. (Fill in the name of each candidate and number of votes received by such candidate in words at length and in figures.)

19:23-52. Certification of statement
To such statement shall be added a certificate in the following form:

We certify the foregoing to be a true and correct statement of the result of the primary election held in such district at the time above stated and that it correctly exhibits the total number of names of persons entitled to vote, the entire number of votes cast for each political party at such election, the total number of ballots rejected belonging to each party respectively; also the number of votes received by any person who is a candidate of any party for any office or position named on any ballot or ballots cast at such election.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this ……………………… day of ………………….. one thousand nine hundred and …………………. .

………………………………………….) District Board

…………………………………………..) of Registry

…………………………………………..) and Election.”

…………………………………………..)

19:23-53 Statements transmitted to clerks and superintendent of elections; access to office of municipal clerk.
The district board shall immediately deliver or transmit this statement to the clerks of the county and municipality within which such primary election was held. In counties having a superintendent of elections one of such statements shall forthwith be filed with the superintendent of elections of the county. The superintendent may arrange to accept such certificates in each municipality within the county at the office of the clerk of such municipality or some other convenient place. Any municipal clerk who shall refuse to permit such superintendent or his deputies or assistants access to his office for the purpose of collecting such certificates or any municipal clerk or other person who shall interfere or obstruct the superintendent, his deputies or assistants in the collection of such certificates, or any member of a district board who shall willfully fail or refuse to deliver such statement to the superintendent, his deputies or assistants as the case may be, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:23-54. Canvass of votes by municipal clerks; certificates of election to county committeemen
The municipal clerk shall forthwith canvass the statements of the district board as far as they relate to the election of members of the county committee of any political party, and shall issue a certificate of election to each person shown by the returns filed in the office of such municipal clerk to have been so elected.

No person whose name was printed on a primary ballot as a candidate for the county committee shall receive a certificate of election as a member of any other county committee.

When a person whose name was not printed on a primary ballot as a candidate for member of the county committee has been elected as a member of the county committee of more than one political party, he shall file with the municipal clerk within three days a statement certifying to which political party he belongs, and a certificate of election shall be issued to such person as a member of the county committee of the political party so certified.

Any person elected as a member of the county committee of any political party whose name was not printed upon the primary ballot and to whom a certificate of election has been issued, shall before the organization of the county committee file with the secretary thereof a written statement certifying that he is a member of such political party.

The municipal clerk shall within eight days after the primary election certify to the county clerk and also to the county board two copies of the names and post-office addresses of the persons elected as members of the county committee of the several political parties, together with the ward, district or unit which they respectively represent.

19:23-55. Canvass of votes by county clerks; statement
The county clerks shall within 10 days canvass such statements relating to all officers and positions to be voted for by the voters of the entire State, county, county election district, congressional district, municipality or ward, and determine what persons have by the highest number of votes been so elected or nominated by the political parties.

In the case of United States Senator, Governor and member of the House of Representatives the county clerk shall immediately transmit to the Secretary of State a statement showing the total number of votes cast for such officers in the county. The Secretary of State shall furnish the necessary form.

In the case of members of the county committee the county clerk within 9 days after the primary shall mail to the chairman of the State committee and to the chairman of the county committee of the respective parties a list of the names of those elected to the county committee, giving the municipalities, ward and district each represents, together with their post-office addresses.

19:23-56. Certificates of election of members of State committee
The county clerk shall issue a certificate to the male or males receiving the highest number of votes among the male candidates for the number of positions to be filled by male members of the State committee and to the female or females receiving the highest number of votes among the female candidates for the number of positions to be filled by female members of the State committee of any political party at the primary as shown by the returns in the county clerk’s office. A divided position shall be filled by the one male and the one female candidate receiving the highest number of votes among the male and female candidates for such position. The county clerk shall issue a certificate of election to said male and said female candidates.

19:23-57. Canvass of votes by secretary of state; certificates of election issued
The secretary of state shall forthwith canvass such statements of the county clerks and determine by the highest number of votes what persons have been so nominated by the voters of the political parties of the state or portion thereof involving more than a single county or congressional district, and shall issue a certificate of election to each person shown by such canvass and statement to have been nominated.

Article 11.  Other Provisions Applicable to Primary for General Election

19:23-58 Provisions of title applicable.
Any provisions of this title which pertain particularly to any election or to the general election shall apply to the primary election for the general election insofar as they are not inconsistent with the special provisions of this title pertaining to the primary election for the general election.

Chapter 24. Primary for Delegates and Alternates to National Conventions

Article 1. Notice of Election

19:24-1 Notice of number of delegates-at-large and alternates-at-large to be elected
In every year in which primary elections are to be held as herein provided for the election of delegates and alternates to the national conventions of political parties, including any national mid-term convention or conference of a political party, the chairman of the State committee of each political party shall notify the Secretary of State, on or before March 1 of that year, of the number of delegates-at-large and the number of alternates-at-large to be elected to the next national convention of such party by the voters of the party throughout the State, and also of the number of delegates and alternates to be chosen to such convention in the respective congressional districts or other territorial subdivisions of the State as mentioned in such notification.

If the State chairmen, or either of them, shall fail to file notice, the Secretary of State shall ascertain such facts from the call for its national convention issued by the National or State committee.

19:24-2 Certification of number of delegates-at-large and alternates-at-large to be elected
The Secretary of State shall, on or before March 20 of that year, certify to the county clerk and county board of each county the number of delegates and alternates-at-large to be chosen by each such party and the number of delegates and alternates to be chosen in each congressional district or other territorial subdivision of the State, composed in whole or in part of the county of such county clerk.

Any provisions of this Title which pertain particularly to any election or to the general election or to the primary election for the general election shall apply to the primary election for delegates and alternates to national conventions insofar as they are not inconsistent with the special provisions of this Title pertaining to the primary election for delegates and alternates to national conventions.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Title, national and State party rules shall govern the selection of delegates and alternates to national party conventions, provided the State chairman of the political party notifies the Secretary of State prior to March 1 of the year in which delegates and alternates are elected of the applicable party rules governing the delegate selection process. The Secretary of State shall notify the county clerks prior to April 1 of the year in which delegates and alternates are elected of the applicable party rules, if any, which apply to matters within their jurisdiction. Pursuant to this section, the Secretary of State shall issue to the county clerks uniform regulations governing the delegate selection process.

Article 2. Procedure

19:24-3. Nomination by petition
Candidates for election as delegates or alternates to the national conventions of political parties shall be nominated by petition in the manner herein provided for the nomination of candidates to be voted for at the primary election for the general election except as herein otherwise provided.

19:24-4 Delegates-at-large and alternates-at-large to be chosen from congressional district
Not less than 100 members of each such political party may file with the Secretary of State at least 64 days prior to the primary election for the general election in any year of a national convention a petition requesting that the name of a person therein indorsed shall be printed on the primary ticket of such political party as candidate for the position of delegate-at-large or alternate-at-large, to be chosen by the party voters throughout the State to the national convention of that party, or as a delegate or alternate to be chosen to that convention by the voters of any congressional district.

The signers to the petition for any delegate-at-large or alternate-at-large shall be legal voters resident in the State; and the signers for any delegate or alternate from any Congressional district shall be voters of such district.

The Secretary of State shall not later than the 54th day preceding the primary election for the general election certify to each county clerk and county board such nominations for delegates and alternates-at-large and the nominations for delegate or alternate for any Congressional district.

19:24-5. Delegates grouped; choice for president included in petition
Candidates for the position of delegates or alternates may be grouped together, if they so request in their petitions, and in any year of a presidential election may also have the name of the candidate for President whom they favor placed opposite their individual names or opposite such groups, if they so request in their petitions and if the written consent of such candidate for President is endorsed upon their petitions, under the caption “Choice for President.”

19:24-6. Delegates and alternates at large; election; ballots
For the purposes of electing delegates-at-large and alternates-at-large and district delegates and alternates to national conventions of the political parties in counties in which paper ballots are used, the county clerk, in prescribing the form of sample ballots and in arranging the names of candidates on the official ballots, shall so arrange the ballot that each voter may vote for each candidate for delegate-at-large and alternate-at-large and each district delegate and alternate individually, or in the alternative, may vote by a single marking indicating a vote for all such candidates who have requested to be grouped together in accordance with the provisions of Revised Statutes 19:24-5, in which case such vote shall constitute and shall be tallied as a separate vote for each of the candidates listed in the group.

Chapter 25. Petition Indorsing Candidate for President

19:25-3 Number of signers; form, preparation and filing of petition; consent of candidate unnecessary
Not less than 1,000 voters of any political party may file a petition with the Secretary of State on or before the 64th day before a primary election in any year in which a President of the United States is to be chosen, requesting that the name of the person indorsed therein as a candidate of such party for the office of President of the United States shall be printed upon the official primary ballot of that party for the then ensuing election for delegates and alternates to the national convention of such party.

The petition shall be prepared and filed in the form and manner herein required for the indorsement of candidates to be voted for at the primary election for the general election, except that the candidate shall not be permitted to have a designation or slogan following his name, and that it shall not be necessary to have the consent of such candidate for President indorsed on the petition.

19:25-4 Certification of names indorsed; candidate may decline
The Secretary of State shall certify the names so indorsed to the county clerk of each county not later than the 54th day before such primary election, but if any person so indorsed shall on or before such date decline in writing, filed in the office of the Secretary of State, to have his name printed upon the primary election ballot as a candidate for President, the Secretary of State shall not so certify such name.

Chapter 26. Any Primary

19:26-1 Return of election documents and equipment
At the close of all primary elections held according to the provisions of this title, and after counting the ballots cast at such primary and making the statements thereof as herein provided, each district board shall place all ballots voted at the election and all spoiled and unused ballots inside the ballot boxes used at such election, and after locking and sealing the same, shall forthwith deliver the ballot boxes to the municipal clerk and the keys thereof to the county clerk. The signature copy register binders and the current primary party poll books used at the primary election shall be returned by the district boards to the commissioner, not later than noon of the day following the primary election for the general election.

The commissioner shall return the primary party poll books used at the primary election to the municipal clerks not later than one month preceding the next primary election.

The county clerks, in counties other than counties of the first class, shall, during the ten days next preceding the third registry day deliver, at their offices or in any other way they may see fit, the register of voters to the respective district boards.

The county clerks in counties of the first class shall deliver the register of voters to the municipal clerks, who shall deliver such register to the district boards at the same time and with the official general election sample ballots.

19:26-2. Primary books; public inspection; removal of names from
The party primary poll books shall be subject to public inspection, and any voter whose name appears therein may apply to a judge of the Superior Court in the county, at any time prior to the next primary election to have the person’s name stricken from such book, and the court shall have power to hear the application in a summary way at such time and upon such notice to that person as it may prescribe, and if satisfied that the applying voter’s name has been improperly placed on such primary book, the court may make an order directing the commissioner, the county clerk or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, to erase the name from the primary book, and the commissioner or clerk, as the case may be, shall thereupon erase the same.

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Subtitle 4 – Special Elections and Filling Vacancies

Chapter 27. General Provisions

Article 1. Procedure

19:27-1. Nominations, elections and ascertainment and certification of results as provided for primary and general elections
Except as herein otherwise provided candidates for public office to be voted for at any special election shall be nominated and the special election shall be conducted and the results thereof ascertained and certified in the same manner and under the same conditions, restrictions and penalties as herein provided for primary and general elections.

19:27-2. New register not required in unchanged election districts
In all cases where the boundaries of an election district shall have remained unchanged between one election and the time for preparing registers of voters for a next ensuing special election, it shall not be necessary for the district board of such district to make a new register of voters, but only to correct and revise the register of voters used at the general election next preceding the special election.

19:27-3. Nomination of candidates by petition
Candidates to be voted for at a special election shall be nominated exclusively by the members of the same political party by petition in the manner herein provided.

Article 2. Filling Vacancies

19:27-4. Congress; writ of election
When any vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the United States Senate or in the House of Representatives, the Governor shall issue a writ of election to fill the same unless the term of service of the person whose office shall become vacant will expire within six months next after the happening of the vacancy and except as hereinafter provided.

19:27-5. Nature of writs of election; signatures
Every writ of election issued under the provisions of this title shall be of the nature of a proclamation, and shall be signed by the Governor.

19:27-6. Vacancies in Senate and House of Representatives; writ; designation of election day; special election and primary
In the case of a vacancy in the representation of this State in the United States Senate or House of Representatives, the writ may designate the next general election day for the election, but if a special day is designated, it shall specify the cause and purpose of such election, the name of the officer in whose office the vacancy has occurred, the day on which a special primary election shall be held, which shall be not less than 70 days nor more than 76 days following the date of such proclamation, and the day on which the special election shall be held, which shall be not less than 64 nor more than 70 days following the day of the special primary election. The writ shall also specify the day or days when the district boards shall meet for the purpose of making, revising or correcting the registers of voters to be used at such special election.

If the vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the United States Senate the election shall take place at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless the vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding the primary election prior to the general election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding election, unless the Governor shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.

If the vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the House of Representatives in any year, not later than the 70th day prior to the day for holding the next primary election for the general election, the Governor shall issue a writ of election to fill such vacancy, designating in said writ the next general election day as the day on which the election shall be held to fill such vacancy. The nomination of candidates to fill such vacancy shall be made in the same manner as the nomination of other candidates at the said primary election for the general election.

19:27-7. Writs delivered to secretary of state
Every such writ shall, by the officer issuing the same, be delivered forthwith to the secretary of state, who shall forthwith affix the seal of the state and file the same in his office.

19:27-8. Copies of writs delivered to county clerks and county boards
In case such vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the United States Senate, the Secretary of State shall cause as many copies of such writ to be made as there are counties in the State, and in case such vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the House of Representatives, he shall cause as many copies of such writ to be made as there shall be counties in the vacant congressional district, certify each of the same to be true under his hand and cause them to be delivered to the county clerk and county board of each of such counties.

19:27-9. Newspaper publication of writs
The county board of each of such counties shall forthwith after the receipt of a copy of such writ cause the same to be published at least once a week until the time of such primary, general or special election in at least two newspapers printed and published in the county, if so many there be.

The publication of the writs shall be at the expense of the State if the election shall be held to fill a vacancy in the representation of the State in the United States Senate or in the House of Representatives.

19:27-10.1 Vacancy in house of representatives between dates preceding primary and general elections.
When a vacancy, howsoever caused, happens in the representation of this State in the House of Representatives in any year later than the 70th day prior to the day for holding the primary election for the general election but before the 70th day preceding the day of the general election, and the unexpired term to be filled exceeds one year, the Governor, in issuing a writ of election to fill such vacancy, may designate in said writ the next general election day as the day on which the election shall be held to fill such vacancy and that no primary election shall be held for nomination of candidates to fill such vacancy.

In such case, each political party shall select its candidate to fill such vacancy in the same manner prescribed in R.S.19:13-20 for selecting candidates to fill vacancies arising among candidates nominated at primary elections, except that the time for making such selection and filing the statement thereof shall be within 10 days following the issuance of the writ of election.

In such case, petitions of nomination of other candidates shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State within 10 days of the date of such proclamation.

The Secretary of State on the eleventh day following the date of such proclamation shall certify to the clerk and county board of each county affected by the vacancy, a statement of all candidates selected and nominated for the office so vacated.

The election to fill such vacancy shall in all other respects be conducted as though it were being conducted to fill the office upon the expiration of the term of the incumbent.

19:27-11 Filling vacancies in county and municipal offices.
In the event of any vacancy in any county or municipal office, except for the office of a member of the board of chosen freeholders, which vacancy shall occur after the 70th day preceding the primary election for the general election and on or before the 70th day preceding the general election, each political party may select a candidate for the office in question in the manner prescribed in R.S.19:13-20 for selecting candidates to fill vacancies among candidates nominated at primary elections for the general elections. A statement of such selection shall be filed with the county clerk not later than the close of business of the 55th day preceding the date of the general election.

Besides the selection of candidates by each political party as before provided, candidates may also be nominated by petition in a similar manner as herein provided for direct nomination by petition for the general election but the petition shall be filed with the county clerk at least 64 days prior to such general election.

When the vacancy occurs in a county office the county clerk shall forthwith give notice thereof to the chairman of the county committee of each political party and in counties of the first class to the county board, and in case the vacancy occurs in a municipal office the municipal clerk shall forthwith give notice thereof to the county clerk, the chairman of the county committee of each political party and in counties of the first class the county board.

The county clerk shall print on the ballots for the territory affected, in the personal choice column, the title of office and leave a proper space under such title of office; and print the title of office and the names of such persons as have been duly nominated, in their proper columns.

19:27-11.1 Filling of vacancies in Legislature.
When any vacancy happens in the Legislature otherwise than by expiration of term, it shall be filled by election for the unexpired term only at the next general election occurring not less than 51 days after the occurrence of the vacancy, except that no such vacancy shall be filled at the general election which immediately precedes the expiration of the term in which the vacancy occurs. In the event a vacancy eligible to be filled by election hereunder occurs on or before the sixth day preceding the last day for filing petitions for nomination for the primary election, such petitions may be prepared and filed for nomination in that primary election in the manner provided by article 3 of chapter 23 of this Title. In the event the vacancy occurs after that sixth day preceding the last day for filing petitions for nomination for the primary election for the general election, a political party may select a candidate for the office in question in the manner prescribed in subsections a. and b. of R.S.19:13-20 for selecting candidates to fill vacancies among candidates nominated at primary elections for the general elections. A statement of such selection under R.S.19:13-20 shall be filed with the Secretary of State not later than the 48th day preceding the date of the general election.

Besides the selection of candidates by each political party, candidates may also be nominated by petition in a manner similar to direct nomination by petition for the general election; but if the candidate of any party to fill the vacancy will be chosen at a primary election, such petition shall be filed with the Secretary of State at least 64 days prior to the primary election; and if no candidate of any party will be chosen at a primary election, such petition shall be filed with the Secretary of State not later than 12 o’clock noon of the day on which the first selection meeting by any party is held under this section to select a nominee to fill the vacancy.

When the vacancy occurs in the Senate or General Assembly, the county clerk of each county which is comprised in whole or part in the Senate or General Assembly district shall forthwith give notice thereof to the chairman of the county committee of each political party and in counties of the first class to the county board.

The county clerk shall print on the ballots for the territory affected, in the personal choice column, the title of office and leave a proper space under such title of office; and print the title of office and the names of such persons as have been duly nominated, in their proper columns.

19:27-11.2. Interim successor to fill vacancy pending election and qualification of permanent successor; selection by political party; certificate and certified statement of selection
In the case of a vacancy occurring with respect to a member of the Senate or General Assembly who was elected as the candidate of a political party which at the last preceding general election held for all members of the General Assembly received the largest number of votes or the next largest number of votes in the State for members of the General Assembly, for the interim period pending the election and qualification of a permanent successor to fill the vacancy, or for the interim period constituting the remainder of the term in the case of a vacancy occurring which cannot be filled pursuant to section 7 of this amendatory and supplementary act at a general election, the vacancy shall be filled within 35 days by a member of the political party of which the person who vacated the office was the candidate at the time of his election thereto. The interim successor shall be selected by the appropriate political party’s county committee or committees in the same manner prescribed in subsections a. and b. of R.S. 19:13-20 for selecting candidates to fill vacancies among candidates nominated at primary elections, and a statement of the selection of that successor shall be certified to and filed with the Secretary of State in the same manner prescribed by subsection d. of that section for certifying statements concerning the selection of such candidates.

The Secretary of State shall thereupon issue to the interim successor a certificate of selection based upon that filed statement of selection, and shall sign his name and affix the seal of the State thereto, and shall without delay deliver that statement to the person so selected. The Secretary of State shall also prepare a certified statement of selection, similar in form to the certificate but addressed to the presiding officer of the house of the Legislature in which the vacancy occurred, and shall sign the statement, affix the seal of the State thereto, and promptly deliver the same to the President of the Senate or Speaker of the General Assembly as appropriate.

19:27-11.3. Nomination of candidate for vacant office by political party; written evidence of acceptance
Members of the political party’s county committee or committees who are empowered to select a candidate for the vacated office shall only nominate a candidate from the floor during the selection meeting called under R.S. 19:13-20 by the chairman or chairmen of the committee or committees and shall present written evidence of the nominee’s acceptance of the nomination.

19:27-11.4. Vacancy with respect to member of legislature not elected from political parties with highest votes; continuation of vacancy
In the case of a vacancy occurring with respect to a member of the Senate or General Assembly who was not elected as the candidate of such a political party, the office shall remain vacant pending expiration of the term.

19:27-12. Notice of other special elections
Notice of special elections other than those to fill vacancies in the United States senate, United States house of representatives, state senate or general assembly shall be given in accordance with the provisions of any statute, ordinance or resolution relative thereto. If such statute, ordinance or resolution fails to provide for the giving of notice by officials to officials or by officials to the public, such notice shall be given in the manner herein provided for giving notice of the general election so far as may be.

Article 3. Registration

19:27-13. Make-up of registers of voters
The registers of voters for such special elections shall be made up as herein provided with such modifications, if any, as to the time of meeting of the district boards as the county boards deem necessary.

19:27-14. Delivery of registers; disposition after election
In each municipality in counties not having a superintendent of elections, the commissioner shall deliver to the clerk of the municipality in which the special election is to be held, at least thirty days prior thereto, the signature copy registers. The municipal clerk shall deliver such signature copy registers and also the registers of voters to the several district boards in time to be used at the special election.

In counties having a superintendent of elections the commissioner shall deliver the signature copy registers at his office or in any other way he may see fit, and the municipal clerks shall deliver the registers of voters to the several district boards, in time to be used at the special election.

At the close of the special election the district boards shall return such registers as provided in the case of a general election.

Chapter 27A. Recall Elections

19:27A-1. Short title; Uniform Recall Election Law
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Recall Election Law.”

19:27A-2. Recall of United States Senator or Representative authorized
Pursuant to Article I, paragraph 2b. of the New Jersey Constitution, the people of this State shall have the power to recall, after at least one year of service in the person’s current term of office, any United States Senator or Representative elected from this State or any State or local elected official in the manner provided herein.

19:27A-3 Definitions.
As used in this act:

“circulator” means an individual, whether paid or unpaid, who solicits signatures for a recall petition;

“elected official” means any person holding the office of United States Senator or member of the United States House of Representatives elected from this State, or any person holding a State or local government office which, under the State Constitution or by law, is filled by the registered voters of a jurisdiction at an election, including a person appointed, selected or otherwise designated to fill a vacancy in such office, but does not mean an official of a political party;

“jurisdiction” means the electoral jurisdiction, including but not limited to the State, or any county or municipality thereof, within which the voters reside who are qualified to vote for an elected official who is sought to be recalled;

“notice of intention” means the notice filed with the recall election official by a recall committee for the purpose of initiating a recall effort;

“recall committee” means a committee formed by persons sponsoring the recall of an elected official which represents the sponsors and signers of a recall petition in matters relating to the recall effort;

“recall election” means an election held for the purpose of allowing the voters of a jurisdiction to decide whether an elected official shall be recalled from office;

“recall election official” means the official authorized by law to receive nominating petitions for an elective office, except that with respect to the recall of the county clerk, it means the Secretary of State;

“recall petition” means a petition prepared by a recall committee and circulated as provided by this act for the purpose of gathering a sufficient number of valid signatures of registered voters to cause a recall election to be called; and

“sponsors” means the proponents of a recall effort who establish a recall committee.

19:27A-4. Time of election; statement of reasons or grounds; commencement of proceedings
a. An elected official shall be recalled from office upon the affirmative vote of a majority of those voting on the question of recall at a recall election which shall have been held after the officeholder shall have served one year of the term of office from which the person is sought to be recalled. A person serving to fill a vacancy in the term of an elective office shall be subject to recall at such an election after one year of such service. No election to recall an elected official shall be held after the date occurring six months prior to the general election or regular election for that office, as appropriate, in the final year of the official’s term.

No statement of reasons or grounds for the holding of a recall election or for the recall at such an election of an elected official shall be required in connection with the preparation or circulation of a recall petition, with the transmittal of any notice required under the provisions of this act, with the submission to the voters of the question of the recall of an elected official, or with any other action or procedure relating to such a recall, and to the extent that any such statement of reasons or grounds is offered by the sponsors of a recall petition or by any other person, the sufficiency of that statement shall be a political rather than a judicial question.

b. The procedures established in this act to initiate the calling of a recall election may be commenced not earlier than the 50th day preceding the completion of the first year of the term of office by the official sought to be recalled. In the case of an official serving to fill a vacancy in the term of an elective office, the procedures established in this act to initiate the calling of a recall election may be commenced not earlier than the 50th day preceding the completion of the first year of such service. However, the recall election itself shall not be held until after the official has completed one year of such term or service, as appropriate.

19:27A-5. Petition; number of signatures; filing; number of officials cited
A recall petition demanding that an election be held for the purpose of deciding whether an elected official shall be recalled from office shall be signed by a number of registered voters of the jurisdiction of the official sought to be recalled equal to at least 25% of the persons registered to vote in that jurisdiction on the date of the general election preceding the date on which the sponsors of the petition file a notice of intention pursuant to section 6 of this act. A recall petition shall be filed with the appropriate recall election official. No recall petition shall demand the holding of an election to recall more than one elected official.

19:27A-6 Notice of intention
Prior to the collection of any signatures, the sponsors of a recall petition shall file a notice of intention with the appropriate recall election official. The notice of intention shall contain the following information:

a. the name and office of the elected official sought to be recalled;

b. the name and business or residence address of at least three sponsors of the recall petition who shall constitute a recall committee which shall represent the sponsors and signers of the recall petition in matters relating to the recall effort, provided that no recall committee shall sponsor the recall of more than one officeholder and, if a recall effort fails at the ballot, the sponsoring recall committee and the members thereof shall not again sponsor, nor shall the recall committee again finance, an effort to recall the targeted officeholder during the same term of office in which the failed recall effort was attempted;

c. the name of the recall committee, which shall be expressed in the following form: “COMMITTEE TO RECALL (name of the official sought to be recalled) FROM THE OFFICE OF (name of the office)”;

d. a statement certified by each member of the recall committee that the member is registered to vote in the jurisdiction of the official sought to be recalled and that the member supports the recall of the named official and accepts the responsibilities associated with serving on the recall committee;

e. at the option of the recall committee, a statement, not in excess of 200 words, of the reasons for the recall; and

f. a statement as to whether the recall election shall be held at the next general election or regular election, as appropriate, or at a special election, as provided in section 13 of this act.

19:27A-7. Duties of recall election official; answer of official cited
a. Upon receiving a notice of intention, the recall election official shall review it for compliance with the provisions of section 6 of this act. If the notice of intention is found to be in compliance, the recall election official shall imprint on the face of that notice a statement of the official’s approval thereof, which statement shall identify the public office held by the official and include the signature of the official and the date on which the approval was given, and shall, within three business days of receiving the notice, return a certified copy of the approved notice to the recall committee. If the recall committee has requested that the recall election be held at a special election, the recall election official shall also prepare, within that same three-day period, an estimate of the cost of conducting the recall election which shall be added to the notice of intention and printed on the first page of each section of the petition as required by section 8 of this act. The official shall retain, and shall hold available for public inspection and copying, the original notice so approved for a period of not less than five years from the date of such approval. If the notice of intention is found not to be in compliance, the recall election official shall, within that period of three business days, return the notice, together with a written statement indicating the reasons for that finding, to the recall committee, which shall have the opportunity to file a corrected notice of intention.

b. Within five business days of approving a notice of intention, the recall election official shall serve a copy of the approved notice of intention on the official sought to be recalled by personal delivery or certified mail, and within two weeks of approving the notice of intention shall cause a copy thereof to be printed in a newspaper published in the jurisdiction or, if none exists, in a newspaper generally circulated within the jurisdiction, and affix to the approved notice of intention previously filed an affidavit of the time and manner of service and proof of publication. The copy of the notice of intention which is published shall be abbreviated to include information on only three members of the recall committee who shall be designated for that purpose by the committee. The recall election official shall retain on file the affidavit and proof for so long as the approved notice of intention is retained.

c. Within five business days of being served with a notice of intention, the official sought to be recalled may file an answer to the proposed recall, not to exceed 200 words, with the recall election official if the notice of intention contained a statement of the reasons for the recall. An answer shall be used solely to provide information to the voters and shall be printed on the first page of each section of the petition in the manner provided by section 8 of this act. If the notice of intention did not contain a statement of the reasons for the recall or the official sought to be recalled chooses not to file an answer, that official shall instead provide the recall election official with a written acknowledgment of receipt of a copy of the notice of intention . Within two business days of the filing of such an answer or acknowledgment, the recall election official shall by personal delivery or certified mail serve a copy of that answer or acknowledgment on the recall committee. If no such answer or acknowledgment is filed within the period of time allowed therefor, the recall election official, within two business days of the expiration of that time period, shall by personal delivery or certified mail transmit to the recall committee a signed statement in writing that no such answer or acknowledgment was timely filed with the recall election official.

19:27A-8 Petition; form of and signatures on
a. No signature appearing on any document other than a recall petition prepared in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be counted among the signatures required under section 5 of this act to determine whether a recall election shall be held.

b. A recall petition shall be prepared by the recall committee in accordance with a format, consistent with the provisions of this act, which shall have been approved for such purpose by the Secretary of State. A petition may consist of any number of separate sections which shall be identical except with respect to information required to be entered thereon by the signers and circulators and as otherwise provided herein. The size of the paper used in a recall petition and the number of pages included in each section thereof shall be determined by the recall committee. The back and the front of a piece of paper shall each constitute a page and signatures may be affixed to each such page.

c. Each page of each section of a recall petition shall be sequentially numbered and shall include, printed in bold letters in at least 10-point type, the heading “PETITION FOR THE RECALL OF (name of the official sought to be recalled) FROM THE OFFICE OF (name of the office)” and, where appropriate, the information required by subsection e. of this section. The first page of each section also shall bear, in type of uniform size but not less than 8-point type, (1) the information contained in the notice of intention, including any cost estimate prepared and the statement of the reasons for the recall, if one was provided, or a declaration that no such statement of reasons was provided, except that information on only three members of the recall committee need be listed; and (2) a copy of the answer provided by the official sought to be recalled, if one was provided, or a declaration that no such answer was provided, except that no such answer or declaration shall be included if a statement of the reasons for the recall was not provided.

d. Each page of a recall petition shall be arranged so that each signer of the petition shall personally affix the signer’s signature; printed name and residence address, including street and number, or a designation of residence which is adequate to readily determine location; the municipality of residence; and the date on which the signer signed the petition. A space at least one inch wide shall be left blank after each name for use in verifying signatures when appropriate, as provided by this act. A box shall be provided after each name for the signer to indicate that the signer has had the opportunity to review the information on the first page of that section of the petition.

e. (1) Whenever the official sought to be recalled is the Governor or a United States Senator, separate sections of the petition shall be prepared for use by signers registered to vote in each county. Each page of a section shall bear in not less than 10-point type the name of the county in which that section is to be used and the statement, “Only eligible persons residing in ___________________.. (name of county) County shall sign this page.” A signer shall not affix the signer’s signature to any page of any section unless it bears the name of the county in which the signer is registered to vote.

(2) Whenever the official sought to be recalled is a member of the Legislature or a member of the United States House of Representatives and the official’s jurisdiction includes parts of more than one county, separate sections of the petition shall be prepared for use by signers registered to vote in each county included within the member’s jurisdiction. Each page of a section shall bear in not less than 10-point type the name of the county in which that section is to be used and the statement, “Only eligible persons residing in (name of county) County shall sign this page.” A signer shall not affix the signer’s signature to any page of any section unless it bears the name of the county in which the signer is registered to vote.
(3) The signature of any person to a page of a recall petition bearing the name of a county in which the person is not registered to vote shall be invalid, but the invalidity of such a signature shall not invalidate or otherwise impair the section wherein or page whereon that signature appears, nor shall it invalidate or otherwise impair any other signature to that or any other section of the petition.

f. Prior to use, the sections of a recall petition shall be reviewed by the recall election official for compliance with the provisions of this act. The recall election official shall complete the review of the petition within three business days of receipt. No section of a recall petition shall be used to solicit signatures unless it has been so approved and a statement of such approval, signed by the recall election official, has been printed on the first page of that section.

g. No obstruction shall be placed over any portion of a page of a petition section at the time that page is presented to a voter to be signed.

h. Every member of a recall committee circulating a recall petition shall sign the petition. If any member of the committee shall fail to sign the petition, the petition shall be deemed void. In the event that the signature to the petition of a member of the recall committee shall be deemed invalid, then notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e. of this section, the petition shall be deemed void. A circulator of a recall petition who is not a member of the recall committee shall not be required to sign, or to be qualified to sign, the recall petition in order to solicit signatures for the recall petition.

i. If a solicitation for signatures to a recall petition is presented to prospective petition signers by a paid print advertisement or paid mailing, or if a recall petition is presented to such a prospective signer by a paid circulator, the solicitation or petition, respectively, shall disclose prominently in a statement printed in at least 10-point type (1) the identity of the person paying for the printed or personal solicitation, and (2) that the circulator is paid. The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions and effectuate the purposes of this subsection.

j. No person who is ineligible to sign a recall petition shall, with knowledge of that ineligibility, sign such a petition. No person shall offer to pay or pay another to sign or to refrain from signing a recall petition or to vote or to refrain from voting in a recall election. A person who violates any of the foregoing provisions of this subsection is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:27A-9 Requirements and responsibilities of circulators
a. A circulator of a recall petition shall not be required to be a registered voter, but shall be voter eligible, which means at least 18 years of age, a resident of this State, a citizen of the United States, and not otherwise disqualified under the New Jersey Constitution.

b. Each completed page of any section of a recall petition which is filed with the recall election official shall include at the bottom of that page an affidavit signed by the circulator of that section which sets forth the following:

(1) the printed name of the circulator;
(2) the address of the circulator;
(3) a statement that the circulator assumed responsibility for circulating that section, that the circulator witnessed the signing of that page by each person whose signature appears thereon, that, to the best information and belief of the circulator, the signers are legal residents of the State and of the county in which the section was circulated, and that the section was circulated in absolute good faith for the purpose of causing the recall of the elected official named in the petition;
(4) the dates between which all signatures to that page were collected; and
(5) a statement, signed by the circulator, as to the truth and correctness of the aforesaid information.

19:27A-10. Deadlines; resignation of official
a. A recall committee shall collect the required number of signatures and file a completed petition with the recall election official within the following time periods calculated from the date that the recall petition receives final approval for circulation from the recall election official:

(1) 320 days, when the Governor or a United States Senator is sought to be recalled; and
(2) 160 days, when any other elected official is sought to be recalled.

b. If a completed petition is not filed within the applicable time period, the petition shall be void. No part of a void petition shall be used in connection with any other recall effort.

c. If the official sought to be recalled resigns from office, the collection of signatures shall cease and the petition shall be void.

19:27A-11. Filing of entire petition; determining number of signatures
All sections of a completed recall petition shall be filed with the recall election official at the same time. When a petition is presented for filing, the recall election official, within 10 business days, shall determine the total number of signatures affixed thereto and whether the completed petition complies with the other provisions of this act. A petition which contains an insufficient number of signatures or otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of this act shall be void.

19:27A-12. Challenges to determination of number of signatures
The determination of the recall election official as to whether a recall petition is signed by a sufficient number of registered voters and otherwise complies with the provisions of this act may, within 10 business days of issuance, be challenged by the official sought to be recalled or by the recall committee by filing a written objection thereto with the recall election official. Upon the request of either of those parties, the recall election official shall provide the party with a duly certified copy of the recall petition and shall allow examination of the original recall petition during regular business hours. The recall election official shall pass upon the validity of an objection in an expedited manner. The decision of the recall election official may be contested, within 10 business days, by filing an action in the Superior Court, which shall hear the matter on an expedited basis and issue an order or determination as soon as possible after filing of the action. Whenever the decision of a recall election official with respect to a recall petition requiring more than 1,000 names is challenged by the official sought to be recalled or by a recall committee, the parties shall be permitted to introduce evidence that, under a random sample method which employs the theory, assumptions and methods of standard statistical analysis, the petition contains either a sufficient or an insufficient number of signatures. The introduction of such evidence shall create a rebuttable presumption that a petition is valid or invalid, as the case may be.

19:27A-13 Certificate of sufficiency; calling of election
a. (1) If the recall election official determines that a petition contains the required number of signatures and otherwise complies with the provisions of this act and if the official sought to be recalled makes no timely challenge to that determination, or if the official makes such a challenge but the original determination is confirmed by the recall election official or the court, the recall election official shall forthwith issue a certificate as to the sufficiency of the petition to the recall committee. A copy of the certificate shall be served by the recall election official on the elected official sought to be recalled by personal service or certified mail. If, within five business days of service of the certification, the official has not resigned from office, the recall election official shall order and fix the holding of a recall election on the date indicated in the certificate.

(2) In the case of an office which is ordinarily filled at the general election, a recall election shall be held at the next general election occurring at least 60 days following the fifth business day after service of the certification, unless it was indicated in the notice of intention that the recall election shall be held at a special election in which case the recall election official shall order and fix the date for holding the recall election to be the next Tuesday occurring during the period beginning with the 60th day and ending on the 66th day following the fifth business day after service of the certification of the petition or, if that Tuesday falls on, or during the 28-day period before or after, a day on which any general, primary, nonpartisan municipal, school district or other recall election is to be held or shall have been held within all or any part of the jurisdiction, then the first Tuesday thereafter which does not fall within such period. In the case of an office which is ordinarily filled at an election other than the general election, a recall election shall be held at the next general election or the next regular election for that office occurring at least 60 days following the fifth business day after service of the certification, unless it was indicated in the notice of intention that the recall election shall be held at a special election in which case the recall election official shall order and fix the date for holding the recall election to be the next Tuesday occurring during the period beginning with the 60th day and ending on the 66th day following the fifth business day after service of the certification of the petition or, if that Tuesday falls on, or during the 28-day period before or after, a day on which any general, primary, nonpartisan municipal, school district or other recall election is to be held or shall have been held within all or any part of the jurisdiction, then the first Tuesday thereafter which does not fall within such period. A recall election to be held at a special election shall not be scheduled on the same day as a primary election. The date for a recall election shall not be fixed, and no recall election shall be held, after the date occurring six months prior to the general election or regular election for the office, as appropriate, in the final year of an official’s term.
(3) A vacancy in an elective office resulting from the resignation of an elective official sought to be recalled prior to the expiration of the five-day period shall be filled in the manner provided by law for filling vacancies in that office.

b. The certificate issued by the recall election official shall contain:

(1) the name and office of the official sought to be recalled;
(2) the number of signatures required by law to cause a recall election to be held for that office;
(3) a statement to the effect that a valid recall petition, determined to contain the required number of signatures, has been filed with the recall election official and that a recall election will be held; and
(4) the date and time when the election will be held if the official does not resign.

c. The recall election official shall transmit a copy of the certificate to the officer or public body designated by law to be responsible for publishing notice of any other election to be held in the jurisdiction on the same day as the recall election, and that officer or body shall cause notice of the recall election, including all of the information contained in the certificate as prescribed by subsection b. of this section, to be printed in a newspaper published in the jurisdiction of the official sought to be recalled or, if none exists, in a newspaper generally circulated in the jurisdiction. The notice of the recall election shall appear on the same schedule applicable to the notice of such other election. In the event that the recall election is to be held as a special election, the recall election official shall transmit a copy of the certificate to the county board or boards of elections, and the county board or boards shall cause notice of the recall election to be printed, in the manner hereinbefore prescribed, once during the 30 days next preceding the day fixed for the closing of the registration books for the recall election and once during the calendar week next preceding the week in which the recall election is held.

19:27A-14. Conduct of election
A recall election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes which apply to all elections, except that in the case of an election to recall a member of the governing body of a municipality operating under the provisions of the “Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law,” P.L.1981, c.379 (C.40:45-5 et al.), or a member of the school board in a Type II school district, or any other elected official elected under the provisions of another title, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the appropriate provisions of that other title to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, for any election at which the question of the recall of an elected official is submitted to the voters, the county clerk or other appropriate officer shall cause samples of the entire ballot to be voted upon at that election to be printed and distributed to the voters of the jurisdiction wherein the recall election is to be held in the same manner as prescribed for the printing and distribution of sample ballots at the general election as provided by article 2 of chapter 14 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, except that in the case of an election other than the general election, any period of time calculated under the provisions of that article from the date of the general election shall be calculated instead from the date on which such other election is to be held.

19:27A-15. Filling of vacancies; recall ballot
a. Whenever the elected official sought to be recalled is the Governor or a member of the Legislature, the question of whether or not the Governor or member of the Legislature shall be recalled shall appear on the ballot but no candidates to succeed the Governor or member of the Legislature in the event the recall is successful shall be listed thereon. A vacancy in the office of Governor resulting from a recall election shall be filled pursuant to Article V, Section I of the State Constitution in the same manner as any other vacancy occurring in that office. A vacancy in the office of member of the Legislature resulting from a recall election shall be filled pursuant to Article IV, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the State Constitution in the same manner as any other vacancy occurring in that office, except that no member who is recalled shall be eligible to be selected to fill the vacancy created as a result of the recall.

b. Whenever the elected official sought to be recalled is other than the Governor or a member of the Legislature, candidates to succeed the elected official in the event the recall is successful may be nominated within nine days after the fifth business day following service of the certification of the petition by each political party in the manner prescribed in R.S.19:13-20 for selecting candidates to fill vacancies among candidates nominated at primary elections. Candidates may also be nominated within that time period by petition in a manner similar to that used for direct nomination by petition for a general election. In the case of offices in nonpartisan units of government, nomination shall be by petition. An elected official who is the subject of a recall election shall be eligible to be elected as that official’s own successor in the event that the election results in the official’s recall.

c. The ballot used at a recall election shall pose the following question to the voters: “Shall (insert name of elected official sought to be recalled) be recalled from the office of (insert title of office)?” To the right of the question, the words “Yes” and “No” shall appear and each voter shall indicate the voter’s choice of one. A recall election sample ballot, but not the actual ballot, shall contain the statement of the reasons for the recall prepared by the recall committee and the answer thereto, if any, which appeared on the petition.

d. Whenever a successor is to be chosen at a recall election in the event the recall is successful, the ballot shall indicate: “Nominees for successor to (insert name and title of the elected official sought to be recalled) in the event he (or she) is recalled.” The names of all persons nominated as successors shall appear immediately thereafter in such manner as will allow each voter to vote for one.

19:27A-16. Election results; further petitions
a. If a majority of votes cast on the question of the recall of an elected official are in the affirmative, the term of office of the elected official shall terminate upon the certification of the election results. Where nominees to succeed the recalled official are voted on at the same election, the successor receiving the greatest number of votes shall succeed to the office of the recalled official upon certification of the election results and shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

b. If a majority of votes cast on the question of recall of an elected official are in the negative, the official shall continue in office as if no recall election had been held and the vote for the successor of such officer shall be void.

c. An elected official sought to be recalled who is not recalled as the result of a recall election shall not again be subject to recall until after having served one year of a term calculated from the date of the recall election.

19:27A-17. Campaign committees and contributions
a. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a recall committee shall be treated as a candidate committee for the purposes of “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,” P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), except that all contributions received by a recall committee shall be used only for (1) the payment of campaign expenses incurred in the course of and directly related to the committee’s effort to promote the recall or the passage of the question of recall at the recall election, (2) the payment of overhead and administrative expenses related to the operation of the committee, or (3) the pro-rata repayment of contributors.

b. Except as provided in subsection c. of this section:

(1) an elected official sought to be recalled who receives contributions and makes expenditures for the purpose of opposing a recall effort shall establish a “recall defense committee,” which shall be separate from, but subject to the same organizational and filing requirements and limitations on the receipt of contributions applicable to, any candidate committee under “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,” P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), except that a recall defense committee shall be permitted to receive without limit contributions from the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of the elected official sought to be recalled. A recall defense committee, for all purposes relating to campaign finance, shall be in addition to any candidate committee or joint candidates committee which an official sought to be recalled may by law establish. If an elected official sought to be recalled transfers funds from the official’s candidate committee or joint candidates committee to the official’s recall defense committee, a new election cycle shall be deemed to begin with respect to the candidate committee or joint candidates committee after the recall election is held or the recall effort fails and such official shall be permitted to solicit and receive contributions thereto, including contributions from prior contributors, up to the limits imposed by P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.). A recall defense committee may be formed at any time after an official sought to be recalled is served with either form of notice provided for by subsection e. of this section. All contributions received by a recall defense committee shall be used only for (a) the payment of campaign expenses incurred in the course of and directly related to the committee’s effort to oppose the recall effort or the passage of the question of recall at the recall election, (b) the payment of the overhead and administrative expenses related to the operation of the committee, or (c) the pro-rata repayment of contributors; and

(2) any nominee to succeed that elected official shall be treated as a candidate for the purposes of “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,” P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.).

c. The limits on contributions established by 2 U.S.C. s.441a shall apply to a federal elected official sought to be recalled, a candidate to succeed such an official and a recall committee seeking to recall a federal elected official.

d. A Governor who is sought to be recalled shall not be entitled to public support pursuant to P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-27 et seq.) for the purpose of opposing the recall effort.

e. Neither a recall committee nor a recall defense committee shall solicit or accept contributions in connection with a recall effort until after either: (1) the recall committee serves written notice of the recall effort on the official sought to be recalled by personal service or certified mail, with a copy thereof filed with the recall election official; or (2) a copy of an approved notice of intention is served on the official sought to be recalled as provided in subsection b. of section 7 of this act. If a recall committee notifies an official sought to be recalled of its intention to initiate a recall effort by the method described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, it must file a notice of intention within 30 days of the date the notice is served on the official or cease the solicitation, acceptance and expenditure of funds.

f. Contributions to a recall committee by a candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate who was defeated by the official sought to be recalled at the last election for that office shall be subject to the limits on contributions established by “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,” P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.).

g. A recall committee shall submit, at the time of its initial filing with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, in addition to its depository account registration information, a registration statement which includes:

(1) the complete name or identifying title of the committee and the general category of entity or entities, including but not limited to business organizations, labor organizations, professional or trade associations, candidates for or holders of public offices, political parties, ideological groups or civic associations, the interests of which are shared by the leadership, members, or financial supporters of the committee;

(2) the mailing address of the committee and the name and resident address of a resident of this State who shall have been designated by the committee as its agent to accept service of process; and

(3) a descriptive statement prepared by the organizers or officers of the committee that identifies:

(a) the names and mailing addresses of the persons having control over the affairs of the committee, including but not limited to persons in whose name or at whose direction or suggestion the committee solicits funds;

(b) the name and mailing address of any person not included among the persons identified under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph who, directly or through an agent, participated in the initial organization of the committee;

(c) in the case of any person identified under subparagraph (a) or subparagraph (b) who is an individual, the occupation of that individual, the individual’s home address, and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer, or, in the case of any such person which is a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, or other organization, the name and mailing address of the organization; and

(d) any other information which the Election Law Enforcement Commission may, under such regulations as it shall adopt pursuant to the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), require as being material to the fullest possible disclosure of the economic, political and other particular interests and objectives which the committee has been organized to or does advance. The commission shall be informed, in writing, of any change in the information required by this paragraph within three days of the occurrence of the change.

h. In accordance with the Election Law Enforcement Commission’s regular reporting schedule, the commission may, by regulation, require a recall committee or a recall defense committee to file during any calendar year one or more additional cumulative reports of such contributions received and expenditures made to ensure that no more than three months shall elapse between the last day of a period covered by one such report and the last day of the period covered by the next such report.

19:27A-18. Repealer
On the effective date of this act, sections 88 through 98 of P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-88 et seq.); sections 17-19 through 17-29 of P.L.1950, c.210 (C.40:69A-168 et seq.); R.S.40:75-25 through R.S.40:75-44; R.S.40:81-6; and R.S.40:84-12 through R.S.40:84-19 shall become inoperative and shall have no force or effect unless a court of competent jurisdiction issues a final order invalidating the provisions of Article I, paragraph 2b. of the New Jersey Constitution, providing for the recall of elected officials, and the provisions of this act which permit the recall of county or municipal officials, in which case the aforesaid laws shall again become operative and shall have full force and effect as of the date of the court’s ruling.

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Subtitle 5 – Recounts and Contests–Any Election

Chapter 28. Recount of Votes

19:28-1 Application to judge of Superior Court for recount; persons entitled to apply
When any candidate at any election shall have reason to believe that an error has been made in counting the votes of that election, the candidate may, within a period of 15 days following such election, apply to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county wherein such district or districts are located, for a recount of the votes cast at the election in any district or districts.

When ten voters at any election shall have reason to believe that an error has been so made in counting the votes upon any public question at any election, such voters may, within a period of 15 days following such election, apply to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county wherein such district or districts are located, for a recount of the votes cast at the election in any district or districts on such public question.

19:28-2. Expenses of recount; liability for; deposit by applicants
Any applicant or group of applicants, as the case may be, for such recount, upon applying therefor, shall deposit with the county clerk or such other public officer or officers as such judge shall direct, such sum of money proportioned to the number of votes to be counted but not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for any one district recount of which is asked, as the judge shall order as security for the payment of the costs and expenses of the recount in case the original count be confirmed. Such judge shall fix and determine the amount of compensation to be paid for making the recount, and the costs and expenses thereof. If it appears that an error or errors have occurred as a result of which the election is changed or the difference in the vote between any candidate and any other candidate for the same office or between the negative and affirmative of any such public question is altered in any district by more than ten votes or ten per centum (10%) of the total vote cast in the district, whichever is the greater, the costs and expenses of the recount of such district shall be paid by the State, county or municipality in and for which the election was held, upon the warrant of such judge, as other election expenses are paid. If no error shall appear sufficient to produce such change, the costs and expenses of the recount shall be paid out of the deposit made as security by the party or parties making the application.

19:28-3. Recount; order and proceedings
Such judge shall be authorized to order upon such terms as he deems proper a recount of the votes as he may determine, to be publicly made under his direction by the county board. Such board shall have power to subpoena witnesses to testify and produce documents and paraphernalia as it may determine, after three days’ notice of the time and place of the recount has been given by such applicant or group of applicants to such interested party or parties as the judge may direct. The members of the district board shall be subpoenaed to be present at the recount to witness the opening of the ballot box or boxes used in their election district and to give such testimony as the county board deems necessary. The judge shall have power to decide all disputed questions which the county board shall fail to decide by a majority vote.

19:28-4. Revocation of election certificate; new certificate
If it appears upon such recount that an error has been made sufficient to change the result of such election, such judge in case of candidates shall issue an order to revoke the certificate of election already issued to any person and shall issue an order directing the chairman and clerk of the county board of canvassers to issue in its place another certificate in favor of the person who shall be found to have received a plurality of the votes cast at the election, which certificate shall supersede all others and entitle the holder thereof to the same rights and privileges as if such certificate had been originally issued by the canvassing board. In the event the person to whom the certificate of election has already issued shall so request, such judge shall order the recount to proceed in all districts in which such person was a candidate for election and shall withhold the issuance of any such new certificate until it shall finally be determined who has received a plurality of the votes cast at such election. If during the further recount requested by the person to whom the certificate of election has already issued, such person gains sufficient votes to give him more votes than the contestant, the judge conducting the recount may then order that the recount shall not proceed unless the contestant shall deposit such further sum of money as the judge shall require not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per district.

In case of a tie vote as a result of a recount the judge conducting the recount shall issue an order revoking the certificate originally issued by the board of canvassers.

19:28-5. Order filed with Secretary of State
When any such certificate shall be issued or revoked by order of the judge of the Superior Court, his order shall be filed with the Secretary of State or with the clerk of the county or municipality, as the case may be, in and for which such election was held.

19:28-6. Copies of certificates delivered to successful candidates
The secretary of state, county or municipal clerk shall make and certify, under his hand and official seal, a copy thereof, and shall without delay deliver such copy to the person so declared elected.

19:28-7. Copy of certificate delivered to secretary of state in certain cases
In case of an election for senator, members of the assembly or any county officers, the county clerk shall within five days thereafter transmit to the secretary of state at Trenton another copy of such certificate, signed by him and attested by his official seal.

19:28-8. Correction of errors in referendum recount
In case of public questions such judge shall make an order that the result of such election be corrected.

Chapter 29. Contest of Nominations or Elections—Any Election

19:29-1. Grounds stated
The nomination or election of any person to any public office or party position, or the approval or disapproval of any public proposition, may be contested by the voters of this State or of any of its political subdivisions affected thereby upon 1 or more of the following grounds:

a. Malconduct, fraud or corruption on the part of the members of any district board, or of any members of the board of county canvassers, sufficient to challenge the result;

b. When the incumbent was not eligible to the office at the time of the election;

c. When the incumbent had been duly convicted before such election of any crime which would render him incompetent to exercise the right of suffrage, and the incumbent had not been pardoned at the time of the election;

d. When the incumbent had given or offered to any elector or any member of any district board, clerk or canvasser, any bribe or reward, in money, property or thing of value for the purpose of procuring his election;

e. When illegal votes have been received, or legal votes rejected at the polls sufficient to change the result;

f. For any error by any board of canvassers in counting the votes or declaring the result of the election, if such error would change the result;

g. For any other cause which shows that another was the person legally elected;

h. The paying, promise to pay or expenditure of any money or other thing of value or incurring of any liability in excess of the amount permitted by this title for any purpose or in any manner not authorized by this title;

i. When a petition for nomination is not filed in good faith or the affidavit annexed thereto is false or defective.

The term “incumbent” means the person whom the canvassers declare elected or the person who is declared elected as a result of a recount; but in the case of a tie vote as a result of the canvass or recount, either party may contest the election, in which case the term “incumbent” means the person having an equal number of votes with the contestant.

19:29-2. Petition filed with Clerk of Superior Court; contents; verification; bond to incumbent
In the case of an office or proposition voted for by the voters of the entire State or more than 1 county thereof, the contest shall be heard by any judge of the Superior Court assigned for that purpose by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and shall be commenced by the filing of a petition therefor with the Clerk of the Superior Court signed by at least 25 voters of the State or by any defeated candidate for such nomination, party position or public office.

In all other cases the contest shall be heard and determined by a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county wherein such office or proposition is to be contested, and shall be commenced by the filing of a petition therefor with the Clerk of the Superior Court, signed by at least 15 voters of the county or by any defeated candidate for such nomination, party position or public office.

The petition shall be verified by the oath of at least 2 of the petitioners, or by the candidate filing the same, as the case may be, which verification may be made on information and belief. The petition shall be accompanied by a bond to the State in the case approval or disapproval of any proposition is to be contested and to the incumbent in all other cases, with 2 or more sureties, or a deposit of cash security, to be approved by such judge, in the penal sum of $500.00, conditioned to pay all costs in case the election be confirmed, or the petition be dismissed or the prosecution fail. When the reception of illegal or the rejection of legal voters is alleged as a cause of contest, the names of the persons who so voted, or whose votes were rejected, with the election district where they voted, or offered to vote, shall be set forth in the petition, if known.

No petition heretofore filed pursuant to this section shall be dismissed or the prosecution fail because the petitioner shall not have filed a bond with sureties as required herein, and the court shall be construed to have acquired jurisdiction to hear and determine such contest if the petitioner shall have filed with the petition a bond, without sureties, in the penal sum of $500.00, conditioned as required in this section, with a deposit of $500.00 as cash security therefor, approved by a judge of the Superior Court.

19:29-3 Filing petition; time for
The petition contesting any nomination to public office, election to party office or position or the proposal of any proposition shall be filed not later than 10 days after the primary election.

The petition contesting any election to public office or approval or disapproval of any proposition shall be filed not later than 30 days after such election, unless the ground of action is discovered from the statements, deposit slips or vouchers filed under this Title, subsequent to such primary or other election, in which event such petition may be filed 10 or 30 days respectively after such statements, deposit slips or vouchers are filed.

Any petition of contest may be filed within 10 days after the result of any recount has been determined or announced.

19:29-4. Time for trial; notice
The judge shall appoint a suitable time for hearing such complaint, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days after the filing of the petition, and the contestant shall cause a notice of such hearing, with a copy of the contestant’s petition, to be served, in the case approval or disapproval of any proposition is to be contested, on the Secretary of State, the county clerk or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, who caused the proposition to be printed on the ballot, and in all other cases on the incumbent at least 10 days before the day set for trial.

19:29-5. Procedure at trial
The proceedings shall be similar to those in a civil action so far as practicable, but shall be under the control and direction of the court, which shall hear and determine the matter without a jury, with power to order any amendments in the petition, or proceedings as to form or substance, and to allow adjournments to any time not more than thirty days thereafter for the benefit of either party, on such terms as shall seem reasonable to the court, the grounds for such adjournment being shown by affidavit.

19:29-6. Witnesses and evidence
The court may compel the attendance of any officer of such election and of any other person capable of testifying concerning the same, and also compel the production of all ballot boxes, books, papers, tally lists, ballots and other documents which may be required at such hearing. The style, form and manner of service and process and papers, and the fees of officers and witnesses, shall be the same as in the Superior Court in other cases, as far as the nature of the case admits.

19:29-7. Witnesses required to testify
The judge may require any person called as a witness who voted at such election to answer touching his qualification as a voter, and if the court, from his examination, or otherwise, is satisfied that he was not a qualified voter in the election district where he voted, he may compel him to disclose for whom he voted.

19:29-8. Judgment; misconduct by members of district boards
The judge shall pronounce judgment whether the incumbent or any contestant was duly elected, and the person so declared elected will be entitled to his certificate; and in the case of a proposition, whether the same was approved or disapproved. If misconduct is complained of on the part of the members of any district board it shall not be held sufficient to set aside the election unless the rejection of the vote of such district would change the result as to that office.

19:29-9. Form and effect of judgment
If the judgment be against the incumbent, and he has already received a certificate of election, the judgment shall annul it. If the judge finds that no person was duly elected, the judgment shall be that the election be set aside.

19:29-10. Order of court putting successful party in office
When either the contestant or incumbent shall be in possession of the office, by holding over or otherwise, the judge shall, if the judgment be against the party in possession of the office and in favor of his antagonist, issue an order to carry into effect his judgment, which order shall be under the seal of the court, and shall command the sheriff of the county to put the successful party into possession of the office without delay, and to deliver to him all books, papers and effects belonging to the same.

19:29-11. Review
The party against whom judgment is rendered may have it reviewed by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court on an appeal in lieu of prerogative writ.

19:29-13. Enforcement of judgment on appeal
The Appellate Division of the Superior Court in the appeal in lieu of prerogative writ shall enforce its judgment in such manner as may be appropriate and where appropriate, remove from office the party against whom judgment is rendered, if he is in possession of the office.

19:29-14. Costs; liability for
The contestant and incumbent shall be liable to the officers and witnesses for the costs made by them, respectively. If the election be confirmed, or the petition dismissed, or the prosecution fail, judgment shall be rendered against the contestant for costs; and if the judgment be against the incumbent, or the election be set aside, he shall pay the costs at the discretion of the court; and in the case a contestant is successful in contesting the approval or disapproval of a proposition, the State, county or municipality, as the case may be, which caused the proposition to be submitted to the voters, shall pay the costs at the discretion of the court. After the entry of the judgment of the court the costs may be collected by attachment or otherwise.

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Subtitle 6 – Registration of Voters

Chapter 30. Municipalities Not Having Permanent Registration [Repealed]

Chapter 31. Municipalities Having Permanent Registration

Article 1. General Provisions

19:31-1. Necessity
No person shall be permitted to vote at any election unless such person shall have been registered in the manner hereinafter in this chapter provided.

19:31-2 Commissioner of registration; employees; civil service; evening and out-of-office registration facilities; expenses; powers and duties
In all counties having a superintendent of elections, the superintendent of elections is hereby constituted the commissioner of registration and in all other counties the secretary of the county board is hereby constituted the commissioner of registration.

The commissioner of registration shall have complete charge of the registration of all eligible voters within their respective counties. Pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-32), the commissioner of registration shall be responsible for adding to, deleting from, amending and maintaining the records of persons registered to vote in the commissioner’s county contained in the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of that act.

The commissioner of registration shall have power to appoint temporarily, and the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 800,000 inhabitants shall have power to appoint on a permanent, or temporary basis, such number of persons, as in the commissioner’s judgment may be necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this Title. All persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 850,000 inhabitants according to the latest federal decennial census to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year shall be in the career service of the civil service and shall be appointed, and hold their positions, in accordance with the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service. All persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 600,000 but less than 850,000 inhabitants according to the latest federal decennial census to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year, other than the chief deputy and chief clerk and confidential secretary and chief custodian, shall be in the career service of the civil service and shall be appointed and hold their positions, in accordance with the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service. Persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in such counties to serve for terms of six months or less in any one year and persons appointed by the commissioner of registration shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but shall be in the unclassified service.

In each county the commissioner of registration shall submit to the Attorney General on or before February 15 of each year a plan providing for evening registration for the primary election and on or before July 1 plans providing for evening registration for the general election, which plans shall be subject to approval by the Attorney General. Evening registration shall be made available in the office of each commissioner of registration between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the 21st day preceding the primary and general elections and, in any year in which municipal elections are to be held in any municipality within the county, on the 21st day preceding those municipal elections.

In each county, the commissioner of registration may also establish a plan for out-of-office registration, including door-to-door registration.

Nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner from providing pursuant to plan evening registration in excess of the requirements of this section, or shall preclude or in any way limit out-of-office registration conducted by persons or groups other than the commissioner.

The commissioner of registration shall provide such printed forms, blanks, supplies and office telephone and transportation equipment as are necessary in the opinion of the commissioner to carry out the provisions of this Title and any amendments or supplements thereto.

Subject to the limitations set forth in chapter 32 of this Title, all necessary expenses incurred, as and when certified and approved by the commissioner of registration shall be paid by the county treasurer of the county.

Nothing in the provisions of subtitle 2 of the Title, Municipalities and Counties (R.S.40:16-1 et seq.), shall in anywise be construed to affect, restrict or abridge the powers herein conferred on the commissioners of registration of the several counties.

All powers granted to the commissioner in all counties not having superintendents of elections by the provisions of this Title are hereby conferred on the county board in such counties and any and all duties conferred upon the commissioner in all counties not having a superintendent of elections by the provisions of this Title shall only be exercised and performed by such commissioner under the instructions and directions of and subject to the approval of the county board of such counties.

19:31-3. Original and duplicate registration forms; contents
a. The commissioner of registration in each county shall maintain one original and one duplicate registration form for the registration of each duly registered voter in the county. Such forms shall consist of an equal number of original forms of one color and duplicate forms of another color. Each set of original and duplicate registration forms shall be serially numbered and each of such forms shall be suitable for locking in a looseleaf binder, shall be approximately 10 inches by 16 inches so as to contain on the face thereof a margin of approximately 2 inches for binding, and shall contain the information hereinafter required.

b. Space shall be provided on both the original and duplicate forms at the top for the word “original” on the original forms and the word “duplicate” on the duplicate forms, to be followed immediately below by the word “registration” on both forms.

Immediately to the left of the registration and identification statement shall be printed a column approximately 2 1/2 inches wide for subsequent changes in address or removals of such applicant from one district to another.

Immediately to the right of the registration and identification statement shall be printed a form for recording the fact that the registered voters have voted. The face of the record of voting form shall be ruled to provide for serial number, the words “original voting record” on the original record of voting form and the words “duplicate voting record” on the duplicate record of voting forms, followed by the name, address and the municipality, ward and district of the registrant at the top of the space. The remainder of the space shall be ruled to provide a record for a period of 20 years of the number of the ballot cast by the registrant at the primary election for the general election, the general election and other elections and also the first three letters of the name of the political party whose ballot such registrant cast at the primary election for the general election.

c. The original and duplicate registration and voting forms shall be in the form the Secretary of State prescribes pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4).

19:31-3.1 Political party affiliation information to be maintained for 10 years as part of Statewide voter registration system
If the commissioner of registration has maintained information in any form regarding a registrant’s party affiliation, the commissioner shall be responsible for maintaining that information for a period of 10 years as part of the current voter information file of the registrant if it is already on computer or magnetic tape or electronic data processing equipment of any kind and for converting such information to such tape or equipment if the information exists but is not on such tape or equipment, so that it becomes part of the Statewide voter registration system.

19:31-3.2 Registration by certain victims of domestic violence; nondisclosure of street address allowed; violations
a. A person who is (1) a victim of domestic violence who has obtained a permanent restraining order against a defendant pursuant to section 13 of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) and fears further violent acts by the defendant, or (2) a victim of stalking, or member of the immediate family of such a victim as defined by paragraph (3) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10), who is protected under the terms of a permanent restraining order issued pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.39 (C.2C:12-10.1) and who fears death or bodily injury from the defendant against whom that order was issued, shall be allowed to register to vote without disclosing the person’s street address. Such a person shall leave the space for a street address on the original permanent registration form blank and shall, instead, attach to the form a copy of the permanent restraining order and a note which indicates that the person fears future violent acts by the defendant and which contains a mailing address, post office box or other contact point where mail can be received by the person. Upon receipt of the person’s voter registration form, the commissioner of registration in all counties having a superintendent of elections, and the county board of elections in all other counties, shall provide the person with a map of the municipality in which the person resides which shows the various voting districts. The person shall indicate to the commissioner or board, as appropriate, the voting district in which the person resides and shall be permitted to vote at the polling place for that district. If such a person thereafter changes residences, the person shall so inform the commissioner or board by completing a new permanent registration form in the manner described above.

b. Any person who makes public any information which has been provided by a victim of domestic violence, or by a victim of stalking or the family member of such a victim, pursuant to subsection a. of this section concerning the mailing address, post office box or other contact point of the victim or family member or the election district in which the victim or family member resides is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:31-3.3 Elimination of duplicate permanent registration binders in counties with equipment capable of creating, receiving, storing or printing digitalized image of signatures
The commissioner may eliminate the use of the duplicate permanent registration binders and may authorize and direct the use at the polls in place of such a binder, as a signature copy register for the purposes of this Title and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes, of a polling record which identifies on each page the election at which the record is used, which indicates for each registrant the name, address, and date of birth of the registrant and identifies the municipality and the particular election district therein from which the person is registered, and which includes adjacent to the registrant’s name and address an imprint of the digitalized image of the registrant’s signature and sufficient space, immediately to the left or right of that imprint, for the registrant to sign the record, which imprint and signature shall be used as the signature comparison record as prescribed by this Title. The polling record shall also include for each registrant the registrant’s date of birth, an indication of whether the registrant has applied for a mail-in ballot in that election, and a place to indicate whether the registrant has provided identification pursuant to R.S.19:15-17, if such identification is required. The polling record shall also include for each registrant sufficient space for the notation of remarks as provided by R.S.19:15-23 and for the recording of any challenge and the determination thereof by the district board as provided by R.S.19:15-24, or by other elections officials charged with the same duties as the district board in connection with the conduct of an election. In the case of a primary election, the polling record shall also indicate for each registrant the political party, if any, of which the registrant is a member for the purpose of voting at that primary election.

Polling records for each election shall be prepared by the commissioner of registration not later than the 10th day preceding the election. At each election, the delivery of the polling records to the municipal clerk and to the district boards or other elections officials charged with the same duties as the district board in connection with the conduct of an election, and the return of those records by the district boards or such other elections officials to the commissioner of registration, shall be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.

The commissioner of registration shall retain the polling records for any election for a period of not less than six years following that election.

Article 2. Registration and Transfers

19:31-5 Persons entitled to register
Each person, who is at least 17 years of age at the time he or she applies for registration, who resides in the district in which he or she expects to vote, who will be of the age of 18 years or more on or before the first election in which he or she expects to vote, who is a citizen of the United States, and who, if he or she continues to reside in the district until that election, will at the time have fulfilled all the requirements as to length of residence to qualify him or her as a legal voter, shall, unless otherwise disqualified, be entitled to be registered in such district. Each 17-year-old registrant shall be designated in the Statewide voter registration system as temporarily ineligible to vote until the registrant’s 18th birthday.

Whenever an individual registers by mail after January 1, 2003 to vote for the first time in his or her current county of residence, that individual shall provide either the individual’s New Jersey driver’s license number or the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security Number, or shall submit with the voter registration form a copy of: (1) a current and valid photo identification card; (2) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or pay check; (3) any other government document that shows the individual’s name and current address; or (4) any other identifying document that the Attorney General has determined to be acceptable for this purpose. If the individual does not provide his or her New Jersey driver’s license number or Social Security Number information or submit a copy of any one of these documents, either at the time of registration or at any time thereafter prior to attempting to vote, the individual shall be asked for identification when voting for the first time starting at the first election held after January 1, 2004 at which candidates are seeking federal office or thereafter. This requirement shall not apply to any individual entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the “Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act” (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1 et seq.) or to any individual who is provided the right to vote other than in person under section 3 of Pub.L.98-435, the “Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act,” or any other voter entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other federal law. This requirement shall also not apply to any individual who registers to vote by appearing in person at any voter registration agency or to any individual whose voter registration form is delivered to the county commissioner of registration or to the Attorney General, as the case may be, through a third party by means other than by mail delivery.

Once registered, the registrant shall not be required to register again in such district as long as he or she resides therein, except when required to do so by the commissioner, because of the loss of or some defect in his or her registration record.

The registrant, when registered as provided in this Title, shall be eligible to vote at any election to be held subsequent to such registration, if he or she shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years and shall have been a resident of the State for at least 30 days and of the county at least 30 days, when the same is held, subject to any change in his qualifications which may later disqualify him. No registrant shall lose the right to vote, and no registrant’s name shall be removed from the registry list of the county in which the person is registered, solely on grounds of the person’s failure to vote in one or more elections.

19:31-6 Methods of registration; in person, by mail, or online
Any person qualified to vote in an election shall be entitled to vote in the election if the person shall have registered to vote on or before the 21st day preceding the election by:

a. registering in person at any offices designated by the commissioner of registration for providing and receiving registration forms;
b. completing a voter registration form while applying for a motor vehicle driver’s license from an agent of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, as provided for in section 24 of P.L.1994, c. 182 (C.39:2-3.2);
c. completing and returning to the Secretary of State or having returned thereto a voter registration form received from a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c. 182 (C.19:31-6.11), while applying for services or assistance or seeking a recertification, renewal or change of address at an office of that agency;
d. completing and returning to the Secretary of State a voter registration form obtained from a public agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 15 of P.L.1974, c. 30 (C.19:31-6.3);
e. completing and returning to the Secretary of State or having returned thereto a voter registration form received from a door-to-door canvass or mobile registration drive, as provided for in section 19 of P.L.1974, c. 30 (C.19:31-6.7);
f. completing and returning to the Secretary of State a federal mail voter registration form, as prescribed in subsection (b) of section 9 of the “National Voter Registration Act of 1993,” (42 U.S.C. s.1973gg et seq.);1
g. completing and returning to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county clerk an application for a federal postcard application form to register to vote, as permitted pursuant to the “Overseas Absentee Voting Act” (42 U.S.C. s.1973ff-1 et seq.)2 and section 4 of P.L.1976, c. 23 (C.19:59-4);
h. completing a provisional ballot affirmation statement and voting the provisional ballot in the previous election, if the person who submitted the provisional ballot in that election is determined not to be a registered voter; or
i. completing and submitting an online voter registration form available on the Secretary of State’s Internet website, as provided under section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 382 (C.19:31-6.4c).

When the commissioner has designated a place or places other than his office for receiving registrations, the commissioner shall cause to be published a notice in a newspaper circulated in the municipality wherein such place or places of registration shall be located. Such notice shall be published pursuant to R.S.19:12-7.

Any office designated by the commissioner of registration for receiving registration forms shall have displayed, in a conspicuous location, registration and voting instructions. These instructions shall be the same as those provided for polling places under R.S.19:9-2 and shall be provided by the commissioner.

19:31-6a Secretary of State designated chief State election official; responsibilities
The Secretary of State is designated the chief State election official and shall be responsible for the coordination of this State’s responsibilities pursuant to the provisions of the “National Voter Registration Act of 1993,” Pub.L.103-31 (42 U.S.C. s.1973gg et seq.) and the “Help America Vote Act of 2002,” Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. ss.15301 et seq.).

19:31-6.1 Acceptance of applications for registration during certain period prior to election; ineligibility to vote
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Title to which this act is a supplement, any person authorized by law to accept applications for voter registration shall accept, during the 20-day period prior to any election, the application for registration of all eligible voters who shall personally appear for registration before such person, or the registration card mailed or delivered to such person, but no eligible voter so registered shall be entitled to vote in the election immediately following said 20-day period. Any person registered under the provisions of this act shall be advised that he will not be eligible to vote in the election immediately forthcoming but will be eligible to vote in elections held thereafter.

Applications for registration pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be received at such place or places as may be designated by any duly authorized election official.

19:31-6.2. Application of other provisions to persons registered under act
Except to the extent inconsistent herewith concerning the registration of voters, all other provisions shall be applicable to persons registered under the provisions of this act.

19:31-6.3 Registration by registration form; employees or agents of public agency
a. As used in this section, “public agency” shall mean:

The Division of Worker’s Compensation, the Division of Employment Services and the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance, established initially by section 5 of P.L.1948, c.446 (C.34:1A-5), in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

The Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, continued under section 24 of P.L.1948, c.92 (C.52:18A-24);

The New Jersey Transit Corporation, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-4);

Any free county library established under the provisions of article 1 of chapter 33 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes;

Any regional library established under the provisions of P.L.1962, c.134 (C.40:33-13.3 et seq.);

Any free public library established under the provisions of article 1 of chapter 54 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes;

Any joint free public library established under the provisions of P.L.1959, c.155 (C.40:54-29.3 et seq.);

Any public institution of higher education as included under the provisions of N.J.S.18A:62-1;

Any eligible institution, as defined by subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1979, c.132 (C.18A:72B-17), that receives financial assistance, aid, or grants from State funds;

Any office or commercial establishment where State licenses or permits, other than licenses or permits issued by a professional or occupational board established under the laws of this State, are available to individual members of the public; and

Any recruitment office of the New Jersey National Guard.

b. Any person entitled to register to vote may register as a voter in the election district in which that person resides at any time prior to the 21st day preceding any election by completing a registration form described in section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4) and submitting the form to the commissioner of registration of the county wherein the person resides or alternatively, in the case of a registration form provided by the employees or agents of a public agency or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11), to those employees or agents or to the Attorney General. Any registration form addressed to a commissioner of registration may be mailed to or delivered to the office of that commissioner, and in the case of a registration form available at a public agency, the form shall be mailed to the Attorney General or delivered to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant. A registration form postmarked, stamped or otherwise marked as having been received from the registration applicant, on or before the 21st day preceding any election shall be deemed timely.

19:31-6.4 Voter registration application; contents; availability
a. The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared and shall provide to each county commissioner of registration forms of size and weight suitable for mailing, which shall require the information required by R.S.19:31-3 in substantially the following form:

VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION
Print clearly in ink. Use ballpoint pen or marker.
(1) This form is being used as:
[ ] New registration
[ ] Address change
[ ] Name change
(2) Name:

Last
First
Middle

(3) Are you a citizen of the United States of America? Yes No
(4) Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day? Yes No
If you checked ‘No’ in response to either of these questions, do not complete this form.
(5) Street Address where you live:

Street Address

Apt. No.

(6) City or Town County Zip Code
(7) Address Where You Receive Your Mail (if different from above):
……………………………………………………
(8) Date of Birth:

Month

Day

Year
(9)(a) Telephone Number (optional)………………….
(b) E-Mail Address (optional)…………………
(10) Name and address of Your Last Voter Registration
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
(11) If you are registering by mail to vote and will be voting for the first time in your current county of residence, please provide one of the following:
(a) your New Jersey driver’s license number: …………………………..
(b) the last four digits of your Social Security Number………………..
OR submit with this form a copy of any one of the following documents: a current and valid photo identification card; a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check or any other government or other identifying document that shows your name and current address. If you do not provide either your New Jersey driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number, or enclose a copy of one of the documents listed above, you will be asked for identification when voting for the first time, unless you are exempt from doing so under federal or State law.
(12) Do you wish to declare a political party affiliation? (Optional):
YES. Name of Party:
NO. I do not wish to declare a political party affiliation at this time.
(13) I wish to receive a Mail-in Ballot for all future elections, until I request otherwise in writing.
(14) Declaration–I swear or affirm that:
I am a U.S. citizen.
I live at the above address.
I will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next election.
I am not serving a sentence of incarceration due to a conviction for an indictable offense under any federal or State laws.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ANY FALSE OR FRAUDULENT REGISTRATION MAY SUBJECT ME TO A FINE OF UP TO $15,000, IMPRISONMENT UP TO FIVE YEARS, OR BOTH PURSUANT TO R.S.19:34-1.

Signature or mark of the registrant

Date
(15) If applicant is unable to complete this form, print the name and address of individual who completed this form.

Name

Address

In addition, the form may include notice to the applicant of information and options relating to the registration and voting process, including but not limited to notice of qualifications required of a registered voter; notice of the final day by which a person must be registered to be eligible to vote in an election; notice of the effect of a failure to provide required identification information; a place at which the applicant may indicate availability for service as a member of the district board of elections; a place at which the applicant may indicate whether he or she requires a polling place which is accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly or whether he or she is legally blind; a place at which the applicant may indicate a desire to receive additional information concerning voting by mail; and if the application indicates a political party affiliation, the voter is permitted to vote in the primary election of a political party other than the political party in which the voter was affiliated previously only if the voter registration form with the change of political party affiliation is filed prior to the 50th day next preceding the primary election. The form may also include a space for the voter registration agency to record whether the applicant registered in person, by mail or by other means.

b. The reverse side of the registration form shall bear the address of the Secretary of State or the commissioner of registration to whom such form is supplied, and a United States postal permit the charges upon which shall be paid by the State.
c. The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared registration forms of the size, weight and form described in subsection a. of this section in both the English and Spanish language and shall provide such forms to each commissioner of registration of any county in which there is at least one election district in which bilingual sample ballots must be provided pursuant to R.S.19:14-21, R.S.19:49-4 or section 2 of P.L.1965, c. 29 (C.19:23-22.4).
d. The commissioner of registration shall furnish such registration forms upon request in person to any person or organization in such reasonable quantities as such person or organization shall request. The commissioner shall furnish no fewer than two such forms to any person upon request by mail or by telephone.
e. Each such registration form shall have annexed thereto instructions specifying the manner and method of registration, and the vote by mail option specified on the form, and stating the qualifications for an eligible voter.
f. The Secretary of State shall also furnish such registration forms and such instructions to the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Director of the Division of Employment Services, and the Director of the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury; to the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation; to the appropriate administrative officer of any other public agency, as defined by subsection a. of section 15 of P.L.1974, c. 30 (C.19:31-6.3); to the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs; and to the chief administrative officer of any voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c. 182 (C.19:31-6.11).
g. All registration forms received by the Secretary of State in the mail or forwarded to the Secretary of State shall be forwarded to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant. Each such form, and any registration form received otherwise by a commissioner of registration, shall be forwarded to the county clerk if the vote by mail option is selected on a form.
h. An application to register to vote received from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c. 182 (C.19:31-6.11), shall be deemed to have been timely made for the purpose of qualifying an eligible applicant as registered to vote in an election if the date on which the commission or agency shall have received that document in completed form, as indicated in the lower right hand corner of the form, was not later than the 21st day preceding that election.
i. Each commissioner of registration shall make note in the permanent registration file of each voter who is required to provide the personal identification information required pursuant to this section, as amended, and R.S.19:15-17, R.S.19:31-5 and Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C.s. 15301 et seq.), to indicate the type of identification provided by the voter and the date on which it is provided. Prior to the June 2004 primary election, when such a newly registered voter seeks to vote for the first time following his or her registration, the voter will be required to provide such personal identification information. Beginning with the June 2004 primary election, when such a newly registered voter seeks to vote for the first time following his or her registration, the voter will not be required to provide such information if he or she had previously provided the personal identification information required pursuant to this section. The required information shall be collected and stored for the time and in the manner required pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.
j. The Secretary of State shall amend the voter registration application form if necessary to conform to the requirements of applicable federal or State law.
k. In the event that the name of any political party entered on the voter registration form by a voter who wishes to declare a political party affiliation is not legible, the commissioner of registration shall mail the voter a political party declaration form and a letter explaining that the voter’s choice was not understood and that the voter should complete and return the declaration form in order to be affiliated with a party.

19:31-6.4a Rules and regulations
The Secretary of State may promulgate, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

19:31-6.4b Voter registration; immunity granted to government employees; exception
No State or county government employee shall be subject to any penalty, liability or disciplinary action for failure to fulfill any responsibility under the provisions of this act except if the employee engages in the fraudulent registration of a voter.

19:31-6.4c Electronically submitting a voter registration form; conditions; contents
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person who is qualified to register to vote may submit a voter registration form electronically on a secure Internet website maintained by the Secretary of State, if the applicant has an email address and provides a valid New Jersey driver’s license number, a valid New Jersey nondriver identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number. The voter registration form shall contain substantively the same information required to be contained on a paper voter registration form pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1974, c. 30 (C.19:31-6.4).

a. The Secretary of State shall apply the same voter registration deadline applicable under current law for paper voter registration forms to an online voter registration form submitted by an applicant pursuant to this section.
b. The applicant completing the form shall affirmatively attest to the truth of the information provided in the form.
c. For voter registration purposes, the applicant shall affirmatively assent to the use of his or her signature from his or her driver’s license or non-driver identification card or the applicant’s digitized or electronic signature.
d. For each online voter registration form, the Secretary of State shall obtain either an electronic copy of the applicant’s signature from his or her driver’s license or non-driver identification card directly from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, or the applicant’s digitized or electronic signature.
e. Upon submission of an online voter registration form pursuant to this section, the electronic voter registration system shall automatically acknowledge that the online voter registration form has been submitted successfully, and provide instructions on how the person completing the voter registration form may follow-up on the status of the submission either online or by contacting the appropriate county commissioner of registration.
f. The Secretary of State shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of voter registration forms submitted electronically pursuant to this section.
g. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and the Secretary of State shall jointly develop a process and the infrastructure to allow the electronic copy of the applicant’s signature and other information required under this section that is in the possession of the commission to be transferred to the Secretary of State and to the appropriate county election officials to allow a person who is qualified to register to vote in New Jersey to register to vote under this section.
h. If an applicant cannot electronically submit the information required pursuant to this section, the applicant shall nevertheless be able to complete the online voter registration form electronically on the Secretary of State’s Internet website, print a paper copy of the completed form, and mail or deliver the paper copy of the completed form to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county election official. For the purposes of this subsection, the applicant shall be required to provide the same documents required to be provided with a paper voter registration form pursuant to R.S.19:31-5.

19:31-6.4d Selecting a qualified vendor to develop and implement a voter registration Internet website and online voter registration; requirements
a. For the purpose of facilitating online voter registration as quickly and efficiently as possible, the State shall procure a qualified vendor to develop and implement a voter registration Internet website and all necessary supporting software systems to implement online voter registration ahead of the 2020 general election.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a contract for the implementation of the online voter registration Internet website and necessary supporting software systems shall be procured in an expedited process and in the manner provided by this section.
c. The Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury shall procure, without the need for formal advertisement, but through the solicitation of proposals from professional services vendors, a qualified vendor with experience implementing such websites and systems in other states.
d. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, for the purpose of expediting the procurement of a vendor capable and experienced in implementing an online voter registration website and systems, the following provisions shall apply as modifications to any law or regulation that may interfere with the expedited procurement:
(1) the timeframes for challenging the specifications shall be modified as determined by the Division of Purchase and Property;
(2) in lieu of advertising in accordance with section 7 of P.L.1954, c. 48 (C.52:34-12), the division shall advertise the request for proposals for the procurement under this section and any addenda thereto on the division’s website;
(3) the period of time that the State Comptroller, if applicable, has to review the request for proposals for the procurement under this section for compliance with applicable public contracting laws, rules, and regulations, pursuant to section 10 of P.L.2007, c. 52 (C.52:15C-10), shall be 10 business days or less, if practicable, as determined by the State Comptroller;
(4) the timeframes for submission under section 4 of P.L.2012, c. 25 (C.52:32-58) and section 1 of P.L.1977, c. 33 (C.52:25-24.2) shall be extended to prior to the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Award;
(5) the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 92 (C.52:34-13.2) shall not apply to technical and support services under this section provided by a vendor using a “24/7 follow-the-sun model” as long as the contractor is able to provide such services in the United States during the business day; and
(6) the term “bids” in subparagraph (f) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.1954, c. 48 (C.52:34-12) shall not include pricing which will be revealed to all responsive bidders during the negotiation process.
e. The division may, to the extent necessary, waive or modify any requirement under any other law or regulation that may interfere with the expeditious procurement required under this section.

19:31-6.5 Review of registration form; notification to successful registrant; entry of information into Statewide voter registration system; disposition of form; registrant’s voting history
a. Upon receipt of any completed registration form, the commissioner of registration shall review it, and if it is found to be in order, shall:

(1) Send to the registrant written notification that such registrant is duly registered to vote. No registrant shall be considered a registered voter until the commissioner of registration reviews the application submitted by the registrant and deems it acceptable. On the face of such notification in the upper left-hand corner shall be printed the words: “Do Not Forward. Return Postage Guaranteed. If not delivered in 2 days, return to the Commissioner of Registration.”
(2) In as timely a manner as possible, enter the information provided for the registrant on the completed registration form, or electronically transfer the information from an online voter registration form completed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.382 (C.19:31-6.4c), into the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 145 (C.19:31-31).
(3) Paste, tape, or photocopy the completed registration form onto an original registration form, and shall paste or tape a copy of such completed registration form onto a duplicate registration form, both of which shall be filed as provided in R.S.19:31-10. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude any commissioner of registration from keeping the original mail registration form on file.
(4) In the case of a registrant currently registered in another county of this State, notify the commissioner of registration of such other county to remove the individual’s name from the registry list of voters of the county and place into an appropriate retention file all registration documents or material relating to that voter. The commissioner of registration of the current county of the registrant shall secure and maintain the entire voting history of that registrant.

b. The commissioner shall notify a registrant of the reasons for any refusal to approve his registration.
c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1994, c. 182.)

19:31-6.6. Prevention of fraudulent registration and voting; procedures
For the purpose of preventing fraudulent registration and voting, the commissioner of registration in counties having a superintendent of elections, and the county board in all other counties, may, at any time deemed necessary, utilize the procedures set forth by R.S. 19:31-15 and by R.S. 19:32-5.

19:31-6.7. Registration by door-to-door canvassing; certification of number; allocation of funds
a. On December 31 of every year in which a Presidential Election has been held, each county may certify to the Secretary of State the number of newly registered voters who have been registered by door-to-door canvassing and registration, if any, during that calendar year. The funds provided pursuant to subsection c. of this section shall be allocated by the Secretary of State to each county wherein such canvassing and registration has been conducted in the same proportion as the number of voters newly registered by door-to-door canvassing in each such county is to the total number of voters newly registered by door-to-door canvassing in all such counties throughout the State.

b. Plans for any door-to-door canvassing and registration may be included in the plan, if any, for mobile registration for the general election submitted pursuant to R.S.19:31-2.

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1994, c.182.)

19:31-6.8. Amount of reimbursement of counties for new registrants
The Secretary of State shall each year reimburse the counties $0.50 per new registrant, whether the registration was by mail or in person.

19:31-6.9. Rules and regulations
To effectuate the purposes of this act and in addition to any other powers and duties provided in or by this act, the Secretary of State may promulgate such rules as may be necessary, including rules delineating which defects if any in partially completed voter registration forms may be cured and the manner in which such defects if any may be cured, all of which shall have the force of law.

19:31-6.10. Severability
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered.

19:31-6.11 “Voter registration agency” defined; declination forms; contents
a. As used in this section, “voter registration agency” means:

Any agency or office serving as a food stamp issuer, pursuant to P.L.1988, c.79 (C.44:8-153 et seq.) and the “Food Stamp Act of 1977,” Pub.L.95-113 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.);

Any agency or office providing or administering assistance under the “New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program,” pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) and 42 U.S.C. s.1395 et seq.;

Any agency or office distributing food pursuant to the special supplemental food program for women, infants and children (WIC), established pursuant to P.L.1987, c.261 (C.26:1A-36.1 et seq.) and Pub.L. 95-267 (42 U.S.C. s.1786);

Any agency or office administering assistance under the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.);

Any public office of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1985, c.145 (C.30:6D-24), in the Department of Human Services;

Any public office of the Office of Disability Services, established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.91 (C.30:6E-3), in the Department of Human Services;

Any recruitment office of the Armed Forces of the United States, subject to any agreement between this State and the Secretary of Defense of the United States for the joint development and implementation, as provided under subsection (c) of section 7 of Pub.L.103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-6), of procedures for applying at those offices to register to vote;

Any office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the New Jersey Department of Labor;

Any office of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired of the New Jersey Department of Human Services;

Any county welfare agency or county board of social services established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1 or chapter 4 of Title 44 of the Revised Statutes;

The office of the commissioner of registration in the several counties of this State; and

Any office of the municipal clerk in the several municipalities of this State.

b. With each voter registration form and instructions provided to the chief administrative officer at each voter registration agency under subsections e. and f. of section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4), the Secretary of State shall provide at the same time a declination form that includes:

(1) the question: “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?”;

(2) the statement: “Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.”;

(3) boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would or would not like to register to vote, together with the statement “IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME.”;

(4) the statement: “If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.”;

(5) the statement: “If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of State.” (insert address and current telephone number); and

(6) the statement: IF YOU DECLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME, YOUR DECISION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL BE USED ONLY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES. IF YOU DO REGISTER TO VOTE, THE WAY IN WHICH YOU DO SO WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL BE USED ONLY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES.

c. The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared declination forms in the form provided for by subsection b. of this section in both the English and Spanish languages and shall provide such forms to the chief administrative officer of each voter registration agency which has an office in any county in which there is at least one election district in which bilingual sample ballots must be provided pursuant to R.S.19:14-21, R.S.19:49-4 or section 2 of P.L.1965, c.29 (C.19:23-22.4).

d. The Secretary of State shall adopt, pursuant to consultation with the chief administrative officers at voter registration agencies, regulations for the prompt return of the completed voter registration forms, but in no case shall the forms be returned later than the fifth day following the date on which the completed forms are received by the voter registration agencies.

e. All registration forms received by the Secretary of State in the mail or forwarded to the Secretary of State by employees or agents of the voter registration agencies shall be forwarded to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant.

f. Each completed declination form received by a voter registration agency shall be kept confidential for a period of at least two years. The Secretary of State shall determine, pursuant to consultation with the chief administrative officers at voter registration agencies, which office or agency shall retain the declination forms.

19:31-6.12. Development of procedures for voter registration at armed forces recruitment offices
The Secretary of State is authorized, on behalf of this State, to enter into and to carry out an agreement with the Secretary of Defense of the United States for joint development and implementation of procedures for persons to apply at recruitment offices of the Armed Forces of the United States to register as voters of this State. The terms of the agreement with respect to the implementation of those procedures shall conform as nearly as possible to the provisions for the implementation of such procedures at each agency or office providing or administering assistance under the “New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program” pursuant to the provisions of section 28 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.30:4D-19.1).

19:31-6.13. Commissioners of registration; assistance in registration
The commissioner of registration in each of the several counties shall make available at the office of the commissioner to each person appearing in person thereat to apply for services or assistance provided thereby the assistance in registration prescribed by paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 7 of Pub.L.103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-5). Any person providing such assistance in registration shall be subject to the restrictions of paragraph (5) of that subsection.

19:31-6.14 Establishment and implementation by certain state agencies of procedure for automatic voter registration; opportunity to decline automatic voter registration
a. Any State agency, except for the Motor Vehicle Commission, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, may establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom such information is collected shall be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. Any such agency shall comply with the requirements, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State, as established in subsections b. through d. of section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2).

b. Any additional agencies that are designated for automatic voter registration shall comply with the requirements, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State, as established in section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2) for automatic voter registration and shall provide the notices required pursuant to subsection c. thereof to each person from whom such information is collected.

19:31-7 Registration by municipal clerks.
For the convenience of the voters the respective municipal clerks or their duly authorized clerk or clerks in all municipalities shall also be empowered to register applicants for permanent registration up to and including the 21st day preceding any election and after any such election in the manner indicated above, subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the commissioner, in counties having a superintendent of elections, and the county board in all other counties. Duly authorized clerk as used in this section shall mean a clerk who resides within the municipality and has been approved by the commissioner or the county board as the case may be. For this purpose the commissioner shall forward to each municipal clerk a sufficient supply of registration forms. The commissioners shall keep a record of the serial numbers of these forms and shall periodically make such checks as are necessary to accurately determine if all such forms are satisfactorily accounted for. Each municipal clerk shall transmit daily to the commissioner all of the filled out registration forms that he may have in his office at the time.

19:31-7.1. Municipal clerks’ offices; registration assistance
The municipal clerk in each of the several municipalities of this State shall make available at the office of the clerk to each person appearing in person thereat to apply for services or assistance provided thereby the assistance in registration prescribed by paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 7 of Pub.L. 103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-5). Any person providing such assistance in registration shall be subject to the restrictions of paragraph (5) of that subsection.

19:31-10. Filing of registration forms
The original and duplicate registration forms when filled out shall be filed alphabetically by districts at the office of the commissioner in separate sets of locked binders, one for the permanent office record and the other for use in the polling places on election days. Each set of the locked binders of original and duplicate registration forms shall consist of two volumes for each election district to be known as volume I and volume II. Volume I shall contain an index alphabetically arranged beginning with the letter “A” and ending with the letter “K”, and volume II shall contain a similar index beginning with the letter “L” and ending with the letter “Z”. In filing the forms there shall be inserted after the original and duplicate registration forms of each registrant a record of voting form with the corresponding serial number and the name and address of the registrant thereon. The binders containing the duplicate registration forms and the corresponding record of voting forms shall constitute and be known as the signature copy registers.

The original registration forms shall not be open to public inspection except during such period as the duplicate registration forms are in process of delivery to or from the district boards or in the possession of such district boards. The original registration forms shall not be removed from the office of the commissioner except upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The signature copy registers shall at all times, except during the time as above provided and subject to reasonable rules and regulations be open to public inspection.

19:31-10.1 Elimination of original permanent registration binders; retention of original, new or amended voter registration forms
The commissioner of registration may eliminate use of original permanent registration binders, as provided for in R.S.19:31-10, and may maintain in a permanent and separate file the original completed voter registration form of each voter, and any new or amended forms filed by that voter.

19:31-11 Change of residence notice.
a. In all counties within the State, change of residence notices shall be made by a written request, signed by the registrant, forwarded to the commissioner by mail, and actually received by the commissioner, or by calling in person at the office of the commissioner or the municipal clerk. The commissioner shall provide change of residence notices in card form for the use of any registered voter moving to another address within the same election district or to another election district within the same county. Copies of these notices shall also be available at the office of the municipal clerk in each municipality. Each municipal clerk shall transmit daily to the commissioner all the filled out change of residence notices that may be in the municipal clerk’s office at the time. These notices shall be printed upon cards, shall contain a blank form showing where the applicant last resided and the address and exact location to which the applicant has moved and shall have a line for the applicant’s signature, printed name and date of birth. Upon receipt of such change of residence notice the commissioner shall cause the signature to be compared with the registration forms of the applicant and, if such signature appears to be of and by one and the same legal voter, the commissioner shall cause the entry of the change of residence to be made on those registration forms and the registrant shall thereupon be qualified to vote in the election district to which the registrant shall have so moved. If the commissioner is not satisfied as to the signature on the request for a change of residence, a confirmation notice as prescribed by subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 shall be sent by mail with postage prepaid to the registrant at the new address.

The application for change of residence shall be filed with the commissioner or municipal clerk, as the case may be, on or before the 21st day preceding any election.

b. In any county any voter who, prior to an election, shall move within the same county after the time above prescribed for filing an application for change of residence without having made application for change of residence, or who has not returned a confirmation notice sent to the voter by the commissioner of registration of the county, if such a notice has been sent to the voter, or who has not moved since the previous election but whose registration information is missing or otherwise deficient, or has otherwise failed to notify the commissioner of registration of the voter’s change of address within the county, shall be permitted to vote in that election in the district to which the voter has moved, upon making a written affirmation regarding the change of address at the polling place of the district in which the voter resides on the day of the election. No identifying document shall be required from the voter for this affirmation. A district board member shall provide the voter with a provisional ballot, and an envelope with an affirmation statement that conforms with the requirements for such documents contained in subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1). The voter shall complete the provisional ballot and affirmation statement, place the ballot in the envelope, seal and return it to the district board member. The board member shall review the information in the affirmation statement for completeness before forwarding it for inspection, tabulation and notation by the county board of elections, as provided for by sections 7 through 26 of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 through C.19:53C-20). The affirmation statement shall constitute a transfer to the registrant’s new residence for any subsequent election. However, if the voter has moved from one residence to another within the same election district at any time, the voter shall be permitted to vote in such election district at any election in the same manner as other voters at the polling place upon written affirmation by the registrant to the district board member of the registrant’s change of address.

c. A voter who moves from an election district in one county to an election district in another county prior to the close of registration preceding an election shall register in the new county of residence, in accordance with the provisions of R.S.19:31-6, in order to be permitted to vote.

19:31-12. Errors in registration corrected
When by error an eligible voter has been registered in a district other than the one in which he resides the commissioner shall cause the error to be corrected, of which correction the registrant shall be notified by postal card.

19:31-13 Change in registration on marriage, divorce or judgment of court; notification of commissioner
Whenever the registrant after his or her original registration shall change his or her name due to marriage, divorce, or by judgment of court, the registrant shall in person or by mail submit to the commissioner of registration a written statement notifying the commissioner of the change, which statement shall take such form, and be printed on a postal card suitable for mailing of such design, as the Attorney General shall prescribe and shall be signed by the registrant. The commissioner, upon receipt of such a notice of change of name, shall revise accordingly the name of the registrant as it appears among the items of information concerning the registrant included on the registrant’s registration forms, shall make a photographic copy of the notice of name change submitted by the registrant, and shall affix the original notice so submitted to the registrant’s original registration form and the photographic copy of that notice to the registrant’s duplicate registration record.

When notice of such change in name has not been received by or filed with the commissioner prior to the 21st day preceding any election, such person may be permitted to vote under the name under which the person was registered prior to that change at the first election following such change in name at which the person shall appear to vote, after signing the signature copy register with both the registered name and his or her new name. The commissioner shall then revise accordingly the name of the registrant as it appears on the registrant’s registration forms, make a photographic copy of the notice, and affix the original and copy of the notice to the registrant’s permanent registration forms as hereinabove prescribed.

19:31-13.1. Previous registration in another county; notice; transfer to inactive file
When a person appears to register in any county of this State, and in answer to the statement on the registration forms, to wit: “Municipality, house number and street address from which last registered,” such person gives information as to previous registration in another county of this State, the commissioner of registration of the county in which such person newly registers shall forthwith notify the commissioner of registration of the county in which such person was last registered, by postal card signed by the registrant, of the new registration, upon receipt of which information the said commissioner shall transfer the registration forms of such person to the inactive file without any publication thereof being required.

19:31-13.2 Change in political party affiliation; eligibility to vote in primary election; timing
If, when submitting a voter registration form for any reason, a registrant declares thereon his or her political party affiliation and in so doing declares an affiliation with a political party other than the political party with which that person was affiliated previously, the registrant shall be ineligible to vote in the next succeeding primary election unless he or she has made the declaration of affiliation with the political party specified in the latest voter registration form no later than the 50th day next preceding such primary election.

19:31-14. New or altered districts; notice to registrants and to commissioner; registrations not invalidated
When a new district has been created or the boundaries of any district have been changed, the commissioner shall transfer the permanent registration forms of registered voters whose voting districts have been changed, of which change the registrant may be notified by postal card. Within ten days after the creation of any such new district, the commissioner of registration shall notify the Secretary of State of such fact.

The registration of a voter shall not be invalidated by such alteration nor shall the right of any registered voter to vote be prejudiced by any error in making the transfers of the registration forms.

19:31-15 Removal of name of registered voter from Statewide voter registration system; change of residence; corrections
a. Upon receipt by the commissioner of registration of a county from a registered voter of that county of a request that the name of the registrant be removed from the Statewide voter registration system, the commissioner shall so remove the registrant’s name. Notice by a registered voter to the commissioner of registration of a county that the registrant has ceased to reside in the State shall, for the purposes of this subsection, be deemed a request for removal of the registrant’s name from the Statewide voter registration system.

b. The commissioner of registration of any county may agree with the United States Postal Service or its licensee to receive information provided by the Postal Service concerning the change by any Postal Service customer of that customer’s address within the county. If it appears from information so received that a Postal Service customer registered to vote in the county has moved to a different address, then (1) if that address is within the county, the commissioner shall cause the registration records of the registrant to be corrected accordingly and shall transmit to the resident by forwardable mail a notice of the change and a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return form by which the registrant may verify or correct the address information, or (2) if that address is not within the county, the commissioner shall undertake the confirmation notice procedure prescribed under subsection d. of this section to confirm the change of address.

c. The commissioner of registration of a county shall cause the name of a registrant to be removed from the Statewide voter registration system if the registrant (1) confirms in writing, by return of a confirmation notice as prescribed under subsection d. of this section or by other means, that the registrant has changed residence to a place outside the State, or (2) has either not notified the commissioner or failed to respond to a confirmation notice as so prescribed and has not, in any election during the period beginning on the date on which the commissioner sends the confirmation notice to the registrant and ending on the day after the second general election for federal office following that date on which the notice is sent, (a) voted, or (b) appeared to vote in any county and, if necessary, correct the official record of the registrant’s address.

Other than as provided under subsection a. of this section, the name of a registrant shall not be removed from the Statewide voter registration system on the ground that the registrant has changed residence except as provided by this subsection.

d. A confirmation notice sent to ascertain whether a registrant continues to reside at the address from which that registrant is registered to vote shall be a postage prepaid and pre-addressed return card, sent by forwardable mail, which shall include: (1) space on which the registrant’s current address may be entered; (2) the statement “To any voter who continues to reside at the residence address to which this notice is addressed or who no longer resides at that residence address but continues to reside in……………… (name of county): please mail or personally deliver this postage prepaid card to the commissioner of registration to whom it is addressed not later than…………….. (calendar date of the 21st day preceding the next election to be held in the county). If you do not return this card by that date, then at any election held subsequent to that date and on or before…………….. (calendar date of the day after the second general election for federal office following that date), you may be required at the polls to affirm or confirm your address before you are permitted to vote, and if you do not vote in an election during that period, your name will be removed from the registry of eligible voters.”; and (3) a statement, the text of which shall be prescribed by the Attorney General, setting forth the means by which a registrant who has changed residence to a county different from that in which is located the residence to which the notice was originally addressed may retain the right to vote. e. The commissioner of registration shall correct the registry list of eligible voters in accordance with change of residence information obtained in conformity with the provisions of this section.

19:31-16 Reports of death by health or vital statistics officers; records transferred to death file
a. The health officer or other officer in charge of records of death in each municipality shall file with the commissioner of registration for the county in which the municipality is located once each month, during the first five days thereof, the age, date of death, and the names and addresses of all persons 18 years of age or older who have died within such municipality during the previous month. Within 30 days after the receipt of such list, the commissioner shall make and complete such investigation as is necessary to establish to his satisfaction that such deceased person is registered as a voter in the county. If such fact is so established, the commissioner shall cause the registration and record of voting forms of the deceased registrant to be transferred to the death file as soon as possible. If the deceased person was not so registered in the county, but the person maintained a residence in another county of this State, the officer in charge of records of death in the municipality in which the decedent died shall forward a copy of the notice of death to the officer in charge of records of death in the municipality in which the decedent resided. That officer having received the notice shall notify the commissioner of the county in which that municipality is located of the death of the person. Any commissioner who receives such notification shall undertake the procedures prescribed herein with respect to the registration in that county of the decedent.
b. The State registrar of vital statistics shall file with the commissioner of registration of each county no later than May 1 of each year an alphabetized list of the name, address, and date of birth, if available, of each resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the previous year. Within 30 days after the receipt of the list the commissioner shall undertake and complete such investigation as is necessary to establish that each person on the list is not registered as a voter in the county. The commissioner shall cause the registration and record of voting forms of any deceased registrant found on the list to be transferred to the death file as soon as possible.

19:31-16.1. Neglecting or failing to file or accept appropriate death record information; criminal penalty
a. Any State, county or municipal officer in charge of the records of death for the State, or a county or municipality thereof, who knowingly and willfully neglects, fails or refuses to prepare for or to file with the commissioner of registration of each county information regarding any resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the previous year, pursuant to R.S.19:31-16 as amended, or who died during the 40-year period prior to the enactment of P.L.1999, c.232, or who knowingly and willfully prepares or files such information about any resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died that is false, erroneous or incomplete, is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

b. Any election official who knowingly and willfully neglects, fails or refuses to accept any information from a State, county or municipal officer in charge of the records of death for the State, or a county or municipality thereof, regarding any resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the previous year, as provided for by R.S.19:31-16 as amended, or who died during the 40-year period prior to the enactment of P.L.1999, c.232, or who knowingly and willfully neglects, fails, or refuses to conduct the investigation and transfer of the registration and records of any deceased registrant to the death file pursuant to R.S.19:31-16 as amended, is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

As used in this subsection, “election official” shall include, but not be limited to, any superintendent or deputy superintendent of elections, commissioner of registration, or member or employee of a county board of elections.

19:31-16.2. State registrar of vital statistics to provide list of deaths
a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the State registrar of vital statistics shall provide to the chairman of the county committee of a political party, or the designee thereof, upon the request of the chairman or the chairman’s designee, a copy of the alphabetized list of the name, address and date of birth, if available, of each resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the previous year, as provided for by R.S.19:31-16 as amended, and a copy of the alphabetized list of the name, address, and date of birth, if available, of each resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the 40-year period prior to the enactment of P.L.1999, c.232, as provided for by that act.
b. The chairman of the county committee of a political party shall have the authority to inquire whether the commissioner of registration of the county in which the chairman resides is conducting or has conducted the investigations and transfers of the registration and records of deceased registrants, in compliance with R.S.19:31-16 as amended. In the event that the chairman finds the commissioner of registration is not complying, in the chairman’s opinion, with R.S.19:31-16 as amended, the chairman shall report this finding to the Attorney General for further investigation or action, if deemed necessary.

19:31-17. Commissioner to be notified of conviction of county resident of state or federal crime constituting grounds for disfranchisement; transfer of registration to conviction file
a. Once each month during the first five days thereof, the chief State election official shall notify the commissioner of registration of a county of any information which the official shall have received during the previous month from the United States Attorney under subsection g. of section 8 of Pub.L. 103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-6)1 concerning the conviction of a resident of the county of a crime under the laws of the United States, or any other official action relating to such a conviction, that would constitute grounds for disfranchisement of the person while serving a sentence of incarceration under the laws of this State.
b. Once each month during the first five days thereof the prosecutor of the county shall deliver to the commissioner a list of the names and addresses of all persons and their ages and offenses who have been convicted during the previous month of a crime which would disfranchise them while serving a sentence of incarceration under the laws of this State, including therewith the date upon which judgment of conviction was entered against the person, and also including a statement of any sentence of incarceration imposed by the court during the month upon any person so convicted during that month or any previous month; provided, however, if the address of the person so convicted is located in a county other than the county in which the conviction was obtained the said prosecutor shall mail a report of such conviction to the proper election official of the county in which the address of such person is located.
c. Upon the receipt of the notice prescribed under subsection a. of this section or the list prescribed under subsection b. hereof, the commissioner shall make such investigation as is necessary to establish to his satisfaction that the convicted person who was sentenced to a period of incarceration is registered to vote in the county. If it is so established, the commissioner shall cause the registration and record of voting forms of such convicted and sentenced registrant to be transferred to the conviction and incarceration file. In the event the person so convicted and incarcerated is not registered at the time the list or report is received, the commissioner shall cause an index card to be made out and inserted in its proper place in the master index file bearing the information received from the State election official or a county prosecutor, and the person so convicted and incarcerated shall be denied the right to register while serving a sentence of incarceration. Such persons upon the restoration of their citizenship rights or upon being pardoned shall be required to register or reregister before being allowed to vote.

19:31-18 Lists of registered voters; numbers; form
On or before the eighth day preceding any general election the commissioner shall certify and transmit to the county clerk a complete list of all persons who are registered in each election district in each municipality in the county together with a statement as to the number of persons registered in each district. The list of registered voters shall include only the following information for each registered voter: name, address, date of birth, political party affiliation, and voting history. Except when so ordered by a court, the list of registered voters shall not include voter signatures. The list shall be drawn from the Statewide voter registration system, established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31). It shall in figures state the total number of names of persons registered. Such lists shall be arranged substantially in the following form: Grand Street

Residence number Name of voter

or other designation

14 Jones, Charles M.

15 Smith, John M.

19:31-18.1 Copies of registry lists; distribution; prohibition of use for commercial or charitable solicitation; penalty
a. The county clerk in all counties shall cause copies of the registry lists, certified and transmitted under R.S.19:31-18, to be printed, and shall furnish to any voter applying for the same such copies, charging therefor $0.25 per copy of the list of voters of each election district. The clerk shall also furnish five printed copies thereof to each district board, which shall within two days post two such registry lists, one in the polling place and one in another conspicuous place within the election district. The county clerk shall also forthwith deliver to the superintendent of elections of the county, if any there be, and to the chairmen of the county committees of each of the several political parties in the county, five copies of the lists of voters of each election district in the county; and to the municipal clerk of each of the municipalities in the county five copies of the lists of voters of each election district in such municipality; and to the county board 10 copies of the lists of voters of each election district in each of such municipalities. The county clerk shall also, upon the request of the chairman of the State committee of any of the several political parties, but not more than once in each calendar year, forthwith deliver a copy of the lists of voters of each election district in each of the municipalities in his county. In no case shall a list of registered voters furnished pursuant to this section include voter signatures. The county clerk shall satisfy the request by delivery of a computer-generated or electronic copy of the list for the county from the Statewide voter registration system.

b. The commissioner of registration shall furnish a computer-generated or electronic copy of a list of registered voters in any or all election districts in the county to any voter requesting it, for which copy such commissioner shall make a charge which shall be uniform in any calendar year and which shall reflect only the cost of reproducing the list, but which in any case shall not exceed $375.

c. No person shall use voter registration lists or copies thereof prepared pursuant to this section as a basis for commercial or charitable solicitation of the voters listed thereon. Any person making such use of such lists or copies thereof shall be a disorderly person, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00.

19:31-18.3. Filing of original registry lists
The county clerk, after causing copies of such registry lists to be printed, shall file the original registry lists in his office and keep same on file for one year.

19:31-18.4. Repeal
Sections 19:30-1 and 19:30-2 of the Revised Statutes are repealed.

9:31-19 Correction of records by commissioner; notice; stamping registration forms; registration
The commissioner shall transfer to the deleted file the permanent registration and record of voting forms of such persons as a judge of the Superior Court may, as hereinafter provided, order stricken from the Statewide voter registration system and the signature copy register.

The registrant shall be notified by the commissioner by registered mail of any transfer made pursuant to this section.

After the permanent registration form of any person has been placed in the deleted file for any reason whatsoever, the Commissioner of Registration shall note that the person’s registration has been rendered void in the record for that person in the Statewide voter registration system and stamp across the face of said registration form in red ink with a rubber stamp, in type at least one inch high, the word void and underneath said word, deleted, and thereafter, the said form shall not be restored, reinstated or re-transferred to the active file.

Any person whose permanent registration form has been transferred to the deleted file shall be required to reregister, in order to be eligible to vote.

In no event, shall any person’s registration form number which has been transferred to the deleted file be again used as the registration number of that person or any other person.

Article 3. Signature Copy Registers

19:31-20 Delivery of signature copy registers.
On or before the eighth day preceding the primary election for the general election and the general election, respectively, the commissioner in counties not having a superintendent of elections, shall deliver to the municipal clerk in each municipality the signature copy registers for each election district in such municipality and shall take a receipt for same. The municipal clerk shall thereupon deliver at his office, or in any other way he sees fit, such registers to a member or members of the proper district boards at the same time and together with the primary for the general election sample ballots or the general election sample ballots, as the case may be. The registers shall be used by the district boards on election days and for the purpose of mailing the sample ballots. The commissioner in counties having a superintendent of elections shall deliver such registers at his office, or in any other way he may see fit, to the various district boards, taking a receipt for same.

Before delivering the registers the commissioner shall cause to be printed upon a separate sheet or sheets of paper, to be inserted inside of the front cover of such registers in conspicuous type, such instructions to election officers regarding the use and disposition of the binders and forms as he deems necessary.

19:31-21 Use of signature copy registers on election day.
A person whose name appears in the signature copy register and who upon applying for a ballot or voting authority shall have given the information and signed the signature comparison record as provided in this Title and whose signature in the signature comparison record shall have been compared by a member of the district board and in the presence and view of the challengers with the signature of the applicant as recorded in the register shall be eligible to receive a ballot or voting authority unless it be shown to the satisfaction of a majority of the members of the district board that he is not entitled to vote in the district or has otherwise become disqualified.

No person shall be required to sign the signature comparison record as a means of identification if he shall have been unable to write his name when he registered, or if, having been able to write his name when registered, he subsequently shall have lost his sight or lost the hand with which he was accustomed to write or shall by reason of disease or accident be unable to write his name when he applies to vote, but each such person shall establish his identity in the manner provided in this Title.

In addition to signing the signature comparison record and after the comparison of the signature with the signature in the register, a person offering to vote at the primary election for the general election, as the case may be, shall announce his name and the party primary in which he wishes to vote.

After a person has voted the member of the district board having charge of the signature copy registers shall place the number of the person’s ballot in the proper column on the record of voting form of such person, which number shall constitute a record that the person has voted. In the case of the primary election for the general election such member of the district board shall also place in the proper column on the record of voting form the first three letters of the name of the political party whose primary ballot such person has voted.

In the event that the duplicate permanent registration form of any person cannot be found in the signature copy register at the time he applies for a ballot or voting authority, a member of the district board shall promptly ascertain from the commissioner or a duly authorized clerk if such person is permanently registered. Upon information that such is the fact, such member of the district board shall require the person applying for a ballot or voting authority to obtain an order from the commissioner authorizing him to receive a ballot or voting authority. The commissioner shall specially authorize and deputize clerks to issue such orders in municipalities within his county. The commissioner or his clerk shall require the voter to sign his name upon such order for the purpose of signature comparison. The district board shall require the voter to again sign his name on said order, in the presence of the board, and if the signatures compare, to permit him to vote. At primary elections the commissioner or his duly authorized clerk shall endorse on the order the political party whose ballot such person voted at the last preceding primary election. The order shall be returned to the commissioner at the same time and along with the signature copy registers.

19:31-22 Return of signature copy registers to commissioner; check-up and correction of records
Not later than noon of the day following the canvass of the votes cast at the primary election for the general election or the general election, the signature copy registers shall be returned by each district board to the commissioner at his office or in any other way as the commissioner may see fit.

Upon receipt of the registers the commissioner shall inspect them and verify from the party primary poll books and the general election poll books, as the case may be, that the entries required to be made on the record of voting forms in such registers by the district boards have been made. If the commissioner shall ascertain that such entries have not been made or have been improperly made, he shall cause such entries and corrections to be made forthwith and also notify the county board of such failure of duty and the members of such district board who have so failed in their duty and shall be ineligible for appointment as members of any district board thereafter.

Article 4. Records and Files

19:31-23 Commissioner to check records
Following each election the commissioner shall cause the record of voting as shown on the record of voting forms in the signature copy registers or, in counties in which polling records are used in place of those signature copy registers pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.170 (C.19:31-3.3), as shown in the polling records, to be entered on the record of voting forms in the original registration binders and the Statewide voter registration system. An entry of any record of voting which shall have been made in the system shall be retained for a period of not less than ten years following the election at which the vote so recorded was cast.

19:31-24 General registration at polling places in event of complete loss or failure of Statewide voter registration system
In the event of the complete loss or failure of the Statewide voter registration system, the commissioner shall promptly provide for a general registration at the regular polling places in the district or districts for which the binders, registration forms, or other official voter registration information have been lost or destroyed.

19:31-26 Card index files; contents; notations
The commissioner may make and maintain a card index file showing on separate cards the full name, address, birth date, driver’s license number, last four digits of the social security number, or unique identifying number, municipality, ward and district, registration number and date of registration of each person registered in his county. This file shall be arranged alphabetically according to names irrespective of municipality, ward, district, registration number, and date of registration. Reasonably sufficient space shall be reserved on each card for the notations to be made thereon as herein provided.

The commissioner shall cause to be made notation on these cards as to each registrant respectively whose registration forms have been transferred from one register to another or to the inactive, death or conviction files concurrently with such transfer. The card with such notations shall show the location of the registration forms of each registrant at all times. All changes of address of the registrant, including those within the same district, shall be noted on these cards concurrently with changes of address on the registration forms.

19:31-29. Violations of voter registration provisions; remedies available
a. Any person who believes that he or she has been denied an opportunity to register to vote or to remain a registered voter in violation of the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.), may seek relief by providing written notice to the Secretary of State. Such notice shall include the date which the person seeking relief believes the violation to have occurred and as many of the particulars relative to the violation as that person can recount. The notice shall also include the name and address of the person seeking relief and shall be certified by that person’s signature.

b. If the violation of the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.) has not been investigated or corrected within 90 days after the Secretary of State receives written notice of the violation, or within 20 days after the Secretary of State receives written notice of the violation if the violation occurred within 120 days prior to the day of an election, the aggrieved person may bring a civil action in the appropriate superior court for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation.

c. If the violation occurred within 30 days prior to the day of an election, the aggrieved person shall not be required to first provide written notice to the Secretary of State, as provided for in subsection a. of this section, but may instead bring a civil action in the appropriate superior court, as provided for in subsection b. of this section.

d. In any civil actions brought under subsections b. or c. of this section, the superior court may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, reasonable attorney fees, including litigation fees and costs.

19:31-30. Rules and regulations
The Secretary of State shall promulgate, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

Article 5. Statewide Registration

19:31-31 Statewide voter registration system; features; information
a. There shall be established in the Department of State a single Statewide voter registration system, as required pursuant to section 303 of the federal “Help America Vote Act of 2002,” Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15483). The principal computer components of the system shall be under the direct control of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for creating the network necessary to maintain the system and providing the computer software, hardware and security necessary to ensure that the system is accessible only to those executive departments and State agencies so designated by the Secretary of State, each county commissioner of registration, each county and municipal clerk, and individuals under certain circumstances, as provided for by this section. The system shall be the official State repository for voter registration information for every legally registered voter in this State, and shall serve as the official voter registration system for the conduct of all elections in the State.

b. The Statewide voter registration system shall include, but not be limited to, the following features:

(1) the name and registration information of every legally registered voter in the State;
(2) the ability to assign a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the State;
(3) interactivity among appropriate State agencies so designated by the Secretary of State, each county commissioner of registration, each county board of elections, and each county clerk such that these entities shall have immediate electronic access to all or selected records in the system, as determined by the Secretary of State, to receive or transmit all or selected files in the system and to print or review all or selected files in the system;
(4) the ability to permit any county commissioner of registration to enter voter registration information on an expedited basis, and to transfer electronically voter registration information from an online voter registration form completed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 382 (C.19:31-6.4c), at the time the information is provided thereto and to permit the Secretary of State to provide technical support to do so whenever needed;
(5) the ability to permit each municipal clerk to view or print information in the system;
(6) the ability to permit an individual, by July 1, 2006, to verify via the Internet whether that individual, and only that individual, is included in the system as a legally registered voter, whether the information pertaining to that individual required by subsection c. of this section is correct, and if not, a means to notify the pertinent county commissioner of registration of the corrections that must be made and to so verify in a way that does not give one individual access to the information required by subsection c. of this section for any other individual;
(7) a Statewide street address index and map in electronic form that can accurately identify the location of every legally registered voter in this State;
(8) the ability to record and monitor all requests for mail-in ballots; to enable the county clerk to verify the identity and signature of each person requesting a mail-in ballot; to record the name and address of each voter determined to be eligible to receive a mail-in ballot for a particular election and to note when a mail-in ballot has been transmitted to that voter by mail or hand delivery; to update the system to allow the postal tracking of mail-in ballots using Intelligent Mail barcodes, or a similar successor tracking system, upon the finding by the Secretary of State that such technology is viable; and to make such information available to the Secretary of State so that a voter can be notified whether the application for such a ballot was accepted or rejected, and the reason for the rejection, using the free-access system established by section 5 of P.L.2004, c. 88 (C.19:61-5); and
(9) any other functions required pursuant to Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15301 et seq.), or Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or that may be deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.

c. The Statewide voter registration system shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for every legally registered voter in this State:

(1) last, first and middle name;
(2) street address at time of registration or rural route, box number or apartment number, if any;
(3) city or municipality, and zip code;
(4) date of birth;
(5) telephone number and e-mail address, if provided on voter registration form;
(6) previous name or address if individual re-registered due to change of name or address;
(7) ward and election district number, if either is available;
(8)(a) current and valid New Jersey driver’s license number; or
(b) if the registrant has not been issued a New Jersey driver’s license number, the last four digits of the registrant’s social security number; or
(c) unique identifying number for any individual who has not been issued the information sought in subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph;
(9) notation that a copy of one of the following documents has been submitted with the voter registration application, if required: current and valid photo identification card; a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check or any other government document showing the registrant’s name and current address;
(10) the method by which the individual registered and whether that person needs to provide additional identification information to vote using a voting machine instead of a provisional ballot;
(11) political party affiliation, if designated;
(12) digitized signature;
(13) date of registration or re-registration;
(14) name and street address of the individual assisting in the completion of the form, if the applicant for registration is unable to do so;
(15) voting participation record for ten-year period; and
(16) any other information required pursuant to Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15301 et seq.), or Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or that the Secretary of State determines is necessary to assess the eligibility of an individual to be registered to vote and to vote in this State.

19:31-32 System as replacement for all computer or electronic-based registry files; duties of county commissioners of registration; accuracy and security; inter-agency agreements
a. The Statewide voter registration system shall replace all other computer or electronic-based registry files of voters and other voter registration files established and maintained by each county commissioner of registration for voter registration and election administration purposes established pursuant to the provisions of Title 19 and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes, and shall be the single system for storing and managing the official file of registered voters throughout the State. A commissioner may, however, continue to use and maintain as a supplement to the system the original and duplicate permanent registration binders and voting records and shall continue to use and maintain the signature copy registers or polling records provided for in Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
b. Each county commissioner of registration shall be responsible for adding to, deleting from, amending and otherwise conducting on a regular basis maintenance for the files of every legally registered voter in that commissioner’s county as contained in the Statewide voter registration system, pursuant to the provisions of section 303 of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s. 15301 et seq.)1 and Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. Each commissioner shall be responsible for verifying the accuracy of the name, address and other data of registered voters in the commissioner’s respective county as contained in the system. The commissioner who receives the voter registration forms of individuals who have registered to vote in the county or who are re-registering for any reason shall be responsible for entering the information on those forms into the system on an expedited basis, and electronically transferring into the system the information from online voter registration forms completed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 382 (C.19:31-6.4c), including but not limited to forms and information received pursuant to chapter 31 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. The information the commissioner shall use to update and maintain the system shall be that required by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 145 (C.19:31-31).
c. The Secretary of State and each county commissioner of registration shall be responsible for developing and providing the technological security measures needed to prevent unauthorized access to the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 145 (C.19:31-31) and to the information for any individual on the system required by subsection c. of section 1 of that act.
d. The Secretary of State, in consultation with each county commissioner of registration, shall develop minimum standards to safeguard the accuracy of the files contained in the Statewide voter registration system. Such standards shall include procedures to ensure that reasonable effort is made to remove registrants who are ineligible to vote pursuant to federal or State law and to ensure that eligible voters are not removed in error from the system.
e. (1) The Secretary of State and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in the Department of Transportation shall enter into an agreement to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with information in the database of the commission, including social security numbers, to the extent required to enable verification of the accuracy of the information provided on applications for voter registration, and to locate and utilize for voter registration purposes the digitized signatures of licensed drivers or holders of non-driver identification cards who register to vote using an online voter registration form, as provided pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 382 (C.19:31-6.4c).

(2) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on death records.
(3) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on individuals who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole as the result of a conviction for an indictable offense.
(4) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on individuals who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole as the result of a conviction for an indictable offense.
(5) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the State Parole Board to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on individuals who are on parole.

19:31-33 Annual reports
Each year the Attorney General shall prepare and submit to the Governor and the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly a report that:

a. assesses the current status of the Statewide voter registration system;

b. assesses the hardware and software required to maintain and expand the system;

c. reviews existing or planned statewide voter registration systems in other states or as may be required by Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15301 et seq.) or the federal Election Assistance Commission created by that law;

d. recommends ways to strengthen and expand electronic communications among those executive departments and State agencies designated by the Attorney General to have access to the system, the county commissioners of registration and the county and municipal clerks; and

e. recommends ways to improve the effectiveness of the system in the administration of elections and voting in this State.

In preparing the report, the Attorney General shall solicit the views of county commissioners of registration and such other individuals familiar with the system as the Attorney General may wish to consult.

The Attorney General shall submit the initial report to the Governor and the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly no later than two years after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31 et al.).

19:31-34 Rules and regulations.
The Attorney General may promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31 et al.).

19:31-35 Use of electronic poll books at polling place; certification; rules; regulations; instructions
Each county commissioner of registration and county board of elections may adopt, as further provided by this act, P.L.2019, c. 80 (C.19:31-35 et seq.), electronic poll books for use at each polling place on the day of any election, in place of the paper polling record or signature copy register, to access the registration record, eligibility, signature, and other information of each registered voter in the election district. The electronic poll books shall enable at least the same functionality currently provided by the paper polling records or signature copy register to be accomplished in the conduct of an election. An electronic poll book shall not be used unless it has been certified by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall adopt and publish electronic poll books standards and regulations governing the certification and use of electronic poll books. The Secretary of State shall not certify an electronic poll book unless it is in compliance with at least the capabilities and standards specified under section 2 of P.L.2019, c. 80 (C.19:31-36) and the Secretary of State’s standards and regulations. The Secretary of State shall provide each county commissioner of registration and board of elections that adopts the use of electronic poll books under this act with rules, regulations, and instructions regarding the examination, testing, and use of electronic poll books, including rules regarding the security and protection of the information stored in such electronic poll books.

19:31-36 Electronic poll book technology; capabilities and standards
The electronic poll book technology certified by the Secretary of State shall meet at least the following capabilities and standards:
a. The ability to enable a poll worker to perform by electronic means all of the same functions performed using a paper polling record and signature copy register, during the conduct of an election, including but not limited to, the following:

(1) retrieving a registered voter’s name, address, and date of birth and identifying the municipality and the particular election district therein from which the person is registered;
(2) verifying whether additional identifying documents or proof of residency are needed to complete a voter’s registration;
(3) accessing a registered voter’s voting record and an imprint of the digitized image of the registered voter’s signature;
(4) recording a registered voter’s signature at the polls;
(5) assigning a sequential number of each voter permitted to vote;
(6) inspecting whether a registered voter already voted or was mailed a mail-in ballot;
(7) redirecting a voter to the correct polling place;
(8) recording any necessary notation of remarks on the voter’s record as provided by R.S.19:15-23 and any other challenge and the determination thereof by the district board in connection with the conduct of an election;
(9) providing an auditable record of the election; and
(10) in the case of a primary election, the electronic poll books shall indicate for each registered voter the political party, if any, of which the voter is a member for the purpose of voting at that primary;

b. compatibility with the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 145 (C.19:31-31), which shall include the ability of the electronic poll books to import the records of all registered voters in the election district and updates to those records before election day, to record edits to those records on election day, and to export to the Statewide voter registration system all of the election activity and voter participation information at the closing of the polls or, as an alternative to the export capability, the capability to generate a report of the election activity and voter participation information for manual entry into the Statewide voter registration system;
c. a proven ability to successfully meet requirements concerning technology documentation, user safety, accessibility, durability, data encryption, non-interference with and separation from the voting system in use during an election, device and system security, audit log, data and power backup, compatibility, and functionality, as demonstrated under actual performance and use in other United States election administration jurisdictions; and
d. any other capability or standard deemed appropriate by the county commissioner of registration, county board of elections, or Secretary of State, or deemed necessary to comply with any provision of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

19:31-37 Request for approval for use of electronic poll books; delivery to election; records
A county commissioner of registration and county board of elections opting to use electronic poll books shall submit to the Secretary of State a request for approval in the form, content, and timeframe specified by the Secretary of State. Within 10 days of receiving the request, the Secretary of State shall review the request for compliance with the Secretary of State’s standards and regulations and all of the capabilities and standards required under this act, P.L.2019, c. 80 (C.19:31-35 et seq.). A county commissioner of registration and county board of elections approved to use electronic poll books shall furnish at least two electronic poll books for each polling place and a backup paper polling record or signature copy register. Electronic poll books for each election shall be prepared by the commissioner of registration no later than the 10th day preceding the election. At each election, the delivery of the electronic poll books to the municipal clerk and to the district boards or other officials charged with the same duties as the district boards in connection with the conduct of an election, and the return of those electronic poll books by the district boards or such other election officials to the commissioner of registration, shall be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of registration and shall comply with Title 19 of the Revised Statues.1 The commissioner of registration shall retain the electronic poll books records for any election for a period of not less than six years following that election.

19:31-38 Rules and regulations
Notwithstanding any provision of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the Secretary of State shall adopt immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law, within 90 days of the effective date of this act, P.L.2019, c. 80 (C.19:31-35 et seq.), such rules and regulations as the Secretary of State deems necessary to implement the provisions of this act, which shall be effective during an interim period and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the Secretary of State in accordance with the requirements of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

Chapter 31A. Signature Comparison Records; Form and Use

19:31A-7. Signature comparison record and duplicate permanent registration and voting form; voter’s signature; form of record
The commissioner of registration shall have printed on the back of the duplicate permanent registration and voting form a signature comparison record, which record shall have in the left-hand side one-half inch from the top, a line upon which the voter when registering shall place his signature. Directly underneath this line shall be printed the words “sample signature.”

The signature comparison record shall be printed so as to leave a margin one and one-half inches on the left-hand side for the purpose of binding. The remainder of the space shall be ruled to provide a record of registrants’ signatures as made for comparison purposes before receiving a ballot at any election. The form shall be sufficient to record signatures for a period of 20 years and shall be subdivided into seven columns.

At the top of the first column at the left-hand side shall appear the word “year.” This column shall be approximately three-quarters of an inch wide.

At the top of the second column shall appear the abbreviation for the words “signature compared by.” In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of the voter placed in third column with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the third column shall appear the word “primary.” Upon the line in this column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in the primary election for the general election in the year as stated in the first column. This column shall be approximately three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the top of the fourth column shall appear the abbreviation of the words “signature compared by.” In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of voter placed in the fifth column, with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the fifth column shall appear the word “general.” Upon the line in said column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in the general election in the year as stated in the first column. This column shall be approximately three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the top of the sixth column shall appear the abbreviation of the words “signature compared by.” In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of voter placed in the seventh column, with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the seventh column shall appear the words “any other election.” Upon the line in this column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in any election other than a primary election for a general election or a general election. The signature shall be placed on the line opposite the year stated in the first column which corresponds with the year during which such other election shall be held. This column shall be three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the time the voter registers, in addition to obtaining the signature on the original and duplicate registration forms the commissioner of registration shall also require the registrant to sign the signature comparison record on the back of the duplicate registration form above the line below which are the words “sample signature.”

The signature comparison record shall be in substantially the following form:
PLEASE PHOTOCOPY INSERTION

19:31A-8 Comparison of signatures; voting; statements; form of statements; disability certificates; certification of signature comparison record
Every person qualified to vote in any election shall at any time after the opening of the polls be at liberty to enter the polling place or room and claim his right to vote at such election in his proper district, and he shall claim such right in person before the district board in the district. The board shall permit no person to vote whose name does not appear in the signature copy register of its election district. Each voter in claiming the right to vote shall first give his full name and address to the member of the district board having charge of the duplicate permanent registration binder and voting record and the signature comparison record. Such clerk shall thereupon locate the permanent registration form and voting record and signature comparison record of the voter and shall require the voter to thereupon sign his name in the proper space on his signature comparison record if the voter has previously signed his name on the line marked sample signature. If the voter has not so signed the member of the district board shall require the voter to sign the line marked sample signature and compare the sample signature with the signature made by such person at the time he registered and if satisfied that they were made by one and the same person he shall then permit the voter to sign his name in the proper space on the signature comparison record. The voter shall sign his name without assistance using black ink in the proper column on the signature comparison record. Such signature being completed on the signature comparison record the member of the board having charge of the duplicate permanent registration binder shall audibly and publicly announce the name of the claimant and if the member of the board has ascertained from the duplicate permanent registration binder that the claimant is registered as a qualified voter and upon comparison the member of the board is satisfied that the signature of the claimant and the sample signature on the signature copy register has been made by one and the same person, the member of the board who compared the signature of the voter shall place his initials in the proper column on the signature comparison record signifying that he has made such comparison and is satisfied that the signature of the claimant and sample signature has been made by one and the same person; whereupon the voter shall be eligible to receive a ballot unless it be shown to the satisfaction of a majority of the members of the district board that he is not entitled to vote in the district or has otherwise become disqualified.

In addition to signing the signature comparison record and after the comparison of the signature with the signature in the register, a person offering to vote at a primary election for the general election shall announce his name and the party primary in which he wishes to vote.

After a person has voted, the member of the district board having charge of the signature copy register shall place the number of the person’s ballot in the proper column on the record of voting form of such person, which number shall constitute a record that the person has voted. In the case of a primary election for the general election such member of the district board shall also place in the proper column on the record of voting form the first three letters of the name of the political party whose primary ballot such person has voted.

No person shall be required to sign the signature comparison record as a means of identification if he shall have been unable to write his name when he registered, or if, having been able to write his name when registered, he subsequently shall have lost his sight or lost the hand with which he was accustomed to write or shall by reason of disease or accident be unable to write his name when he applies to vote, but each such person who alleges his inability to sign his name on the signature comparison record shall establish his identity as follows: one of the members of the district board shall read the same list of questions to the voter as were required upon registration, such questions shall be provided at each election by the commissioner of registration and are to be known as “identification statements for election day.” The member of the board shall write the answers of the voter upon the identification statement. These statements shall be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders, at each election, and shall be numbered serially from one to twenty.

Each statement shall contain the same questions as the voter was required to answer upon registration. The questions answered upon registration shall not be turned to or inspected until the answers to the questions shall have been written on election day by the member of the board.

At the end of each list of questions shall be printed the following statement: “I certify that I have read to the above named voter each of the foregoing questions and that I have duly recorded his answers as above to each of said questions”; and the member of the board who has made the above record shall sign his name to such certificate and date the same, and note the time of day of making such record. If the answers to the questions asked of the voter on election day agree with the answers given by him to the same questions at the time he registered, he shall then be eligible to receive a ballot. Any person who shall permit or attempt to furnish the answers on behalf of the voter shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The commissioner of registration shall furnish sufficient identification statements for each election district in each county. The statements shall be printed on sheets approximately ten by sixteen inches and shall contain a margin of approximately two inches for binding and shall be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders each election and shall be in substantially the following form:

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM FROM P.L.1996, c.120, s.6.

At any election any person who declares under oath and establishes to the satisfaction of a majority of all the members of the district board, that by reason of an inability to read or write, blindness or other physical disability he is unable to mark his ballot without assistance, shall have the assistance of two members of the board who shall not be members of the same political party, to be assigned by the board, in preparing his ballot. Such members shall retire with such voter to the booth and assist him in the preparation of his ballot and folding the same. The member acting as clerk of the district board shall make an entry on a disability certificate for assistance, which entry shall be in the form of an oath and be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders each election.

In every instance when such oath was administered to a voter as herein provided, it shall state briefly what facts were sworn to and the names of the members of the board who aided such voter. Any members of the district board shall be eligible to witness the preparation of the ballot of any such voter, but no other person shall be allowed to assist him in marking his ballot or to witness the marking of the same. No member of the board shall reveal the name of any person for whom such voter has voted or anything that took place while he was being assisted.

Such voter, if blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, may, in lieu of the assistance of the board as above provided, have assistance of some person of his own selection in preparing his ballot. Such person shall retire with such voter to the booth and assist him in the preparation of his ballot and folding the same. The name and address of such person shall be recorded as above. In such case, no other person than the one so selected by the voter shall be allowed to assist such voter in marking his ballot or witness the marking of the same. No person so selected shall reveal the name of any person for whom such voter has voted or anything that took place while he was being assisted.

The disability certificates shall be numbered serially one to twenty. The commissioner of registration shall furnish sufficient disability certificates for assistance for each election district in his county. The disability certificates for assistance shall be printed on sheets approximately ten by sixteen inches and shall contain a margin of approximately two inches for binding and shall be in substantially the following form:

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM FROM P.L.1996, c.120, s.6.

The commissioner of registration in each county shall furnish sufficient certificates of signature comparison records for each election district in his county to be filled in and signed at the close of the polls by the members of the district board. A blank space shall also be provided for on the certificate for the signatures of the members of the election board. Under said certificate there shall also be printed the word “Remarks” together with a number of blank lines. The commissioner shall insert one of such certificates in the front of the signature copy register in each election district in the county. At primary elections the certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

PRIMARY ELECTION

CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURE COMPARISON RECORD

The undersigned constituting the district board of election in the County of………………………………………………. in the………………………………………………………..

(City, Town, Township, Borough or Village)

………………………………………….. Ward……………………………………… District hereby

certify that (……………………………………………………….) is the correct total of the

(Figures)

number of names of voters who actually signed the signature comparison records and voted in the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION held on the

…………………. day of………………………………. 20….

And hereby certify that (…………………….) is the correct total of the number of

(Figures)

names of voters who actually signed the signature comparison records and voted in the REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION held on the…………… day of…………………………., 20….

DISTRICT

……………………………………………Judge…………………………….. Clerk.

BOARD OF

……………………………..Inspector…………………… Clerk.

ELECTION

Remarks:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

At all other elections the certificates shall be in substantially the following form:

CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURE COMPARISON RECORD

The undersigned constituting the district board of election in the County of…………………….. in the……………………………………………………………..

(City, Town, Township, Borough or Village)

……………………………………….. Ward………………………………………… District hereby

certify that (……………………………………………………….) is the correct total of the

(Figures)

number of names of voters who actually signed the signature comparison records and voted in the………………………………………………………………………election held on the (General, Special or other Election as the case may be)

……………… day of……………, 20….. .

DISTRICT

……………….. Judge……………………………… Clerk.

BOARD OF

………………..Inspector………………………….. Clerk. ELECTION

Remarks:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

After each election the commissioner of registration shall remove from the binders the identification statements, the disability certificates for assistance, and certifications of signature comparison records and shall preserve them in his office in a suitable place for a period of two years.

19:31A-9. Erroneous record
When any legal voter shall apply to the district board in the district in which he resides and shall find that his name upon the signature comparison record is marked as having voted, the district board shall not permit such persons to vote. Application may be made by the registrant to the commissioner and upon due proof to the commissioner or his duly authorized clerk that such registered voter has not voted in such election the commissioner shall issue a certificate directed to the district board authorizing the district board to permit such person to vote.
The commissioner shall immediately following such election cause the members of the district board in such district to appear before him and unless such district board can explain to the satisfaction of the commissioner why such registrant’s form was marked as voted the commissioner shall advise the county board that such district board or any member thereof has failed in the performance of its duty and the member or members of such board who have so failed in their duty shall be ineligible for appointment as members of any district board thereafter.

19:31A-10. Repeals
Sections 19:15-7, 19:15-13, 19:15-14, 19:15-15, 19:15-16, 19:15-35 and 19:15-36 of the Revised Statutes and “An act concerning elections and supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes,” approved June third, one thousand nine hundred and forty-one (P.L.1941, c. 177), are repealed.

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Subtitle 7 – Enforcement of Election Law

Chapter 32. Superintendent of Elections

19:32-1 Establishment of office; appointment by Governor with advice and consent of Senate; term; salary; vacancy; salary of deputies
The office of superintendent of elections in counties of the first class in which such office has previously been established is continued, and in those counties of the first class in which such office has not been previously established, is established. The offices shall be filled by some suitable persons who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and who shall hold office for the term of five years from the date of appointment and until their successors are appointed and have qualified. Each superintendent shall receive such salary per annum as the governing body of such county may by resolution authorize, but not less than $7,500, to be paid by the county treasurer. The persons so appointed shall have their offices in the counties for which they are appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments, but shall be for the unexpired terms only. Any person filling a vacancy shall be from the same party as the original appointee. The annual salary of each deputy superintendent shall be 90% of what the superintendent receives for performing the duties of superintendent of elections and commissioner of registration.

19:32-1.1. Counties of first class; deputy superintendent of elections; appointment by Governor; term; vacancies
The office of deputy superintendent of elections in counties of the first class is established. The office in each county shall be filled by a suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall not be from the same political party as the superintendent of elections, and who shall hold office for a term of 5 years, running concurrently with the term of the superintendent and until his successor is appointed and has qualified. The initial appointment to the office of deputy superintendent of elections may be for a partial term, if necessary. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments but shall be for the unexpired term only. He shall have his office in the county for which he is appointed.

19:32-1.2. Powers and duties
The deputy superintendent of elections shall assist the superintendent of elections in the performance of his duties, shall serve as superintendent in his absence, and shall have such powers and duties as the superintendent may delegate to him from time to time. In addition, the deputy superintendent is constituted the chief deputy of the superintendent and shall have all of the powers and duties of the chief deputy. No county with a deputy superintendent so appointed shall also have a chief deputy appointed pursuant to R.S. 19:32-2.

19:32-2 Deputy; clerk; secretary and other assistants; civil service; salaries; expenses
a. Except as provided in section 2 of P.L.1982, c.46 (C.19:32-1.2), each superintendent may appoint a chief deputy, a chief clerk, a secretary, such personnel as is authorized under R.S.19:48-6, and any other assistants he considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Title, and, except as hereinafter provided, may remove the same whenever he deems it necessary and all persons so appointed, by superintendents of elections in counties of the first class having more than 850,000 inhabitants, according to the latest federal census taken in a year ending in zero, to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year, shall be in the classified service of the civil service and shall be appointed in accordance with and shall be subject to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but all other persons so appointed shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but shall be in the unclassified service. All persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 600,000, but less than 850,000 inhabitants, according to the latest federal census taken in a year ending in zero, to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year, other than the chief deputy and chief clerk and confidential secretary and chief custodian, shall be in the classified service of the civil service and shall be appointed, and hold their position, in accordance with the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but all other persons so appointed shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but shall be in the unclassified service. Subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, the salaries of the persons so appointed shall be fixed and such salaries certified to and approved under his hand shall be paid semimonthly by the county treasurer of the county in which such persons are so engaged. All other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Title, when certified to and approved by the superintendent, shall be paid by the county treasurer of the county in which the superintendent shall maintain his office; provided, however, that all necessary expenses incurred by the commissioner of registration, the superintendent of elections, and the custodian of voting machines in the counties of the first class for the proper performance of all of his duties of all his offices as set forth in Title 19, shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the sum of $2,000,000.00 for the year 1998 or that sum, as adjusted, for each year thereafter. The governing body of the county may increase the sum but the increase shall not exceed 5% or the index rate, whichever is less, over the previous year’s sum. As used in this section, “index rate” means the rate of annual percentage increase, rounded to the nearest half-percent, in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services, computed and published quarterly by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, which annual increase shall be calculated on the basis of the second quarter which occurred in the next preceding local budget year. The Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs shall promulgate annually, on or before October 1, the index rate to apply in the next following local budget year.

b. The superintendent shall determine the amount of the salary to be paid to each person appointed by the superintendent, and shall submit the proposed salaries to the governing body for review and approval. Following the review and approval of the governing body, the salaries shall be fixed and shall be paid to those persons pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

19:32-3. Municipal expenses payable by municipalities
All necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this title when certified to and approved by such superintendent in connection with an election held in and for a municipality only shall be paid by the municipality.

19:32-4. Offices, equipment and supplies
The board of chosen freeholders of the counties shall provide suitable room or rooms for the transaction of the business of such superintendent and procure suitable furniture therefor and any books, stationery, fuel and supplies that may be necessary from time to time. It shall provide a proper place for the safe-keeping of the records and papers.

19:32-4.1 Election days; polling places to be provided with complaint forms; forms accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope
On the day of every municipal, primary, general, special or annual school election the superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections or the county board of elections in all other counties shall provide to each polling place in the county sufficient numbers of a form on which voters or persons attempting to vote may register any complaint regarding the conduct of the election at the polling place where they voted or attempted to vote. In counties in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, the form for the complaint shall appear in both English and Spanish. The form shall protect the anonymity of the complainant, if that person so wishes, and shall be accompanied by an envelope with the proper postage and the name and address of the superintendent of elections of the county or the chairman of the county board of elections, as the case may be. A complaint may be used by the superintendent of elections or any other municipal or State investigatory agency to conduct an investigation into possible violation of the State election law. Copies of the form containing the complaint shall be available from the superintendent of elections or the county board of elections, as the case may be. The original form of the complaint, or a copy, shall be kept on file with the superintendent of elections or the county board of elections, as the case may be, for two years after the election for which it was filed.

19:32-5 Investigations by superintendents and assistants; neglect to furnish information or exhibit records
Such superintendents and their assistants, in order to enforce the laws of this State regarding the conduct of elections, shall investigate all complaints relating to the registration of voters, and for that purpose the superintendents and their assistants shall have full power and authority to visit and inspect any house, dwelling, building, inn, lodging house or hotel and interrogate any inmate, house-dweller, keeper, caretaker, owner, proprietor or landlord thereof or therein as to any person or persons residing or claiming to reside therein or thereat; to inspect and copy any books, records, papers or documents relating to or affecting the elections, either general, special, primary or municipal, or the registration of voters in the custody and control of district boards, county boards, or the clerks or other officers of municipalities; to require every lodging-house keeper, landlord or proprietor to exhibit his register of lodgers therein at any time to the superintendent, his subordinates or any other person so designated by such superintendent.

Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this title, or to exhibit the records, papers, or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:32-6 Subpoenas; power to issue; service; failure to testify; false statements
The superintendent shall have power to issue subpoenas for the purpose of investigating any complaint of violation of the election laws of the state, such subpoenas to be issued in the name of the superintendent and for the purpose of aiding him in enforcing the provisions of the election laws. He may in proper cases issue subpoenas duces tecum. A subpoena issued by the superintendent may be served by any peace officer or any other person designated by him for that purpose.

A person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the superintendent and made returnable by him or who shall refuse to testify under oath before such superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

A person who shall make any false statement under oath before the superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:32-7. Attendance at elections; admission to polling places
The superintendent, his subordinates, or any person or persons designated by him, may attend at any election, any of whom shall be admitted at any time within any polling place and within the guard rails thereof.

19:32-8 Register of lodgers.
When directed by the superintendent every landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of a lodging house, inn or hotel, shall keep a register in which shall be entered the names and residences, the date of arrival and departure of his guests, and the room, rooms or bed occupied by them. This register shall be arranged so that there shall be a space on the same line in which each guest or lodger shall sign his name.

Such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall make a sworn report upon a blank to be prepared and furnished by the superintendent thirty days before the election next ensuing to such superintendent, containing a detailed description of the premises so used and occupied as a lodging house, inn or hotel, including the size and character of building, and in case only part of a building is so used, a statement as to what part, and the names of the lodgers therein, and all the employees, and all other persons living therein, including the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and members of his family, who claim a voting residence at or in such lodging house, inn or hotel, together with the length of time they have been regularly lodged or lived therein, the beginning of such residence, the color, approximate age, height, weight, whereby the persons may be identified, the nationality, the occupation and place of business of such persons, and the room occupied by each person, and whether the person is a guest, landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and the signature of each person. Above the space reserved for the signature of each such person shall be printed the following words, “the foregoing statements are true.” In the form of affidavit, which shall be sworn to by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of such lodging house, inn or hotel, shall be included the statement that the signatures of the guests or lodgers certified to in such report were written in the presence of such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and that he personally knows them to be the persons therein described.

To the end that the sworn report herein shall truly set forth the facts therein stated, such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall question each male person lodging or living in the lodging house, inn or hotel, as to his intention of claiming such place as a voting residence, and the person shall thereupon declare his intention thereof, and if he shall claim the place as his voting residence, he shall give to such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper such facts regarding himself as are required to be incorporated in the sworn report herein provided for. Such report and affidavit shall be filed personally by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper with the superintendent at his office.

Any such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper or any lodger who shall violate this section shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:32-9. Card records of persons registered in municipalities not having permanent registration
The district board of each election district in municipalities not having permanent registration shall on each day of registration transfer to cards to be provided for that purpose by the county clerk of the county, which cards shall be in form and style approved by the superintendent, a complete copy of the name of each person registered in its respective district, together with all the answers made and information given by such person at the time of registration, and such cards, inclosed and sealed in a cover, to be provided for that purpose by the county clerk, shall be delivered personally or by mail forthwith by the chairman of such district board, together with a statement on a blank form to be furnished by the county clerk, after approval by the superintendent, that the cards delivered contain a correct copy of all the names registered and information given by the person so registered, to the superintendent at his office in the county courthouse.

19:32-10. Challenge lists in municipalities not having permanent registration
In respect to each general, primary, municipal and special election, the superintendent shall prepare for each election district in the county a challenge list containing the names, alphabetically arranged, and the addresses of all persons who have lost the right to register from the addresses within such election district from which they registered at the last preceding election. Such challenge list shall be delivered to the respective district boards in such municipalities at least one-half hour before the commencement of registration. The chairman of the respective district boards shall challenge the registration of any person applying to them for registration under any name on such challenge list, unless it shall affirmatively appear after strict examination of the voter, and, if necessary, of others, that such voter is domiciled at a new address within the election district. At the close of the last day of registration, the challenge list with the remarks of the district board or of any member or members thereof to be noted thereon shall be signed and certified as true by each member of the respective district boards and returned to the superintendent in a sealed envelope provided therefor.

After the last day of registration and before each general, primary, municipal and special election, the superintendent shall also prepare for each election district a challenge list containing the names, alphabetically arranged, and addresses of all persons registered in the district whom he believes or has reason to suspect are not entitled to vote at the election in the district. Such challenge list shall be delivered to the respective district boards at least one-half hour before the opening of the polls at each election. The chairman of the respective district boards shall challenge the vote of any person presenting himself to vote under any name on the challenge list. The challenge list shall contain a column headed “remarks,” and the chairman of the respective district boards shall enter therein opposite the names on such list whether any person applying to vote under any name thereon who was challenged was allowed to vote, and the reason for allowing him to vote.

All persons whose names appear on any challenge list before being allowed to vote shall subscribe to an affidavit on forms supplied by the superintendent to the respective district boards together with the challenge list. Any members of the district boards are hereby empowered to take such affidavits. The affidavit shall show that the affiant is eligible to vote in that district and shall set forth the place of his residence, the fact that he actually resides at that place, the length of time of such residence, and also all the facts necessary to qualify him as a voter under the constitution of this State. A copy of the affidavit signed by the challenged voter shall be given to the affiant. At the close of the polls the affidavits shall be returned to the superintendent in an envelope provided therefor and they shall be preserved in the office of the superintendent.

If a person applying to vote under any name on the challenge list is challenged and does not vote, there shall be entered opposite his name in such column the words “challenged, but did not vote.” If no person applies to vote under any name on such challenge list, there shall be noted opposite each such name in such column the words “no application.” At the close of the polls the challenge list shall be signed and certified as true by each member of the respective district boards and returned to the superintendent of the county in a sealed envelope provided therefor.

If a person applying to vote is challenged and denied the right to vote because that person’s name appears on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections, that challenged voter may apply to a Superior Court judge sitting at the county seat for permission to vote, as provided in R.S.19:32-18.

The superintendent, concurrently with delivering the challenge lists, shall deliver to the commissioner a true copy, certified by him as correct, of each challenge list delivered by him pursuant to this section to each district board in municipalities having permanent registration.

The superintendent shall prepare duplicates of all challenge lists provided for in this section, and shall keep duplicate challenge lists on file in his office from the time of their preparation until the close of the third general election following their preparation. The original challenge lists shall also be kept on file for two years after the general election following their preparation. All such challenge lists shall be open to inspection by any citizen at any time the superintendent’s office is open for business.

19:32-11. Sealing, preserving and opening ballot boxes
The superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, shall have the power, when in his or their judgment it is deemed necessary at any election, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots by any district board, to enter any place containing ballot boxes for the purpose of taking possession and sealing any ballot box or boxes with a seal to be adopted by the superintendent. When any ballot box shall be so sealed it may be removed to a vault or other place of security by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, but shall not be opened and the seal thereof destroyed or affected without an order first had and obtained from a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county. Taping or any other mechanical device may be used to make such sealing secure.

19:32-12 Interference with sealing of ballot boxes or bags
Any person preventing, hindering or interfering with the said superintendent or his chief deputy or assistants in sealing such ballot box or boxes or bag or bags shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:32-13 Destroying, removing, defacing seals on ballot boxes
Any person who destroys, defaces or removes, or attempts to destroy, deface or remove, such a seal shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:32-14. When powers of superintendents and deputies exercisable
The powers herein granted may be exercised by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots at any election by the district board or within a period of ninety days thereafter.

19:32-21. Police powers of superintendents, deputies and assistants
The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants shall have and possess all the powers of constables, policemen and other peace officers.

19:32-22. Arrests without warrant; peace officers punishable for failure to assist
The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered and without warrant, to arrest any person violating any provision of this title.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, shall have the right and power to call upon any constable, police officer or other peace officer to aid in taking any person so arrested to the nearest police station in the municipality in which the arrest is made, and such constable, police officer or other peace officer shall render such aid.

Any constable, police officer or other peace officer failing to comply with such request shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

19:32-23. Detention of persons arrested
Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of the police station to which he is removed, such officer shall hold and detain the person so arrested until ordered released by the magistrate taking the complaint hereinafter provided for or by other process of law.

19:32-24. Complaint against person arrested; hearing by magistrate
Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of such police station the superintendent or his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, making the arrest, shall forthwith and as soon as may be make and sign before a magistrate of the municipality in which the arrest was made a complaint in writing, duly verified, setting forth the particular act for which such person was arrested. Upon the complaint being made, the magistrate before whom it is made shall forthwith and as soon as may be cause the person so arrested to be brought before him and proceed on such complaint, as in the case of other persons arrested on a complaint charging a criminal offense.

19:32-25. Removal of persons from polling places
The superintendent, his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered to remove from any polling place or place where any election is being held any person found violating any provision of this title or in any way unlawfully interfering with the lawful conduct of any election.

19:32-26. Second and fifth class counties; establishment of office of superintendent of elections; appointment; salary; term; vacancies
In any county of the second class and in any county of the fifth class, the governing body may establish, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, the office of superintendent of elections for the county, and said office when once established shall not be altered or abolished.

The governing body shall file a certified copy of such ordinance or resolution, attested by the chief elected executive officer or director of the board of freeholders, if appropriate and clerk of the board, in the office of the Secretary of State within 10 days after adoption, and the ordinance or resolution shall take effect at the expiration of 30 days after the next primary election for the general election, or the next general election, after adoption whichever shall occur first.

The office so established shall be filled by some suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of five years from the date of his appointment and until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified. In the event that no such appointment to such office is made within 30 days following the taking effect of the ordinance or resolution, heretofore or hereafter adopted, of the governing body of the county, as herein provided, then the governing body of the county shall appoint some suitable person to fill such office for a term of five years from the date of appointment and until the successor of such person is in the same manner appointed and shall have qualified. The governing body shall file notice of such appointment in the office of the Secretary of State.

Each superintendent so appointed in a county of the fifth class shall receive a salary of not less than $4,000 nor more than $8,000 per annum and each superintendent so appointed in a county of the second class shall receive a salary in such amount, not less than $4,000 per annum, as shall be determined by the governing body of the county; such salaries shall be paid by the county treasurer and the superintendent shall have his office in the county for which he is appointed.

Any vacancy occurring in such office of superintendent of elections shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to such office was made, but for the unexpired term. Any person filling a vacancy shall be from the same political party as the original appointee.

19:32-26.1. Office of deputy superintendent of elections established in second class counties; appointment; salary; term of office; vacancies
The governing body of a county of the second class in which the office of superintendent of elections for the county has been established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26) may establish, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, the office of deputy superintendent of elections. The office of deputy superintendent of elections in each such county shall be filled by a suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall not be from the same political party as the superintendent of elections, and who shall hold office for a term of five years, running concurrently with the term of the superintendent and until the deputy superintendent’s successor is appointed and has qualified. The initial appointment to the office of deputy superintendent of elections may be for a partial term, as appropriate. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but shall be for the unexpired term only. The annual salary of a deputy superintendent of elections shall be 90% of the salary received by the superintendent of elections of the same county for performing the duties of superintendent of elections and commissioner of registration. The office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be located in the county making the appointment.

19:32-26.2. Powers and duties of deputy superintendent of elections of second class county
A deputy superintendent of elections appointed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.1) shall assist the superintendent of elections in the performance of the superintendent’s duties, shall serve as superintendent in the absence of the superintendent, and shall have such powers and duties as the superintendent may delegate from time to time. In addition, the deputy superintendent is constituted the chief deputy of the superintendent and shall have all of the powers and duties of the chief deputy. No county with a deputy superintendent so appointed shall also have a chief deputy appointed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-27).

19:32-26.3 Pilot program in counties of the second class; suspension of operations for office of the superintendent of elections and office of deputy superintendent of elections; time to participate in program
There is established a pilot program to suspend the operations of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections in participating counties. The governing body of a participating county shall have three years from the effective date of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.) to adopt an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to commence its participation in the program. A certified copy of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State as soon as possible after it is adopted.

As used in P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.), “participating counties” shall mean any county of the second class with a population of between 510,000 and 515,000 persons or between 490,000 and 495,000 persons, according to the 2010 federal decennial census for New Jersey.

19:32-26.4 Resolution or ordinance to be adopted; transfer to the county board of elections; duration of program; time to implement
a. Upon the adoption of a resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, to commence participation in the pilot program by a participating county, the operations of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections in the participating county shall be suspended for a period of three years and the functions, powers, and duties of each office shall be transferred to and assumed by the county board of elections. The transfer of the functions, powers, and duties of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be completed no later than the 90th day following the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, and the term of office of each individual holding each office shall be terminated no later than that 90th day.

b. For the period that the suspension is in effect, whenever reference is made in any statute, regulation, document or judicial proceeding to the office of the superintendent of elections or the office of the deputy superintendent of elections concerning the functions, powers, and duties that had been vested therein prior to the suspension, the same shall mean and refer to the county board of elections.

19:32-26.5 Assessment of results within 60 days of program expiration; county actions
Within 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension provided for by section 2 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.4), the governing body of a participating county shall undertake the following actions:

a. The governing body shall prepare a report in writing for the public and the Secretary of State on the impact of the suspension of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections during the three-year period of the suspension with respect to:

(1) the operation and administration of State, county, municipal, school, special and federal elections;
(2) the maintenance and distribution of voting machines;
(3) the administration of voter registration in the county; and
(4) the cost of conducting elections in the county.

The report shall be made public and submitted to the secretary no later than the 45th day following the expiration of the suspension.

b. The governing body shall decide whether to adopt an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, within 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension, with the adoption to be effective on the date of the expiration of the suspension, to either:

(1) abolish the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections; or
(2) re-establish such offices as they existed prior to the suspension.

19:32-26.6 Termination and abolishment of suspended offices upon county’s failure to report and take action
In the event that the governing body of a participating county fails to decide whether to adopt an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to abolish or re-establish the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections within 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension, as provided for by section 3 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.5), the suspension provided by section 2 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.4) shall terminate and both of these offices shall be deemed abolished as of the date of the expiration of the suspension.

19:32-26.7 Reestablishment of abolished offices; requirements
Once the office of superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent has been abolished in a participating county pursuant to P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.), the county shall not be permitted to re-establish the offices and return to them the functions, powers, and duties provided by law until the following requirements have been met in the following order:

a. at least five years shall have passed since the offices were abolished;

b. a new ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, providing for the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections, and the return of the functions, powers, and duties of each office provided by law from the county board of elections, shall be adopted by the county’s governing body and a certified copy of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, together with a tally of the vote to adopt it, shall be filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the adoption;

c. a written report shall be prepared for the secretary that:

(1) explains why the governing body of the county believes the re-establishment of the office of superintendent and the office of deputy superintendent are necessary;
(2) presents a plan for how the offices shall be re-established and shall work in conjunction with the county clerk and the county board of elections; and
(3) includes the financial information necessary to prove that re-establishing the offices shall improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of:

(a) operating and administering State, county, school, municipal, special and federal elections;
(b) maintaining and distributing voting machines; and
(c) overseeing the administration of voter registration in the county; and

d. the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections shall be approved by the secretary after the secretary has had a maximum of 90 days to review the report. The secretary shall be authorized to receive answers to such questions that the secretary deems necessary to ask to ensure that the operation and administration of elections, maintenance and distribution of voting machines and administration of voter registration shall be conducted by the county in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

In the event that the secretary decides that the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections should be re-established in a participating county, qualified individuals to serve in each office shall be appointed as provided by law and the functions, powers, and duties of the offices shall be re-established within one year after the secretary’s decision.

19:32-26.8 Appointment to fill re-established offices
a. An individual shall be appointed to fill the office of superintendent of elections, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26) and an individual shall be appointed to fill the office of deputy superintendent of elections, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.1), in a participating county if the offices are re-established pursuant to either section 3 or section 5 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.5 or C.19:32-26.7), as the case may be.

b. A participating county is hereby authorized to abolish the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections, pursuant to P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.), notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26).

19:32-26.9 Preparation of annual budget request for office of county superintendent of elections by county superintendent of elections
A county superintendent of elections shall prepare the annual budget request for the office of the county superintendent of elections pursuant to the requirements of section 3 of P.L.2015, c.249 (C.40A:4-45.45b).

19:32-27 Deputy, clerk, secretary and other assistants; expenses
a. Except as provided in section 2 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.2), each superintendent may appoint a chief deputy, a clerk, a secretary and any other assistants he considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Title, and may remove the same whenever he deems it necessary. Those so appointed shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes but shall be in the unclassified service. Subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, the salaries of the persons so appointed shall be fixed and such salaries certified to and approved under his hand shall be paid semimonthly by the county treasurer of the county in which such persons are so engaged. All other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Title when certified to and approved by the superintendent shall be paid by the county treasurer of the county in which the superintendent shall maintain his office.

b. The superintendent shall determine the amount of the salary to be paid to each person appointed by the superintendent, and shall submit the proposed salaries to the governing body for review and approval. Following the review and approval of the governing body, the salaries shall be fixed and shall be paid to those persons pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

19:32-28. Expenses of election held in municipality
All necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Title when certified to and approved by such superintendent in connection with an election held in and for a municipality only shall be paid by the municipality.

19:32-29. Offices, equipment and supplies
The board of chosen freeholders of such counties shall provide suitable room or rooms for the transaction of the business of such superintendent and procure suitable furniture therefor and any books, stationery, fuel and supplies that may be necessary from time to time. It shall provide a proper place for the safe-keeping of the records and papers.

19:32-30 Investigations by superintendents and assistants; neglect to furnish information or exhibit records
Such superintendents and their assistants, in order to enforce the laws of this State regarding the conduct of elections, shall investigate all complaints relating to the registration of voters, and for that purpose the superintendents and their assistants shall have full power and authority to visit and inspect any house, dwelling, building, inn, lodging house or hotel and interrogate any inmate, house-dweller, keeper, caretaker, owner, proprietor or landlord thereof or therein as to any person or persons residing or claiming to reside therein or thereat; to inspect and copy any books, records, papers or documents relating to or affecting the elections, either general, special, primary or municipal, or the registration of voters in the custody and control of district boards, county boards, or the clerks or other officers of municipalities; to require every lodging-house keeper, landlord or proprietor to exhibit his register of lodgers therein at any time to the superintendent, his subordinates or any other person so designated by such superintendent.

Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this Title, or to exhibit the records, papers, or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:32-31 Subpoenas; refusal to obey; false statements
The superintendent shall have power to issue subpoenas for the purpose of investigating any complaint of violation of the election laws of the State, such subpoenas to be issued in the name of the superintendent and for the purpose of aiding him in enforcing the provisions of the election laws. He may in proper cases issue subpoenas duces tecum. A subpoena issued by the superintendent may be served by any peace officer or any other person designated by him for that purpose.

A person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the superintendent and made returnable by him or who shall refuse to testify under oath before such superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

A person who shall make any false statement under oath before the superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:32-32. Attendance at elections; admission to polling places
The superintendent, his subordinates, or any person or persons designated by him, may attend at any election, any of whom shall be admitted at any time within any polling place and within the guard rails thereof.

19:32-33 Register of guests and lodgers in lodging houses, inns and hotels.
When directed by the superintendent, every landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of a lodging house, inn or hotel shall keep a register in which shall be entered the names and residences, the date of arrival and departure of his guests, and the room, rooms or bed occupied by them. This register shall be arranged so that there shall be a space on the same line in which each male guest or male lodger shall sign his name.

Such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall make a sworn report upon a blank to be prepared and furnished by the superintendent thirty days before the election next ensuing to such superintendent, containing a detailed description of the premises so used and occupied as a lodging house, inn or hotel, including the size and character of building, and in case only part of a building is so used, a statement as to what part, and the names of the lodgers therein, and all the employees, and all other persons living therein, including the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and members of his family, who claim a voting residence at or in such lodging house, inn or hotel, together with the length of time they have been regularly lodged or lived therein, the beginning of such residence, the color, approximate age, height, weight, whereby the persons may be identified, the nationality, the occupation and place of business of such persons, and the room occupied by each person, and whether the person is a guest, landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and the signature of each person. Above the space reserved for the signature of each such person shall be printed the following words, “the foregoing statements are true.” In the form of affidavit, which shall be sworn to by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of such lodging house, inn or hotel, shall be included the statement that the signatures of the guests or lodgers certified to in such report were written in the presence of such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and that he personally knows them to be the persons therein described.

To the end that the sworn report herein required shall truly set forth the facts therein stated, such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall question each male person lodging or living in the lodging house, inn or hotel as to his intention of claiming such place as a voting residence, and the person shall thereupon declare his intention thereof, and if he shall claim the place as his voting residence he shall give to such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper such facts regarding himself as are required to be incorporated in the sworn report herein provided for. Such report and affidavit shall be filed personally by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper with the superintendent at his office.

Any such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper or any lodger who shall violate this section shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:32-34. Sealing, preserving and opening ballot boxes
The superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, shall have the power, when in his or their judgment it is deemed necessary at any election, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots by any district board, to enter any place containing ballot boxes for the purpose of taking possession and sealing any ballot box or boxes with a seal to be adopted by the superintendent. When any ballot box shall be so sealed it may be removed to a vault or other place of security by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, but shall not be opened and the seal thereof destroyed or affected without an order first had and obtained from a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county. Taping or any other mechanical device may be used to make such sealing secure.

19:32-35 Interference with sealing ballot boxes
Any person preventing, hindering or interfering with the said superintendent or his chief deputy or assistants in sealing such ballot box or boxes or bag or bags shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:32-36 Destroying, removing, defacing seals on ballot boxes
Any person who destroys, defaces or removes, or attempts to destroy, deface or remove, such a seal shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:32-37. Exercise of powers by superintendent or assistants, when
The powers herein granted may be exercised by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots at any election by the district board or within a period of ninety days thereafter.

19:32-44. Superintendent and assistants to have powers of peace officers
The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants shall have and possess all the powers of constables, policemen and other peace officers.

19:32-45. Arrest without warrant; aid of peace officers in taking arrested person to police station
The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered and without warrant, to arrest any person violating any provision of this Title.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, shall have the right and power to call upon any constable, police officer or other peace officer to aid in taking any person so arrested to the nearest police station in the municipality in which the arrest is made, and such constable, police officer or other peace officer shall render such aid.

Any constable, police officer or other peace officer failing to comply with such request shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

19:32-46. Detention of persons arrested
Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of the police station to which he is removed, such officer shall hold and detain the person so arrested until ordered released by the magistrate taking the complaint hereinafter provided for or by other process of law.

19:32-47. Complaint against person arrested; hearing by magistrate
Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of such police station the superintendent or his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, making the arrest, shall forthwith and as soon as may be make and sign before a magistrate of the municipality in which the arrest was made a complaint in writing, duly verified, setting forth the particular act for which such person was arrested. Upon the complaint being made, the magistrate before whom it is made shall forthwith and as soon as may be cause the person so arrested to be brought before him and proceed on such complaint, as in the case of other persons arrested on a complaint charging a criminal offense.

19:32-48. Removal of persons from polling places
The superintendent, his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered to remove from any polling place or place where any election is being held any person found violating any provision of this Title or in any way unlawfully interfering with the lawful conduct of any election.

19:32-49. Superintendent constituted commissioner of registration; custody of voting machines; deputy superintendent constituted deputy commissioner of registration
In addition to the foregoing, the superintendent of elections is constituted the commissioner of registration for the county and he shall, within the county, have and exercise all the powers of, and be charged with all the duties had and exercised and required to be performed by, the superintendent of elections and the commissioner of registration in any county, including the custody and control of voting machines heretofore or hereafter installed in the county in any manner provided by law, except those heretofore or hereafter installed in any municipality by the governing body thereof, which shall be placed and remain in the custody of the municipal clerk unless taken over by the county according to law. The deputy superintendent of elections in counties of the first class, and in counties of the second class in which the governing body has established the office of superintendent of elections for the county, is constituted the deputy commissioner of registration.

19:32-50. Salaries and expenses during fiscal year in which act takes effect
If during the fiscal year in which this act becomes effective, the board of chosen freeholders of the county shall not have made provision in its annual budget for the payment of the salaries and other expenses of the superintendent of elections and his office during such fiscal year, all appropriations made in said budget to the county board of elections, except those made for the payment of the salaries of the members of said board and the expenses of the board in connection with the functions to be performed by it during said year, notwithstanding the provisions of this act, shall be transferred and made available to the superintendent of elections for the carrying out of the powers and functions vested in him under this act, which shall include all appropriations for (a) salaries and wages, except for the salaries of the members of the board, (b) the control and conduct of permanent registration, and (c) the custody, maintenance and distribution of voting machines.

19:32-51. Transfer of employees of county board of elections
All employees of the county board of elections of the county hereby are transferred to the office of superintendent of elections but the board of chosen freeholders may provide two clerks for the county board of elections and fix the salary to be paid to such clerks.

19:32-52. Appropriations for salaries and expenses
In the event that said appropriations shall not be sufficient to provide full payment of the salaries and other expenses of the superintendent of elections and his office and of the county board of elections and its office, during such fiscal year, the board of chosen freeholders shall appropriate and use any county funds, not otherwise appropriated or dedicated, for such purposes.

19:32-53. Voting machines, forms, records, etc. to be turned over
Upon the taking effect of such resolution the county board of elections of the county shall turn over to the superintendent of elections all voting machines of the county with the keys thereto, and all records, books, binders, folders, files, card indexes, documents and forms, used or unused, relating to or used or useful in connection with the registration of voters, or the use of voting machines, in the county, together with all racks, cabinets, furniture, equipment and supplies used or useful for the filing, storing, repair servicing or use of the same.

19:32-54. Abolishment of the offices of superintendent of elections and deputy superintendent of elections; transfer of functions, powers, and duties to county board of elections
a. Upon the adoption of a resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, the governing body of a county may abolish the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections in the county, and the functions, powers, and duties of each office shall be transferred to and assumed by the county board of elections. The transfer of the functions, powers, and duties of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be completed no later than the 90th day following the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, and the term of office of each individual holding each office shall be terminated no later than that 90th day.
b. Whenever reference is made in any statute, regulation, document or judicial proceeding to the office of superintendent of elections or the office of deputy superintendent of elections concerning the functions, powers, and duties that had been vested therein prior to their abolishment pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the same shall mean and refer to the county board of elections.
c. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2015, c. 249 (C.40A:4-45.45b) to the contrary, and subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, all expenses, including salaries, of such county’s board of elections shall be exempt from the requirements of that subsection for the budget year next succeeding the budget year in which a resolution or an ordinance, as appropriate, is adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The director shall approve an exemption of expenses from the requirements of subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2015, c. 249 (C.40A:4-45.45b) pursuant to this subsection if: (1) the director determines that the expenses are reasonable and will result in long-term savings for the county; and (2) the county board of election’s budget request for the budget year is less than the aggregate amount of the budget requests submitted to the county governing body by the office of the superintendent of elections, the office of the deputy superintendent of elections, and the board of elections in the last preceding budget year.

19:32-55. Re-establishment of offices of superintendent and deputy superintendent of elections; requirements; report
Once the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections has been abolished in a county pursuant to P.L.2018, c. 163 (C.19:32-54 et al.), the county shall not be permitted to re-establish the offices and return to them the functions, powers, and duties provided by law until the following requirements have been met in the following order:
a. at least five years shall have passed since the offices were abolished;
b. a new ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, providing for the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections, and the return of the functions, powers, and duties of each office provided by law from the county board of elections, shall be adopted by the county’s governing body and a certified copy of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, together with a tally of the vote to adopt it, shall be filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the adoption;
c. a written report shall be prepared for the secretary that:

(1) explains why the governing body of the county believes the re-establishment of the office of superintendent and the office of deputy superintendent is necessary;
(2) presents a plan for how the offices shall be re-established and shall work in conjunction with the county clerk and the county board of elections; and
(3) includes the financial information necessary to prove that re-establishing the offices shall improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of:

(a) operating and administering State, county, school, municipal, special, and federal elections;
(b) maintaining and distributing voting machines; and
(c) overseeing the administration of voter registration in the county; and

d. the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections shall be approved by the secretary after the secretary has had a maximum of 90 days to review the report. The secretary shall be authorized to receive answers to such questions that the secretary deems necessary to ask to ensure that the operation and administration of elections, maintenance and distribution of voting machines, and administration of voter registration shall be conducted by the county in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
In the event that the secretary decides that the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections should be re-established in a county, qualified individuals to serve in each office shall be appointed as provided by law and the functions, powers, and duties of the offices shall be re-established within one year after the secretary’s decision.

19:32-56. Appointment upon re-establishment of office
An individual shall be appointed to fill the office of superintendent of elections pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c. 167 (C.19:32-26), and an individual shall be appointed to fill the office of deputy superintendent of elections pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c. 17 (C.19:32-26.1), in a county if the offices are re-established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2018, c. 163 (C.19:32-55).

Chapter 33. Removal of Names from Registers by Courts

19:33-1 Procedure
A judge of the Superior Court shall order stricken from the Statewide voter registration system and any other register the name of any person who shall be shown to his satisfaction not to be entitled to vote at any election in the election district wherein he is registered, and the commissioner shall, upon such order, cause the name of such person to be stricken from the system and from the register.

Such judge shall hear an application to strike off in a summary manner at the time and day specified in the notice hereafter provided; but no name shall be stricken or ordered stricken from any such system and register in the absence of the person to be affected thereby, unless it shall appear to the judge by affidavit of the commissioner of registration or his deputy or assistant that notice by mail has been given such person, either personally or by leaving the same at his registered place of residence, or present actual residence, if known to the commissioner, at least five entire days before the day and time of hearing before such judge, that at such hearing application would be made to have the name of such registered person stricken from the system and register, and of the grounds on which such application would be based. Such judge shall not order any name stricken subsequent to the sixth Tuesday preceding any election. The commissioner shall notify the judge, five days before the day and time specified, when the application will be made, and the judge shall hear the application at the time and day specified in the notice.

In addition to the notice by mail, the commissioner shall also publish in one or more newspapers within the county at least five entire days before the day and time of hearing before such judge, the names and registered addresses of such persons as shall be affected by this proceeding, giving notice through such publication of the time and place where the application is to be made for the removal of said names from the system and registry lists.

The judge shall cause a full record of the proceedings of such application, including the appearances and a statement of his findings of fact and law and of the order made pursuant thereto, to be taken stenographically, transcribed and filed in the office of the county clerk, which record shall be public. All costs and expenses of such proceedings shall be paid by the county. The commissioner of registration, after the hearing before the judge, shall amend the record for the person in the Statewide voter registration system and transfer to the inactive file the permanent registration and record of voting forms of such persons as the judge shall have ordered stricken from the system and signature copy register pursuant to this section.

The registrant shall be immediately notified by the commissioner by mail of any removal from the system or transfer made pursuant to this section. In counties other than counties of the first class this notice by mail shall be sent in addition to the notice by publication.

Chapter 34. Crimes and Penalties—Enforcement

19:34-1 False registration or transfer; penalties.
If any member of the district board shall willfully refuse to enter in the canvassing books or upon the registers the name of any person legally entitled to vote, or shall register the name of any person contrary to the provisions of this title, such member shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Any person who shall cause or procure his name to be registered in more than one election district, or shall cause or procure his name or that of any other person to be registered, knowing that he or such other person is not entitled to vote in the election district wherein such registry is made at the next election to be held therein, shall be punished for each such offense and shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

No district board shall execute or deliver to any voter any paper in the nature of a transfer, purporting to authorize him to vote in any other election district unless he is actually registered as now provided by law.

Any officer or employee who shall willfully fail to perform or enforce any of the provisions of this title or who shall unlawfully or fraudulently remove any registration records, or who shall willfully destroy any record directed by this title to be kept, or any person who shall willfully or fraudulently register more than once, or register under any but his true name, or attempt to vote by impersonating another who is registered, or who willfully registers in any election district where he is not a resident at the time of registering, or who violates any of the provisions of this title, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-1.1 Violations; penalties
a. Any person, other than an election official, who:

(1) knowingly and willfully intimidates, threatens or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce, any person for registering to vote, voting or attempting to register to vote or vote, urging or aiding any person to register to vote, to vote or to attempt to register or vote or exercising any right under the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.); or

(2) knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of this State of a fair and impartially conducted election by the procurement or submission of voter registration applications that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or the procurement, casting or tabulation of ballots that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, is guilty of a crime of the second degree.

b. Any election official who:

(1) knowingly and willfully intimidates, threatens or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce, any person for registering to vote, voting or attempting to register to vote or vote, urging or aiding any person to register to vote, to vote or to attempt to register or vote, or exercising any right under the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.); or

(2) knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of this State of a fair and impartially conducted election by the procurement or submission of voter registration applications that are known by the election official to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or the procurement, casting or tabulation of ballots that are known by the election official to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, is guilty of a crime of the second degree and, in addition to any other penalties provided under the law, shall be permanently barred from serving as an election official.

c. As used in this section, “election official” shall include, but not be limited to, any superintendent or deputy superintendent of elections, commissioner of registration, member of a county board of elections, county clerk, municipal clerk, member of a district board of elections, member of a board of county canvassers and member of a board of State canvassers.

19:34-2 Offenses concerning nomination certificates or petitions.
No person shall falsely make, falsely make oath to, or fraudulently deface or fraudulently destroy any certificate of nomination or petition, or any part thereof, or file, or receive for filing, any certificate of nomination or petition, knowing the same or any part thereof to be falsely made, or suppress any certificate of nomination or petition which has been duly filed, or any part thereof. A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Any person who, being a member of one political party, shall sign his name to any petition indorsing any person as a candidate for office of another political party, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-3 Ballots; offenses concerning printing, distribution, possession and forgery thereof.
If any printer employed by any county or municipal clerk to print official ballots, or any person engaged in printing the same, shall appropriate to himself or give or deliver or knowingly permit to be taken any of such ballots by any other person than such county or municipal clerk or his duly authorized agent, or shall print or cause to be printed any official ballot in any other form than that prescribed by the county or municipal clerk, or with any other names thereon, or with the names spelled or the names or printing thereon arranged in any other way than that authorized and directed by this title, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

If any person not authorized by the proper officers shall print or make any official or sample ballot provided for in this title, or on or prior to election day shall willfully have in his possession an official ballot without being authorized by this title to have charge or possession thereof, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

If any person shall forge or falsely make any ballot or the official indorsement thereof, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-4 Voting by person convicted of disenfranchising crime.
If a person convicted of a crime which disfranchises him while serving a sentence of incarceration shall vote at any election, unless he shall have been pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage, he shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-5 Interference with conduct of election.
No person shall, during an election, with intent to hinder or delay same, or to hinder or delay any voter in the preparation of his ballot, remove or destroy any of the ballots or pencils placed in the booths or compartments for the purpose of enabling the voter to prepare his ballot.

Any person willfully violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:34-6 Obstructing or interfering with polling place or voter
a. If a person shall on election day tamper, deface or interfere with any polling booth or obstruct the entrance to any polling place, or obstruct or interfere with any voter, or loiter in or near the polling place, or, with the purpose to obstruct or interfere with any voter or to unduly delay other voters from voting, spend an inordinate amount of time in the polling booth, or do any electioneering within any polling place or within one hundred feet thereof, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

b. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a minor from entering a polling place on the day of an election to vote in a simulated election at that polling place, or persons from supervising or working at a polling place in a simulated election in which minors vote, provided that the county board of elections has determined that the polling place can accommodate simulated election activities without interfering with the orderly conduct of the official voting process.

19:34-7 Violation of ballot regulations.
No person shall within the polling room mark his ballot in a place other than in the polling booth or show his ballot, nor shall anyone request such person to show his ballot during the preparation thereof, nor shall any other person inspect such ballot during the preparation thereof or after it is prepared for voting in such a way as to reveal the contents, nor shall any person within the polling place or within a hundred feet thereof, loiter, electioneer, or solicit any voter.

No voter, at any election where official ballots are used, shall knowingly vote or offer to vote any ballot except an official ballot as by this Title required.

No person shall on any pretext carry any official ballot from the polling room on any election day except such persons as may by this Title be authorized to do so.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-8. Sample ballot not to be accepted
No election officer shall accept from any voter and deposit in the ballot box any sample primary ballot.

19:34-9 Prompting voter.
Any person who shall prompt a voter in answering any questions provided by this title shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:34-10 Identifying or distinguishing marks on ballots.
If any person shall write, paste or otherwise place upon any official ballot any mark, sign or device of any kind as a distinguishing mark whereby to indicate to any member of any district board or other person how any voter has voted at any election, or if any person shall induce or attempt to induce any voter to write, paste or otherwise place on his ballot any mark, sign or device of any kind, as a distinguishing mark by which to indicate to any member of any district board or other person how such voter has voted, or shall enter into or attempt to form any agreement or conspiracy with any other person to induce or attempt to induce voters or any voter to so place any distinguishing mark, sign or device on his ballot, whether or not such act be committed or attempted to be committed, such person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-11 Fraudulent voting; interference with election or canvass
Every person not entitled to vote who fraudulently votes, and every person who votes more than once at any one election; or knowingly hands in two or more ballots folded together; or changes any ballot after it has been deposited in the ballot box; or adds, or attempts to add, any ballot to those legally polled at any election, either by fraudulently introducing the same into the ballot box before or after the ballots therein have been counted; or adds to or mixes with, or attempts to add to or mix with, the ballots lawfully polled, other ballots while the same are being counted or canvassed, or at any other time, with intent to change the result of such election; or carries away or destroys, or attempts to carry away or destroy, any poll list, or ballots, or ballot box, for the purpose of breaking up or invalidating the election; or willfully detains, mutilates or destroys any election returns; or in any manner so interferes with the officers holding the election, or conducting the canvass, or with the voters lawfully exercising their rights of voting at the election, as to prevent the election or canvass from being fairly had and lawfully conducted, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-12 Attempt to cast illegal vote
Every person not entitled to vote who fraudulently attempts to vote, or who being entitled to vote attempts to vote more than once at any election, or who personates or attempts to personate a person legally entitled to vote, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-13 Attempts by election officers to discover how voter voted
Every inspector, judge or clerk of an election, who, previous to putting the ballot of an elector in the ballot box, attempts to find out any name on such ballot, or who opens or suffers the folded ballot of any elector which has been handed in to be opened or examined previous to putting the same in the ballot box, or who makes or places any mark or device on any folded ballot with the view to ascertain the name of any person for whom the elector has voted, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-14 Member of district board revealing knowledge of how voter voted.
If a member of any district board has knowledge how any person has voted and shall reveal such knowledge to any other person, or shall fraudulently or corruptly disclose what other candidates were voted for on any ballot bearing a name not printed thereon, or fraudulently or corruptly gives any information concerning the appearance of any ballot voted, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-15 Electioneering within or about polling place
If a person shall distribute or display any circular or printed matter or offer any suggestion or solicit any support for any candidate, party or public question within the polling place or room or within a distance of one hundred feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room, he shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:34-16 Removal, destruction or mutilation of registry lists or lists of voters
A person who shall remove, destroy or mutilate any registry list or copy thereof, or who before an election closes shall remove, destroy or mutilate any list of voters posted in accordance with this title, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-17 Unlawfully taking ballot box or removing contents; destroying ballots; willfully suppressing records.
If a person shall rob or plunder any ballot box, or unlawfully and by stealth or violence take the same or remove therefrom any ballot or other paper, or exchange, alter or destroy any ballot or other paper contained therein, or if any person shall willfully and corruptly suppress, withhold, mutilate, destroy, alter or change any return, statement or certificate or any copy thereof, which shall have been made in pursuance of this title, and delivered to him to be filed, or which shall have been intrusted or delivered to him to be delivered or transmitted to any other person in pursuance of this title, every such person, his aiders, procurers and abettors, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

This section shall not apply to the destruction of ballots or the performance of other acts by officials when such acts are performed as prescribed in this title.

19:34-18 Interfering with return of ballot boxes.
A person who shall willfully obstruct or interfere with the clerk or clerks on the way from the polls to the office of the city clerk shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-19 Insignia at polls.
No person shall display, sell, give or provide any political badge, button or other insignia to be worn at or within one hundred feet of the polls or within the polling place or room, on any primary, general or special election day or on any commission government election day, except the badge furnished by the county board as herein provided.

A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:34-20 Soliciting or procuring or assisting unlawful registration and other violations of election law.
Whoever shall solicit the registering of his name on the registry list of any election district or precinct, knowing that he is not a legal voter in such district or precinct; or shall willfully counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet in the registering of the name of any other person on the registry list of any election district or precinct, knowing such other person is not entitled to vote therein; or at any election, knowing that he is not a qualified voter, votes thereat; or at any election votes or attempts to vote more than once on his own name; or at any election votes or attempts to vote in more than one election district or precinct; or at any election votes or attempts to vote upon any other name than his own; or knowingly casts or attempts to cast more than one ballot at one time by balloting; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person, knowing that he is not a qualified voter, to vote thereat; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person in voting in more than one election district or precinct; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person to vote or to attempt to vote upon any name other than his own, or knowingly cast or attempt to cast more than one ballot at one time of voting; or at any election shall in any way willfully mark or deface his ballot, or shall willfully counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet any person in the marking or defacing of a ballot; or at any election shall in any way counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet any official or person in any act which is contrary to the provisions of this title; or at any election shall in any way willfully hinder or prevent a voter from casting his legal vote, knowing such person to have a right to vote; or shall willfully tamper with, injure, mutilate, destroy or render unfit for use, any ballot box; shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-21 Voting in wrong party ballot box.
A person who being a member of one political party shall vote in the ballot box used for the primary election of another political party shall in each case be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-22 False voting at primary.
If a person not entitled to vote at any primary election as herein provided shall vote or offer to vote at such primary meeting or caucus knowing or having reason to believe himself not entitled to so vote, or if any person shall counsel or procure anyone to so vote, knowing or having reason to believe such voter not entitled to do so, or if any person having voted at any primary meeting held by any political party or organization to nominate candidates or to elect delegates to nominate candidates, to be voted for at any election, shall vote or offer to vote at the primary meeting held by any other political party or organization held to nominate candidates or to elect delegates to nominate candidates, to be voted for at the same election, such person shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-23 Primary election officials acting before taking oath; willfully disregarding or violating rules.
If any judge, inspector, clerk or other officer of a primary election shall act in such capacity before taking and subscribing to the oath or affirmation required by this title, or shall willfully disregard or violate the provisions of any rule duly made by the party of which he is a member and for whom he is acting for the government of the primary elections of the party, or if any judge or inspector of any primary election shall knowingly reject the vote of any person entitled to vote under the rules of such party or shall knowingly receive the vote of any person not qualified, or if any judge, inspector, clerk or any other officer of a primary election shall commit any willful fraud in the discharge of his duties by destroying or marking any ballot in any way before such ballot is delivered to the voter or by defacing ballots, adding marks to the poll by false counting, making false returns or by any act or thing whatsoever, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-24. Betting on election
No person shall make, lay or deposit any bet, wager or stake, to be decided by the result of any election, by the election or defeat of one or more persons at any election, or by any contingency connected with or growing out of any election. All contracts for or on account of any money, property or thing in action so bet, wagered or staked shall be void. Any person who shall pay, deliver or deposit any money, property or thing in action upon the event of any bet, wager or stake prohibited by this section, may sue for and recover the same from the winner or person to whom the same, or any part thereof, shall have been paid or delivered, or with whom the same, or any part thereof, shall have been deposited, whether he shall have been a stakeholder, or other person, whether or not the same shall have been paid over by such stakeholder, or whether or not such bet, wager or stake shall have been lost.

No candidate for public office, before or during an election, shall make any bet or wager with a voter, or take a share or interest in, or in any manner become a party to such bet or wager, or provide or agree to provide any money to be used by another in making such bet or wager, upon any event or contingency whatever. No person, directly or indirectly, shall make a bet or wager with a voter, depending upon the result of any election, with the intent thereby to procure the challenge of such voter, or to prevent him from voting at the election.

19:34-25 Bribery.
a. If a person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give, lend or agree to give or lend, or shall offer, promise or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure, any money or other valuable consideration or thing to or for any voter, or to or for any person, in order to induce any voter to vote or refrain from registering for any election, or shall corruptly do or commit any of the acts in this section mentioned because of any such voter having voted or refrained from voting at an election, or registered or refrained from registering at an election, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Bribery of member of election board; acceptance. b. Whosoever shall, directly or indirectly, make or give any money or other thing of value to any member of the district board because of his membership on such board, or when it shall appear that such money or other thing of value is made or given to such member because of his membership on the board, except as hereinbefore provided as his legal compensation for service on the board, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.
Any member of a district board who shall, by himself, or by any other person in his behalf, receive any money or other thing of value because of his membership on such board, or when it shall appear that such money or other thing of value is accepted or received by such member because of his membership on the board, except as hereinbefore provided as his legal compensation for service on the board, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Promising office or employment. c. A person who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give or procure, or agree to give or procure or offer or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of such voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting, or to register or refrain from registering, or shall corruptly do any act as above because of any voter having voted or refrained from voting, or having registered or refrained from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Acceptance of bribe by voter. d. Any voter who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree or contract for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election, or for registering or agreeing to register, or for refraining or for agreeing to refrain from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Bribery of delegates. e. If a person shall, directly or indirectly, give, offer or promise to give any sum or sums of money or any valuable thing in action, victuals, drink or preferment or other considerations, by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, or other valuable present or reward to obtain, procure or influence the opinion, behavior, vote or abstaining from voting for the election of any delegate to any convention of any political party, to nominate any candidate for member of the legislature, for member of congress, for electors for president and vice president of the United States, for governor, or for any candidate for any office in any county or municipality; or if any person being a delegate to any political convention to nominate candidates for any of the offices named in this title shall directly or indirectly, ask for, accept, receive or take any sum or sums of money, or other valuable consideration by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, or other valuable consideration for the giving or refusing to give his vote at any such convention, the person so offering, asking, or receiving shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Bribery at election. f. Whoever shall, directly or indirectly, give, furnish, supply or promise, or cause to be given, furnished, supplied, offered or promised, to any person or persons, any money, service, preferment or valuable thing with the intent that such money or valuable thing or any other money, service, preferment or valuable thing shall be given, offered, promised or used, by any person or persons, by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, for giving or refusing to give any vote of any citizen, at any election of any public officer, state, county or municipal, to be held therein, or of any member of congress, of electors for president and vice president of the United States, or at any election of any delegate or delegates to any political convention to be held for the nomination of any of the officers above, or by way of gift, gratuity or reward, for giving or withholding the vote of any delegate at any such convention, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Inducing voters. g. A person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give, lend, or agree to give or lend, or procure, or agree to procure or offer or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure, any money or other valuable consideration or thing, or any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from registering or voting at any election, or shall corruptly do or commit any of the acts in this section mentioned, because of any voter having voted or refrained from voting or having registered or refrained from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Contributions for use in bribing. h. A person who shall give, advance or pay, or cause to be given, advanced or paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person, or to the use of any person, with the intent that such money or other valuable thing, or any part thereof, shall be expended, or used for bribery of voters, or for any other unlawful purpose at any election, or who shall knowingly pay, or cause to be paid money to any person wholly or in part expended in bribery of a voter at any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Receiving rewards. i. A person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree or contract for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election, or for registering or agreeing to register, or for refraining or for agreeing to refrain from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Gift, or promise of, for certain purposes. j. No person shall give or agree to give for the purpose of promoting or procuring or for the purpose of opposing or preventing the election of a candidate for public office, or for the purpose of promoting or procuring or for the purpose of opposing or preventing the nomination of any person as a candidate for public office, any money or any valuable thing to be used for any of the following purposes:

1. To provide or give or to pay, wholly or in part, the expense of giving or providing any meat, drink, entertainment or provision to or for any person for the purpose of influencing that person or any other person to give or refrain from giving his vote at any election, or because of any such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting.
2. To provide for the payment of rent for or for the purpose of providing and fitting up any clubroom for social or recreative purposes, or providing for uniforms for any organized club.
3. To provide for the payment for the insertion in any newspaper or magazine of any article tending to influence any person to give or refrain from giving his vote to any candidate or candidates at any election; or to provide for payment for the distribution of any newspaper or magazine wherein any such article is printed; or to provide for payment of the printing or of the distribution of any circular, handbill, card, pamphlet or statement tending to influence any person to give or refrain from giving his vote to any candidate at any election; but this prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit the printing and distribution of paid advertisements, which advertisements shall be indicated by the words “This advertisement has been paid for by” (inserting the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the same); nor shall it be construed to prohibit the printing and distribution of circulars, handbills, cards, pamphlets or statements which shall have printed on the face thereof the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the printing and distribution thereof, which fact shall be indicated by the words “The cost of the printing and distribution of this circular (or as the case may be) has been paid by” (inserting the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the same).

Accepting gifts. k. No person shall accept any money or other valuable thing, the payment of which is prohibited by paragraph “j” of this section.

Penalty. l. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of paragraphs “j” and “k” of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree, and shall for the first offense be disfranchised while serving a sentence of incarceration, and for any subsequent offense shall be disfranchised while serving a sentence of incarceration, and in addition thereto the court in which such conviction is obtained, may in case of a subsequent conviction, impose upon the person so convicted the punishment now prescribed by law for a crime of the second degree.

19:34-26 Perjury; subornation of perjury.
If a person shall be guilty of willful and corrupt false swearing or affirming, or by any means shall willfully and corruptly suborn or procure a person to swear or affirm falsely, in taking any oath, affirmation or deposition prescribed or authorized by this title, he shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the third degree, and be deemed to be an incompetent witness thereafter for any purpose within this State, until such time as he shall have been pardoned.

19:34-27 Improperly influencing or intimidating employees.
An employer of any workman, or any agent, superintendent or overseer of any company or corporation employing workmen, or any person who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf or by his direction, make use of or threaten to make use of any force, violence or restraint, or inflict or threaten to inflict by himself or by any other person any injury, damage, harm or loss against any person in his employ, in order to induce or compel such employee to vote or refrain from voting for any particular candidate at any election, or because of such employee having voted or refrained from voting for any particular candidate at any election, or who shall, by any duress, constraint or improper influence or by any fraudulent or improper device, contrivance or scheme, impede, hinder or prevent the free exercise of the franchise of any voter at any election, or shall thereby compel, induce or prevail upon any voter to vote for or against any particular candidate at any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-28. Threatening or intimidating voters
No person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, make use of, or threaten to make use of, any force, violence or restraint, or inflict or threaten the infliction, by himself or through any other person, of any injury, damage, harm or loss, or in any manner to practice intimidation upon or against any person, in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election, or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting at any election.

19:34-29. Obstructing or interfering with voter
No person shall by abduction, duress or any forcible or fraudulent device or contrivance whatever, impede, prevent or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise by any voter; or compel, induce or prevail upon any voter either to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election.

19:34-30. Influencing of vote by employer; placards for such purpose
No employer, in paying his employees the salary or wages due them, shall inclose their pay in “pay envelopes” upon which there is written or printed the name of any candidate or any political motto, device or argument containing threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of such employees. Nor shall an employer, within ninety days of an election, put up or otherwise exhibit in his factory, workshop, or other establishment or place where his workmen or employees may be working, any handbill or placard containing any threat, notice or information that in case any particular ticket of a political party, or organization, or candidate shall be elected, work in his establishment will cease, in whole or in part, or his establishment be closed up, or the salaries or wages of his employees be reduced, or other threat, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of his employees.

19:34-31. Violation by person or corporation; misdemeanor; forfeiture of charter
Sections 19:34-27 to 19:34-30 of this title shall apply to corporations as well as individuals, and any person or corporation violating the provisions thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any corporation violating such provisions shall forfeit its charter.

19:34-32. Contributions by insurance corporations
No insurance corporation or association doing business in this state shall, directly or indirectly, pay or use, or offer, consent or agree to pay or use, any money or property for or in aid of any political party, committee, organization or corporation, or for or in aid of any candidate for political office, or for nomination for such office, or for any political purpose whatsoever, or for the reimbursement or indemnification of any person for money or property so used.

Any officer, director, stockholder, attorney or agent of any corporation or association which violates any of the provisions of this title, who participates in, aids, abets, or advises or consents to any such violation, and any person who solicits or knowingly receives any money or property in violation of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

19:34-33. Contributions by state, county or municipal committees
No state, county or municipal committee or organization of any political party shall expend any money in aid of the candidacy of any candidate for election as a delegate at any national convention, or election to any party position, or for nomination as a candidate of a political party for public office.

19:34-34. Expenditures by party committee or organization or petitioners
No such party committee or organization, nor any committee of any group of petitioners, nor any other person shall expend any money in aid of any candidate for public office, except as herein otherwise provided.

19:34-35 Other contributions and expenditures.
Any person who shall expend, aid or assist in the expenditure of any such money for a purpose not authorized by this title, or for a purpose not named in the statement accompanying such contribution, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-38. Certain expenditures prohibited
No person shall pay, lend or contribute, or offer or agree to pay, lend or contribute, any money or other valuable consideration to or for any person for any of the following:

a. The doing or procuring to be done of any act forbidden to be done by the laws relating to primary or general elections; or

b. The commission of any crime or offense against the elective franchise, or the encouragement or assistance of a person in the commission of a crime or offense against the elective franchise, or aiding or assisting any person charged with the commission of a crime against the elective franchise to evade arrest or to escape conviction and punishment; or

c. Providing, wholly or in part, directly or indirectly, for the expense of boarding, lodging or maintaining a person in any place of domicile in any election precinct or ward or district, with the purpose of securing the vote of such person, or of inducing such person to vote for himself, or any other person at an election; or

d. The hiring or employment of a person to take or maintain a place in, or to otherwise obstruct or hinder, or to prevent the forming of the line of voters awaiting their opportunity or time to enter the polling place or election booth of an election precinct; or

e. In consideration of any person withdrawing as a candidate for public office or presidential elector, at any election; or

f. To pay any person for loss or damage due to attendance at the polls at any primary or general or charter election, or any registry therefor, or for the purpose of such registration; or

g. For any purpose in contravention of the provisions of this Title; or

h. Making any payment except in the manner provided by this Title.

19:34-39. Other expenditures prohibited
No person directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:

Inducing voters. a. Shall pay, lend or contribute, or offer or promise to pay, lend or contribute, money or other valuable consideration to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or persons, or to induce such voter to come to or remain away from the polls at such election, or because of such voter having voted or refrained from voting or having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person, or having come to or remained away from the polls at such election.

Employment purposes. b. Shall give, offer or promise any office, place or employment, or to promise to procure or endeavor to procure any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or persons.

Gifts or other inducements. c. Shall make any gift, loan, promise, offer, procurement or agreement, to, for or with any person, in order to induce him to procure, or endeavor to procure, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at any election.

Procuring votes. d. Shall procure, or engage, promise or endeavor to procure, in consequence of any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at such election.

Furnishing means for bribery. e. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used in bribery at any election, or to knowingly pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person in discharge or repayment of any money, wholly or in part, expended in bribery at any election.

Assist in evading arrest. f. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used to aid or assist any person to evade arrest who is charged with the commission of a crime against the elective franchise.

Indorsement of candidates. g. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, in consideration of being selected or indorsed as the candidate of any convention, organized assemblage of delegates, or other body representing, or claiming to represent, a political party or principle, or any club, society or association, for a public office, or in consideration of the selection or indorsement of any other person as a candidate for a public office, or in consideration of any member of a convention, club, society or association, having voted to select or indorse any person as a candidate for a public office.

Withdrawal of candidates. h. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to or for the use of any other person, in consideration of a person withdrawing as a candidate for a public office.

19:34-40. Receipts for certain purposes prohibited
No person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:

Voting or agreeing to vote. a. Shall receive, agree or contract for, before or during an election, any money, gift, loan or other valuable consideration, office, place or employment, for himself or any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for coming or agreeing to come to the polls, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting, or for voting or agreeing to vote, or refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election.

Voting or refraining from voting. b. Shall receive any money or other valuable thing during or after an election, because of himself, or any other person, having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person or persons at such election, or because of himself, or any other person having come to the polls or remained away from the polls at such election, or because of having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons, or to come to or remain away from the polls at such election.

Securing delegates or indorsements. c. Shall receive any money or other valuable thing before, during or after an election, because of himself, or any other person having voted to secure the election or indorsement of any other person as the nominee or candidate of any convention, organized assemblage of delegates or other body, representing, or claiming to represent, a political party or principle, or any club, society or association, or because of himself or any other person having aided in securing the selection or indorsement of any other person as a nominee or candidate as above.

19:34-41. Payments and bank deposits in name of another
No person shall make any payment of his money, or of the money of any other person, in connection with any nomination or election in any other name than that of the person who actually supplies such money, nor shall any person knowingly receive such money, or thing of value, and enter it in his accounts or deposit it in any bank or trust company, in any other name than the name of the person who actually supplies the same.

19:34-42. Demand of contributions by office holders from other office holders
No holder of a public office or position shall demand payment or contribution from another holder of a public office or position for the campaign purposes of any candidate or for the use of any political party.

19:34-42.1. Annual notice
The Secretary of State shall, during the week of the third Monday in January of every year, send written notification to each State employee and each county and municipal clerk of the prohibitions of this act, and shall at the same time publicize such written notification.

19:34-42.2. Violations; penalty
Section 1 of this act shall be subject to the penalty provisions of R.S. 19:34-35, but no penalty shall be imposed pursuant to any section of law amended herein for violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act.

19:34-43. Soliciting for religious and charitable organizations
No person shall demand, solicit, ask or invite any payment or contribution for any religious, charitable or other cause or organization supposed to be primarily for the public good, from any candidate for nomination or election.

19:34-44. Solicitation of candidates for contributions
No person shall demand, solicit, ask or invite any candidate for nomination or election to public office or party position to subscribe for the support of any club or organization, or to buy tickets to any entertainment or ball, or to pay for space in any book, program, periodical or publication.

This prohibition shall not apply to the solicitation of business advertising in periodicals in which the candidate was a regular advertiser prior to his candidacy, nor to ordinary business advertising, nor to the regular payments to any organizations, religious, charitable or otherwise, of which he was a member, or to which he was a contributor for more than six months before his candidacy, nor to any ordinary contributions at church services.

19:34-45 Contributions by certain corporations.
No corporation carrying on the business of a bank, savings bank, co-operative bank, trust, trustee, savings indemnity, safe deposit, insurance, railroad, street railway, telephone, telegraph, gas, electric light, heat or power, canal or aqueduct company, or having the right to condemn land, or to exercise franchises in public ways granted by the state or any county or municipality, and no corporation, person, trustee or trustees, owning or holding the majority of stock in any such corporation, shall pay or contribute money or thing of value in order to aid or promote the nomination or election of any person, or in order to aid or promote the interests, success or defeat of any political party.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any corporation carrying on the business of a co-generation facility, as defined in subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c.156 (C.54:15B-2.2), or to any corporation carrying on the business of a retail seller that extends credit, pursuant to the provisions of the “Retail Installment Sales Act of 1960” P.L.1960, c.40 (C.17:16C-1 et seq.), or to any corporation, person, trustee or trustees, owning or holding the majority of stock in either such corporation.

19:34-46. Disfranchisement as additional penalty
In addition to any penalties provided for violation of any of the provisions of this title, the court imposing such penalty may add thereto that such offender be thenceforth disfranchised as a voter while serving a sentence of incarceration and disqualified to hold any office of trust or profit within this state for such length of time as such court deems proper.

19:34-47 Second offense; punishment.
A person who, having once been convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this title, shall again be convicted of a violation of any of its provisions, whether such conviction be for the same offense or not, shall on such second conviction, be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, without eligibility for parole, of one year for a crime of the fourth degree, of two years for a crime of the third degree and of five years for a crime of the second degree, unless the provisions of any other law provide for a higher mandatory minimum term.

19:34-48 Neglect of duties.
Every person charged with the performance of any duty under the provisions of any law of this State relating to elections who willfully neglects or refuses to perform it, or who, in his official capacity, knowingly and fraudulently acts in contravention or violation of any of the provisions of such laws, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-49 Abetting violations of title.
Any candidate who procures, aids, assists, counsels, advises or knowingly permits any person to violate this title shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

19:34-50. Committee members acting after their election voided
Any person chosen as member of the state committee, county committee, or any municipal committee of any political party who shall sit or perform any duty, or exercise any functions as a member of such committee after his election thereto shall have been declared null and void, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and each member of any such committee who shall vote to recognize any such member after such election shall have been declared null and void shall likewise be guilty of a misdemeanor.

19:34-51. Failure of delegate to national convention to surrender void certificate
Any delegate at large or district delegate to any national convention who shall fail to surrender such certificate of election forthwith after the same has been declared null and void, or who shall use such certificate of election, or who shall present such certificate of election as a credential at any such convention, or to any committee on credentials at such convention, or who shall leave the limits of this state with such certificate in his possession with intent to use the same as a credential for admission to any political convention, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

19:34-52. Indorsement of candidate by party committee before primary
No state, county or municipal committee of any political party shall prior to any primary election indorse the candidacy of any candidate for a party nomination or position.

19:34-53 Failure to supply information.
Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this title or to exhibit the records, papers or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-54 Failure to obey subpoena or refusal to testify.
Any person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the county clerk, municipal clerk, or county board and made returnable by such clerk or board, or refuses to testify under oath before such clerk or board, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-55 False statements under oath.
Any person who makes any false statement under oath before the county clerk, municipal clerk or county board shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:34-56. Disobedience of subpoena; civil penalty; body attachment; contempt of court
Every person upon whom a subpoena issued under and by virtue of this Title shall have been served, and to whom the lawful fees shall have been paid or tendered, shall obey the command of such subpoena, under the penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00), to be sued for and recovered, with costs, in a civil action, before any court of competent jurisdiction, by the person on whose application such subpoena shall have been issued; but no person shall in any case be required to attend any such examination as a witness out of the county in which he resides.

If any person so duly subpoenaed shall neglect or refuse to obey the command of such subpoena, any judge of the Superior Court may, on due proof by affidavit of the service of the subpoena on such witness, and of the payment of his legal fees and of his refusal or neglect to obey the command of the subpoena, issue an attachment against the person to bring him before such judge; and the judge shall have power to proceed against such witness as for a contempt of court.

19:34-57. Subpoenas; officers required to issue; expense of; not issued on election day
If proof be made before any judge of the Superior Court or municipal court of facts constituting probable cause for believing that this Title has been violated, and that any person other than the accused has knowledge of the circumstances connected therewith, such judge shall issue process of subpoena for the appearance of such person before him, to be examined touching the same. The lawful expenses of such subpoena and examination shall be paid by the applicant therefor, and such evidence shall be filed with the clerk of the county, to be used before the grand jury. No such process of subpoena shall be issued or served nor any such examination held on the day of election.

19:34-62. Prosecutor of pleas to present violations to grand jury
If the prosecutor of the pleas of the county shall be notified of any violation of any of the provisions of this title, he shall forthwith diligently inquire into the facts, and if there is reasonable ground for instituting a prosecution, such prosecutor of the pleas shall present the charge, with all the evidence which he can procure, to the grand jury of the county. Nothing herein contained shall justify any such prosecutor in counties of the first class in exercising the powers conferred upon the superintendent of elections in such counties.

19:34-63. Assistant for prosecutor; employment by citizens
Any citizen may employ an attorney to assist the prosecutor of the pleas to perform his duties under this title, and such attorney shall be recognized by the prosecutor of the pleas and the court as associate counsel in the proceedings.

No prosecution, action or proceeding shall be dismissed without notice to, or against the objection of, such associate counsel until the reasons of the prosecutor of the pleas for such dismissal, together with the objections thereto of such associate counsel, shall have been filed in writing, argued by counsel and considered by the court, with such limitation as to the time of filing such reasons and objections as the court may impose.

19:34-64. Short title; Fair Campaign Practices Act
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Fair Campaign Practices Act.”

19:34-65. Person performing function in campaign of candidate for purpose of impeding campaign
No person shall perform any function in the campaign of a candidate for public office or party position for the purpose of impeding the campaign of such candidate while concealing that he is actually acting under the instructions of, or on behalf of, another candidate or such other candidate’s paid or volunteer campaign staff.

19:34-66. Knowing production, transmittal or dissemination of mass communication which appears to originate from or be on behalf of campaign of candidate for purpose of impeding campaign
No person shall knowingly produce, transmit or disseminate any election advertisement, literature or other mass communication in any medium, including but not limited to newspapers, magazines, printed circulars, television, radio, movies, telephone, telegraph, billboards and signs, which purports to or appears to originate from, or be on behalf of, the campaign of a candidate for public office or party position, for the purpose of impeding the campaign of such candidate while failing to reveal specifically in such communication that he is acting under the instructions of, or on behalf of, another candidate or such other candidate’s paid or volunteer campaign staff; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any owner, manager, editor, publisher, reporter or employee of any newspaper, magazine, periodical or other publication or of any radio or television station who, in the course of his duties, publishes or broadcasts any such advertisement, literature or mass communication.

19:34-67. Payment of or lending money or other valuable consideration to person to induce violation of act
No person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person acting in his behalf, knowingly give, lend, or agree, offer or promise to give or lend, any money or other valuable consideration, office, place, employment or thing to any person to induce him to violate section 2 or section 3 of this act.

19:34-68. Violators; disorderly persons
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act shall be a disorderly person.

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Subtitle 8 – War Time Voting

Chapter 35. When Allowed; Procedure [Repealed]

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Subtitle 9 – Electoral College

Chapter 36. Meeting and Duties

19:36-1 Time and place of meeting.
The electors of president and vice president shall convene at the State House at Trenton, or in another State building within the State House Complex at Trenton, or the War Memorial at Trenton, on the day appointed by congress for that purpose, at the hour of three o’clock in the afternoon of that day, and constitute an electoral college. In any year in which, on July 20, the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement, the electors for president and vice president shall be those electors certified as the elector slate in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4).

19:36-2 Vacancies; filling.
a. When a vacancy shall happen in the college of electors, or when an elector shall fail to attend, by the hour of three o’clock in the afternoon of the day fixed by congress for the meeting of the college of electors, at the place of holding such meeting, those of such electors who shall be assembled at the hour and place shall immediately proceed to fill by a majority of votes such vacancy.

b. If the members of the electoral college shall have been nominated and elected as representing different political parties, any vacancy occurring shall be filled by the elector or electors representing the same political party as the absent elector; and if there shall be no elector present representing the same political party as the absent elector, then such vacancy shall be filled by a majority of the electors present, who shall choose some person of the political party which the absent elector represents.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. and b. of this section, in any year in which, on July 20, the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement, any vacancy in the college of electors shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act, P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4).

19:36-3 Organization, performance of duties.
After choosing a president and secretary from their own body, such electors shall proceed to perform the duties required of them by the constitution and laws of the United States, and in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act, P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4) in any year in which, on July 20, the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement.

19:36-4 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote
The State of New Jersey hereby enacts into law and enters into the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” as set forth in this section, and substantially as follows:

a. Article I-Membership

Any State of the United States and the District of Columbia may become a member of this agreement by enacting this agreement.

b. Article II-Right of the People in Member States to Vote for President and Vice President.

Each member state shall conduct a statewide popular election for President and Vice President of the United States.

c. Article III-Manner of Appointing Presidential Electors in Member States

(1) Prior to the time set by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, the chief election official of each member state shall determine the number of votes for each presidential slate in each State of the United States and in the District of Columbia in which votes have been cast in a statewide popular election and shall add such votes together to produce a “national popular vote total” for each presidential slate.

(2) The chief election official of each member state shall designate the presidential slate with the largest national popular vote total as the “national popular vote winner.”

(3) The presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment in that official’s own state of the elector slate nominated in that state in association with the national popular vote winner.

(4) At least six days before the day fixed by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, each member state shall make a final determination of the number of popular votes cast in the state for each presidential slate and shall communicate an official statement of such determination within 24 hours to the chief election official of each other member state.

(5) The chief election official of each member state shall treat as conclusive an official statement containing the number of popular votes in a state for each presidential slate made by the day established by federal law for making a state’s final determination conclusive as to the counting of electoral votes by Congress.

(6) In event of a tie for the national popular vote winner, the presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment of the elector slate nominated in association with the presidential slate receiving the largest number of popular votes within that official’s own state.

(7) If, for any reason, the number of presidential electors nominated in a member state in association with the national popular vote winner is less than or greater than that state’s number of electoral votes, the presidential candidate on the presidential slate that has been designated as the national popular vote winner shall have the power to nominate the presidential electors for that state and that state’s presidential elector certifying official shall certify the appointment of such nominees. The chief election official of each member state shall immediately release to the public all vote counts or statements of votes as they are determined or obtained.

(8) This article shall govern the appointment of presidential electors in each member state in any year in which this agreement is, on July 20, in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes.

d. Article IV-Other Provisions

(1) This agreement shall take effect when states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes have enacted this agreement in substantially the same form and the enactments by such states have taken effect in each state.

(2) Any member state may withdraw from this agreement, except that a withdrawal occurring six months or less before the end of a President’s term shall not become effective until a President or Vice President shall have been qualified to serve the next term.

(3) The chief executive of each member state shall promptly notify the chief executive of all other states of when this agreement has been enacted and has taken effect in that official’s state, when the state has withdrawn from this agreement, and when this agreement takes effect generally.

(4) This agreement shall terminate if the electoral college is abolished.

(5) If any provision of this agreement is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

e. Article V-Definitions

For purposes of this agreement:

“Chief executive” means the Governor of a State of the United States or the Mayor of the District of Columbia;

“Elector slate” means a slate of candidates who have been nominated in a state for the position of presidential elector in association with a presidential slate;

“Chief election official” means the state official or body that is authorized to certify the total number of popular votes for each presidential slate;

“Presidential elector” means an elector for President and Vice President of the United States;

“Presidential elector certifying official” means the state official or body that is authorized to certify the appointment of the state’s presidential electors;

“Presidential slate” means a slate of two persons, the first of whom has been nominated as a candidate for President of the United States and the second of whom has been nominated as a candidate for Vice President of the United States, or any legal successors to such persons, regardless of whether both names appear on the ballot presented to the voter in a particular state;

“State” means a State of the United States and the District of Columbia; and

“Statewide popular election” means a general election in which votes are cast for presidential slates by individual voters and counted on a statewide basis.

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Subtitle 10 – Nonbinding County or Municipal Referenda

Chapter 37. Procedure and Effect

19:37-1 Ordinance or resolution for submitting question
When the governing body of any municipality or of any county desires to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof, and there is no other statute by which the sentiment can be ascertained by the submission of such question to a vote of the electors in the municipality or county at any election to be held therein, the governing body may adopt at any regular meeting an ordinance or a resolution requesting the clerk of the county to print upon the official ballots to be used at the next ensuing general election a certain proposition to be formulated and expressed in the ordinance or resolution in concise form. Such request shall be filed with the clerk of the county not later than 81 days previous to the election.

19:37-1.1 Request by voters; petition
Whenever a governing body of a municipality has adopted an ordinance or resolution pursuant to section 19:37-1 of the Revised Statutes, upon the presentation to the governing body of such municipality of a petition signed by 10% or more of the voters registered and qualified to vote at the last general election in such municipality, requesting the governing body of such municipality to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof that is reasonably related to any proposition formulated and expressed in such ordinance or resolution, such governing body of the municipality shall thereupon adopt at its next regular meeting following the presentation of such petition a resolution requesting the clerk of the county to print upon the official ballots to be used at the next ensuing general election a certain proposition as formulated and expressed in the petition. Such request shall be filed with the clerk of the county not later than the 67th day previous to the election.

19:37-2 Question placed on ballot by county clerk.
If a copy of the ordinance or resolution certified by the clerk or secretary of the governing body of any such municipality or county is delivered to the county clerk not less than 65 days before any such general election, he shall cause it to be printed on each sample ballot and official ballot to be printed for or used in such municipality or county, as the case may be, at the next ensuing general election.

19:37-3. Count and canvass of votes
The ballots so cast for or against such public question shall be counted and the result thereof returned by the election officers and a canvass of such election had and announced in the manner now provided by law.

19:37-4. Result not binding
Such result shall not bind the governing body from which the ordinance or resolution emanated, nor be taken or construed as other than an expression of sentiment by the voters, to be followed or disregarded by the governing body in its discretion.

19:37-5. Ordinance or resolution necessary
The submission of a public question in the manner herein provided shall not become operative in any municipality or county until the governing body thereof shall by ordinance or resolution duly passed declare its desire to submit any question or questions in this manner.

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Subtitle 11 – First Elections in Consolidated Municipalities

Chapter 38. Procedure [Repealed]

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Subtitle 12 – Campaign Expenditures

Chapter 39. Limitation of Expenditures [Repealed]

Chapter 40. Campaign Managers [Repealed]

Chapter 41. Campaign Contributions [Repealed]

Chapter 42. Provisions Governing Expenditures [Repealed]

Chapter 43. Audit and Payment of Bills [Repealed]

Chapter 44. Statements Concerning Campaign Funds [Repealed]

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Subtitle 12a – Campaign Contributions and Expenditures

Chapter 44A. Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act

I. General Provisions

19:44A-1. Short title; The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act
This act shall be known and may be cited as “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.”

19:44A-2. Public policy
It is hereby declared to be in the public interest and to be the policy of the State to limit political contributions and to require the reporting of all contributions received and expenditures made to aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate for public office or to aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election and to require the reporting of all contributions received and expenditures made to provide political information on any candidate for public office, or on any public question.

19:44A-2.1 Legislative findings and declarations
The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Accessible public disclosure of money and other things of value given to a candidate for public office by an individual, another candidate or a political committee has proven to be the most effective means of fostering public awareness of and reducing public skepticism about the current system of financing elections for public office;

b. However, under the current disclosure system, certain individuals who collect and spend money while considering whether to become a candidate for public office at a future election do not have to disclose anything about the money they raise or expend until they become a candidate;

c. The continuation of this practice undermines public confidence in the current system of financing elections for public office;

d. The State has a compelling interest in preventing the actuality or appearance of corruption and in protecting public confidence in democratic institutions by requiring an individual who is considering whether to be a candidate for office to comply with the same laws that apply to any candidate for public office; and

e. It is, therefore, reasonable for the State to promote these compelling interests by requiring an individual who acts like a candidate to comply with the current limitations, prohibitions and requirements on campaign contributions and the disclosure of the sources and amounts of contributions and expenditures.

19:44A-3 Definitions.
As used in this act, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1993, c. 65.)
b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1993, c. 65.)
c. The term “candidate” means: (1) an individual seeking election to a public office of the State or of a county, municipality or school district at an election; except that the term shall not include an individual seeking party office; (2) an individual who shall have been elected or failed of election to an office, other than a party office, for which he sought election and who receives contributions and makes expenditures for any of the purposes authorized by section 17 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-11.2) during the period of his service in that office; and (3) an individual who has received funds or other benefits or has made payments solely for the purpose of determining whether the individual should become a candidate as defined in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection.
d. The terms “contributions” and “expenditures” include all loans and transfers of money or other thing of value to or by any candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee, and all pledges or other commitments or assumptions of liability to make any such transfer; and for purposes of reports required under the provisions of this act shall be deemed to have been made upon the date when such commitment is made or liability assumed.
e. The term “election” means any election described in section 4 of this act.1
f. The term “paid personal services” means personal, clerical, administrative or professional services of every kind and nature including, without limitation, public relations, research, legal, canvassing, telephone, speech writing or other such services, performed other than on a voluntary basis, the salary, cost or consideration for which is paid, borne or provided by someone other than the committee, candidate or organization for whom such services are rendered. In determining the value, for the purpose of reports required under this act, of contributions made in the form of paid personal services, the person contributing such services shall furnish to the treasurer through whom such contribution is made a statement setting forth the actual amount of compensation paid by said contributor to the individuals actually performing said services for the performance thereof. But if any individual or individuals actually performing such services also performed for the contributor other services during the same period, and the manner of payment was such that payment for the services contributed cannot readily be segregated from contemporary payment for the other services, the contributor shall in his statement to the treasurer so state and shall either (1) set forth his best estimate of the dollar amount of payment to each such individual which is attributable to the contribution of his paid personal services, and shall certify the substantial accuracy of the same, or (2) if unable to determine such amount with sufficient accuracy, set forth the total compensation paid by him to each such individual for the period of time during which the services contributed by him were performed. If any candidate is a holder of public office to whom there is attached or assigned, by virtue of said office, any aide or aides whose services are of a personal or confidential nature in assisting him to carry out the duties of said office, and whose salary or other compensation is paid in whole or part out of public funds, the services of such aide or aides which are paid for out of public funds shall be for public purposes only; but they may contribute their personal services, on a voluntary basis, to such candidate for election campaign purposes.
g. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1983, c. 579.)
h. The term “political information” means any statement including, but not limited to, press releases, pamphlets, newsletters, advertisements, flyers, form letters, Internet or digital advertisements, or radio or television programs or advertisements which reflects the opinion of the members of the organization on any candidate or candidates for public office, on any public question, or which contains facts on any such candidate, or public question whether or not such facts are within the personal knowledge of members of the organization.
i. The term “political committee” means any two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership, or any other incorporated or unincorporated association which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or candidates for public office, or which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, if the persons, corporation, partnership or incorporated or unincorporated association raises or expends $2,400 or more to so aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or candidates or the passage or defeat of a public question; provided that for the purposes of this act, the term “political committee” shall not include a “continuing political committee,” as defined by subsection n. of this section, a “political party committee,” as defined by subsection p. of this section, a “candidate committee,” as defined by subsection q. of this section, a “joint candidates committee,” as defined by subsection r. of this section , a “legislative leadership committee,” as defined by subsection s. of this section, or an “independent expenditure committee,” as defined by subsection t. of this section.
j. The term “public solicitation” means any activity by or on behalf of any candidate, political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, legislative leadership committee, independent expenditure committee, or political party committee whereby either (1) members of the general public are personally solicited for cash contributions not exceeding $20.00 from each person so solicited and contributed on the spot by the person so solicited to a person soliciting or through a receptacle provided for the purpose of depositing contributions, or (2) members of the general public are personally solicited for the purchase of items having some tangible value as merchandise, at a price not exceeding $20.00 per item, which price is paid on the spot in cash by the person so solicited to the person so soliciting, when the net proceeds of such solicitation are to be used by or on behalf of such candidate, political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, legislative leadership committee, independent expenditure committee, or political party committee.
k. The term “testimonial affair” means an affair of any kind or nature including, without limitation, cocktail parties, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, dances, picnics or similar affairs directly or indirectly intended to raise campaign funds in behalf of a person who holds, or who is or was a candidate for nomination or election to a public office in this State, or directly or indirectly intended to raise funds in behalf of any political party committee or in behalf of a political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, independent expenditure committee, or legislative leadership committee.
l. The term “other thing of value” means any item of real or personal property, tangible or intangible, but shall not be deemed to include personal services other than paid personal services.
m. The term “qualified candidate” means:
(1) Joint candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor whose names appear on the general election ballot; who have deposited and expended $150,000.00 pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-32); and who, not later than September 1 preceding a general election in which the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are to be filled, (a) notify the Election Law Enforcement Commission in writing that the candidates intend that application will be made on the candidates’ behalf for monies for general election campaign expenses under subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-33), and (b) sign a statement of agreement, in a form to be prescribed by the commission, to participate in interactive gubernatorial election debates under the provisions of sections 9 through 11 of P.L.1989, c. 4 (C.19:44A-45 through C.19:44A-47); or
(2) Joint candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor whose names do not appear on the general election ballot; who have deposited and expended $150,000.00 pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-32); and who, not later than September 1 preceding a general election in which the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are to be filled, (a) notify the Election Law Enforcement Commission in writing that the candidates intend that application will be made on the candidates’ behalf for monies for general election campaign expenses under subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-33), and (b) sign a statement of agreement, in a form to be prescribed by the commission, to participate in interactive gubernatorial election debates under the provisions of sections 9 through 11 of P.L.1989, c. 4 (C.19:44A-45 through C.19:44A-47); or
(3) Any candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor whose name appears on the primary election ballot; who has deposited and expended $150,000.00 pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-32); and who, not later than the last day for filing petitions to nominate candidates to be voted upon in a primary election for a general election in which the office of Governor is to be filled, (a) notifies the Election Law Enforcement Commission in writing that the candidate intends that application will be made on the candidate’s behalf for monies for primary election campaign expenses under subsection a. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-33), and (b) signs a statement of agreement, in a form to be prescribed by the commission, to participate in two interactive gubernatorial primary debates under the provisions of sections 9 through 11 of P.L.1989, c. 4 (C.19:44A-45 through C.19:44A-47); or
(4) Any candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor whose name does not appear on the primary election ballot; who has deposited and expended $150,000.00 pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-32); and who, not later than the last day for filing petitions to nominate candidates to be voted upon in a primary election for a general election in which the office of Governor is to be filled, (a) notifies the Election Law Enforcement Commission in writing that the candidate intends that application will be made on the candidate’s behalf for monies for primary election campaign expenses under subsection a. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-33), and (b) signs a statement of agreement, in a form to be prescribed by the commission, to participate in two interactive gubernatorial primary debates under the provisions of sections 9 through 11 of P.L.1989, c. 4 (C.19:44A-45 through C.19:44A-47).
n. The term “continuing political committee” means any group of two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership, or any other incorporated or unincorporated association, including a political club, political action committee, civic association or other organization, which in any calendar year contributes or expects to contribute at least $5,500 to the aid or promotion of the candidacy of an individual, or of the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office, or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions, and which may be expected to make contributions toward such aid or promotion or passage or defeat during a subsequent election, provided that the group, corporation, partnership, association or other organization has been determined to be a continuing political committee under subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8); provided that for the purposes of this act, the term “continuing political committee” shall not include a “political party committee,” as defined by subsection p. of this section, a “legislative leadership committee,” as defined by subsection s. of this section, or an “independent expenditure committee,” as defined by subsection t. of this section.
o. The term “statement of agreement” means a written declaration, by a candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor, or by joint candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor who intend that application will be made on behalf of the candidate for the office of Governor to receive monies for the primary election or on behalf of the candidates for the office of Governor and the office of Lieutenant Governor for general election campaign expenses under subsection a. or subsection b., respectively, of section 8 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C.19:44A-33), that the candidates undertake to abide by the terms of any rules established by any private organization sponsoring a gubernatorial primary or general election debate, as appropriate, to be held under the provisions of sections 9 through 11 of P.L.1989, c. 4 (C.19:44A-45 through C.19:44A-47) and in which the candidates are to participate. The statement of agreement shall include an acknowledgment of notice to the candidates who sign it that failure on the candidates’ part to participate in any of the gubernatorial debates may be cause for the termination of the payment of such monies on the candidates’ behalf and for the imposition of liability for the return to the commission of such monies as may previously have been so paid.
p. The term “political party committee” means the State committee of a political party, as organized pursuant to R.S.19:5-4, any county committee of a political party, as organized pursuant to R.S.19:5-3, or any municipal committee of a political party, as organized pursuant to R.S.19:5-2.
q. The term “candidate committee” means a committee established pursuant to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-9) for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures.
r. The term “joint candidates committee” means a committee established pursuant to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-9) by at least two candidates for the same elective public offices in the same election in a legislative district, county, municipality or school district, but not more candidates than the total number of the same elective public offices to be filled in that election, for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures. For the purpose of this subsection: the offices of member of the Senate and members of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same elective public offices in a legislative district; the offices of member of the board of chosen freeholders and county executive shall be deemed to be the same elective public offices in a county; and the offices of mayor and member of the municipal governing body shall be deemed to be the same elective public offices in a municipality.
s. The term “legislative leadership committee” means a committee established, authorized to be established, or designated by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly or the Minority Leader of the General Assembly pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-10.1) for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures.
t. The term “independent expenditure committee” means a person organized under section 527 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.527) or under paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of section 501 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.501) that does not fall within the definition of any other organization subject to the provisions of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), that engages in influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the nomination, election, or defeat of any person to any State or local elective public office, or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation, or regulation, or in providing political information on any candidate or public question, legislation, or regulation, and raises or expends $3,000 or more in the aggregate for any such purpose annually, but does not coordinate its activities with any candidate or political party as determined by the Election Law Enforcement Commission pursuant to the provisions of section 11 of P.L.2019, c. 124 (C.19:44A-3.1).
u. The term “electioneering communication” means any communication made within the period beginning on January 1 of an election year and the date of the election and refers to: (1) a clearly identified candidate for office and promotes or supports a candidate for that office or opposes a candidate for that office, regardless of whether the communication expressly advocates a vote for or against a candidate; or (2) a public question and promotes or supports the passage or defeat of that question, regardless of whether the communication expressly advocates a vote for or against the passage of the question. The term includes communications published in any newspaper or periodical; broadcast on radio, television, or the Internet or digital media, or any public address system; placed on any billboard, outdoor facility, button, motor vehicle, window display, poster, card, pamphlet, leaflet, flyer, or other circular; or contained in any direct mailing, robotic phone calls, or mass e-mails.
v. The term “independent expenditure” means an expenditure by a person expressly advocating, or the functional equivalent thereof, the election or defeat of: (1) a clearly identified candidate that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of the candidate, the candidate’s committee, a political party committee, or an agent thereof; or (2) a public question, legislation, or regulation, that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of the sponsors, organizers, or committee supporting or opposing the question, legislation, or regulation, a political party, or agents thereof. The “functional equivalent” of expressly advocating means specific advocacy that can be interpreted by a reasonable person as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, or the passage or defeat of a public question, legislation, or regulation, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidate, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidate’s character, qualifications, or fitness for office, or that can be interpreted by a reasonable person as taking a position on the merits of a public question, legislation, or regulation, or taking a position in favor or against the passage or defeat of a public question, legislation, or regulation.

19:44A-3.1. Coordinated expenditure with any candidate or political party; determination
To determine whether a person, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, continuing political committee, or independent expenditure committee has made a coordinated expenditure with any candidate or political party, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall consider whether the candidate or political party, the candidate committee, or any staff member or agent thereof:

a. cooperated with, consented to, authorized, or exercised control over the production or circulation of the communication expenditure;
b. requested or suggested that the communication expenditure be made;
c. provided information to the person or entity making the communication expenditure with regard to the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, distribution, or placement of the television, radio, direct mail, or other form of communication;
d. discussed or negotiated with the purchaser, creator, producer, or distributor of the communication concerning the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, distribution, or placement of the communication;
e. shared information or held discussions on campaign or media strategy with the person or entity making the communication expenditure or with the purchaser, creator, producer, or distributor of the communication;
f. shared its polling or other research with the person or entity making the communication expenditure or whether or not the person or entity making the communication expenditure shared its polling or other research with the candidate, candidate committee, or with any agent of the candidate or candidate committee; or
g. engaged in any other activity the Election Law Enforcement Commission determines, by regulation, constitutes a coordinated expenditure.

19:44A-4. Application of act
The provisions of this act shall apply:

a. (Deleted by amendment; P.L.1981, c. 151.)

b. (Deleted by amendment; P.L. [1983], c. [579].)

c. In any election at which a public question is to be voted upon by the voters of the State or any political subdivision thereof;

d. In any election for any public office of the State or any political subdivision thereof; provided, however, that this act shall not, except for paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 8 of the act (C. 19:44A-8), apply to elections for party office.

19:44A-5. Election Law Enforcement Commission; creation; members; appointment; qualifications; term of office; compensation; allocation to Department of Law and Public Safety; independence
There is hereby created a commission consisting of four members which shall be designated as the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. The members shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of 3 years, beginning on July 1 and ending June 30, except as hereinafter provided. The Governor shall designate one of the commission members to serve as chairman of the commission. No more than two members shall belong to the same political party, and no person holding a public office or an office in any political party shall be eligible for appointment to the commission. Of the members initially appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, one for a term of 2 years and one for a term of 1 year. Each member shall serve until his successor has been appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy, however, the successor shall be appointed in like manner for the unexpired term only. The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this act. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Election Law Enforcement Commission is hereby allocated within the Department of Law and Public Safety; but, notwithstanding said allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof, it being the intention of this act that the assignment, direction, discipline and supervision of all the employees of the commission shall be so far as possible, and except as otherwise provided in this act, fully determined by the commission or by such officers and employees thereof to whom the commission may delegate the powers of such assignment, direction, discipline and supervision.

19:44A-6 Executive director; employees; commission; duties; powers; distribution of information; void elections; law applicable; quarters; advisory opinions
a. The commission shall appoint a full-time executive director, legal counsel and hearing officers, all of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and shall not have tenure by reason of the provisions of chapter 16 of Title 38 of the Revised Statutes. The commission shall also appoint such other employees as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, which employees shall be in the classified service of the civil service and shall be appointed in accordance with and shall be subject to the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service.

b. It shall be the duty of the commission to enforce the provisions of this act, to conduct hearings with regard to possible violations and to impose penalties; and for the effectual carrying out of its enforcement responsibilities the commission shall have the authority to initiate a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing compliance with the provisions of this act or enjoining violations thereof or recovering any penalty prescribed by this act. The commission shall promulgate such regulations and official forms and perform such duties as are necessary to implement the provisions of this act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the commission is authorized and empowered to:

(1) Develop forms for the making of the required reports;

(2) Prepare and publish a manual for all candidates, political committees and continuing political committees, prescribing the requirements of the law, including uniform methods of bookkeeping and reporting and requirements as to the length of time that any person required to keep any records pursuant to the provisions of this act shall retain such records, or any class or category thereof, or any other documents, including canceled checks, deposit slips, invoices and other similar documents, necessary for the compilation of such records;

(3) Develop a filing, coding and cross-indexing system;

(4) Permit copying or photo-copying of any report required to be submitted pursuant to this act as requested by any person;

(5) Prepare and make available for public inspection summaries of all said reports grouped according to candidates, parties and issues, containing the total receipts and expenditures, and the date, name, address and amount contributed by each contributor;

(6) Prepare and publish, prior to May 1 of each year, an annual report to the Legislature;

(7) Ascertain whether candidates, committees, organizations or others have failed to file reports or have filed defective reports; extend, for good cause shown, the dates upon which reports are required to be filed; give notice to delinquents to correct or explain defects; and make available for public inspection a list of such delinquents;

(8) Ascertain the total expenditures for candidates and determine whether they have exceeded the limits set forth in this act; notify candidates, committees or others if they have exceeded or are about to exceed the limits imposed;

(9) Hold public hearings, investigate allegations of any violations of this act, and issue subpenas for the production of documents and the attendance of witnesses;

(10) Forward to the Attorney General or to the appropriate county prosecutor information concerning any violations of this act which may become the subject of criminal prosecution or which may warrant the institution of other legal proceedings by the Attorney General.

c. The commission shall take such steps as may be necessary or appropriate to furnish timely and adequate information, in appropriate printed summaries and in such other form as it may see fit, to every candidate or prospective candidate for public office who becomes or is likely to become subject to the provisions of this act, and to every treasurer and depository duly designated under the provisions of this act, informing them of their actual or prospective obligations and responsibilities under this act. Such steps shall include, but not be limited to, furnishing to every person on whose behalf petitions of nomination are filed for any public office a copy of such printed summary as aforesaid, which shall be furnished to such person by the commission through the public official charged with the responsibility of receiving and accepting such petitions of nomination, at the time when such petitions are filed. The commission shall also make available copies of such printed summary to any other person requesting the same. The commission shall also take such steps as it may deem necessary or effectual to disseminate among the general public such information as may serve to guide all persons who may become subject to the provisions of this act by reason of their participation in election campaigns or in the dissemination of political information, for the purpose of facilitating voluntary compliance with the provisions and purposes of this act. In the dissemination of such information, the commission shall to the greatest extent practicable enlist the cooperation of commercial purveyors, within and without the State, of materials and services commonly used for political campaign purposes.

d. If the nomination for or election to any public office or party position becomes void under the terms of subsection c. of section 21 of this act, the withholding or revocation of his certificate of election, the omission of his name from the ballot or the vacation of the office into which he has been inducted as a result of such void election, as the case may be, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 3, articles 2 and 3, of this Title (R.S.19:3-7 et seq.).

e. The commission shall be assigned suitable quarters for the performance of its duties hereunder.

f. The commission through its legal counsel is authorized to render advisory opinions as to whether a given set of facts and circumstances would constitute a violation of any of the provisions of this act, or whether a given set of facts and circumstances would render any person subject to any of the reporting requirements of this act.

Unless an extension of time is consented to by any person requesting an advisory opinion, the commission shall render its advisory opinion within 10 days of receipt of the request therefor. Failure of the commission to reply to a request for an advisory opinion within the time so fixed or agreed to shall preclude it from instituting proceedings for imposition of a penalty upon any person for a violation of this act arising out of the particular facts and circumstances set forth in such request, except as such facts and circumstances may give rise to a violation when taken in conjunction with other facts and circumstances not set forth in such request.

g. The commission shall establish a training program for campaign treasurers and organizational treasurers and shall make the training program available through its Internet site within one year of the effective date of this act, P.L.2004, c.22.

19:44A-6.1 Advisory opinions of the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have the authority to issue such advisory opinions that relate to candidates for the office of Lieutenant Governor and regulations, including temporary regulations that may be adopted on an emergency basis, as the commission deems necessary to effectuate the provisions of P.L.2009, c.66 (C.19:3-2.1 et al.) that apply to the commission or are within the purview of the commission.

19:44A-7 Limitation on amount spent in aid of candidate for Governor
The amount which may be spent in aid of the candidacy of any qualified candidate for Governor in a primary election shall not exceed $2,200,000. The amount which may be spent in aid of the candidacy of any qualified joint candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election shall not exceed $5,000,000; but such sums shall not include the traveling expenses of the candidate or candidates or of any person other than the candidate or candidates if such traveling expenses are voluntarily paid by such person without any understanding or agreement with the candidate or candidates that they shall be, directly or indirectly, repaid to him by the candidate or candidates.

19:44A-7.1 Adequacy of limits of amounts; adjustments for each gubernatorial election; report; notice to candidates
a. For the purpose of ensuring the continuing adequacy of the limits set by law upon contributions, expenditures and certain other amounts relating to campaigns for nomination to the office of Governor and election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the Election Law Enforcement Commission is authorized and directed to adjust the limits on those amounts as provided herein. The limitation amounts thus adjusted shall apply to the primary election for the office of Governor and the general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be held in the year following the year in which that adjustment is required hereunder to be made.

b. The commission shall establish an index reflecting the changes occurring in the general level of prices of particular goods and services, including but not limited to goods and services within such categories of expenditure as mass media and other forms of public communication, personnel, rent, office supplies and equipment, data processing, utilities, travel and entertainment, and legal and accounting services, directly affecting the overall costs of election campaigning in this State. The index shall be weighted in accordance with the impact in the preceding general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the respective prices of each of those several goods and services upon those overall costs. Not later than December 1 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term, the commission shall determine the percentage of change in this index which shall have occurred during the four-year period ending with the year of the gubernatorial election, and shall adjust the amounts, as set forth in subsection c. of this section, which shall be applicable under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.) to the primary election for the office of Governor and the general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be held in the following year by multiplying that percentage of change, plus 100%, times the amounts applicable thereunder to the primary and general elections for that office held in the third year preceding the year in which that December 1 occurs; provided that any amount so adjusted shall be rounded as follows: if the adjusted amount is less than $20,000 and is not an exact multiple of $100, to the next higher exact multiple of $100; if the adjusted amount is more than $20,000 but less than $200,000 and is not an exact multiple of $1,000, to the next higher exact multiple of $1,000; if the adjusted amount is more than $200,000 but less than $2,000,000 and is not an exact multiple of $10,000, to the next higher exact multiple of $10,000; and if the adjusted amount is more than $2,000,000 but less than $20,000,000 and is not an exact multiple of $100,000, to the next higher exact multiple of $100,000.

c. The amounts subject to adjustment as provided under this section shall be:

(1) The maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made to any candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor or for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-29) and the amount of contributions with respect to which a qualified candidate for nomination for election or for election to those offices shall be eligible to receive moneys from the fund for election campaign expenses pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33);

(2) The amount of deposits or expenditures required to have been made by a candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor or for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in order for those candidates to be qualified candidates under subsection m. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3) and the amount of such deposits into such candidates’ bank account for which no payment of public funds is to be made pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33);

(3) The maximum amount which may be spent in aid of the candidacy of a qualified candidate for the office of Governor in a primary election or the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-7); and

(4) The maximum amount which any qualified candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor in a primary election or for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election may receive from the fund for election campaign expenses pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33).

d. Not later than December 15 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term, the commission shall report to the Legislature its adjustment of limits in accordance with the provisions of this section. Whenever, following the transmittal of that report, the commission shall have had notice that a person has declared as a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in the forthcoming primary or general election, it shall promptly notify those candidates of the amounts of those adjusted limits.

19:44A-7.2 Adjustment of limits on amount of contributions allowable for offices other than Governor and Lieutenant Governor; amounts subject to adjustment
a. Not later than December 1 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall adjust the amounts, set forth in subsection b. of this section, which shall be applicable under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) to primary and general elections for any public office other than the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor at a percentage which shall be the same as the percentage of change that the commission applies to the amounts used for the primary election for the office of Governor and the general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor held in the third year preceding the year in which that December 1 occurs, pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1980, c.74 (C.19:44A-7.1), and any amount so adjusted shall be rounded in the same manner as provided in that section.

b. The amounts subject to adjustment as provided under this section shall be:

(1) the minimum amount raised or expended by any two or more persons acting jointly who qualify as a political committee and the minimum amount contributed or expected to be contributed in any calendar year by any group of two or more persons acting jointly who qualify as a continuing political committee as defined in section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3);

(2) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.28);

(3) the minimum amount of a contribution to a political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee or a political party committee received during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election, the minimum amount of an expenditure by a political committee during that period, and the minimum amount of an expenditure by a continuing political committee during the period beginning after March 31 and ending on the date of the primary election and the period beginning after September 30 and ending on the date of the general election which triggers an obligation to report that contribution to the commission pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8), and the minimum amount of a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee received during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election which triggers an obligation to report that contribution to the commission pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-16);

(4) the maximum amount which may be expended by the campaign organizations of two or more candidates forming a joint candidates committee without being required to file contribution reports, pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8);

(5) the maximum amount that a person, not acting in concert with any other person or group, may spend to support or defeat a candidate or to aid the passage or defeat of a public question without being required to report all such expenditures and expenses to the commission pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-11) and the maximum amount that a person, not acting in concert with any other person or group, may raise through a public solicitation and expend to finance any lawful activity in support of or in opposition to any candidate or public question or to seek to influence the content, introduction, passage or defeat of legislation pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-19);

(6) the maximum amount that may be expended, in the aggregate, on behalf of a candidate without requiring that candidate to file contribution reports with the commission and the maximum amount that may be expended, in the aggregate, on behalf of a candidate seeking election to a public office of a school district, without requiring that candidate to file contribution reports with the commission pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-16);

(7) the maximum amount of penalty which may be imposed by the commission on any person who fails to comply with the regulatory provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) for a first offense or a second and subsequent offenses, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-22);

(8) the maximum amount of penalty which may be imposed by the commission on any corporation or labor organization which provides any of its employees any additional increment of salary for the express purpose of making a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee for a first or a second and subsequent offenses, pursuant to section 15 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-20.1);

(9) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.174);

(10) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.174);

(11) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.174);

(12) the amount of filing fees which may be collected from a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee, a continuing political committee, a political party committee, a legislative leadership committee, or any other person pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-6) (as that section shall have been amended by P.L.1983, c.579).

c. Not later than December 15 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term, the commission shall report to the Legislature and make public its adjustment of limits in accordance with the provisions of this section. Whenever, following the transmittal of that report, the commission shall have notice that a person has declared as a candidate for nomination for election or for election to any public office in a forthcoming primary or general election, it shall promptly notify that candidate of the amounts of those adjusted limits.

19:44A-7.3 Report of recommended adjustments of limits on amounts of contributions allowable for offices other than Governor and Lieutenant Governor
a. No later than July 1 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term, the commission shall issue a report setting forth its recommendations for the adjustment of the amounts, set forth in subsection b. of this section and applicable to P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to primary and general elections for any public office other than the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, to limitations on contributions to and from political committees, continuing political committees, candidate committees, joint candidates committees, political party committees and legislative leadership committees and to other amounts, at a percentage which shall be the same as the percentage of change that the commission applies to the amounts used for the primary election for the office of Governor and the general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor held in the third year preceding the year in which that December 1 occurs, pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1980, c.74 (C.19:44A-7.1). Any amount so recommended for adjustment shall be rounded in the same manner as provided in that section.

b. The amounts to be recommended for adjustment as provided under this section shall be:

(1) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by an individual, a corporation or labor organization to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by a political committee or a continuing political committee to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee other than the committee of a candidate for nomination for the office of Governor or the committee of candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor and the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by one candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, other than the committee of a candidate for nomination for the office of Governor or the committee for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, to another candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee other than the committee of a candidate for nomination for the office of Governor or the committee for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3);

(2) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by an individual, corporation, labor organization, political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group to any political party committee or any legislative leadership committee pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.4); and

(3) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee to a political committee or a continuing political committee and the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by one political committee or continuing political committee to another political committee or continuing political committee pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.5).

c. No later than July 15 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term, the commission shall transmit a copy of its report to each member of the Legislature and make public its recommended adjustment of limits pursuant to this section. The Legislature shall have the option of adopting all or part of the recommended adjustments by the passage of appropriate legislation.

19:44A-8 Political committees and continuing political committees; reports; certification; notices; filing
a. (1) Each political committee shall make a full cumulative report, upon a form prescribed by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, of all contributions in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it and all expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it in furtherance of the nomination, election, or defeat of any candidate, or in aid of the passage or defeat of any public question, or to provide political information on any candidate or public question, during the period ending 48 hours preceding the date of the report and beginning on the date on which the first of those contributions was received or the first of those expenditures was made, whichever occurred first. The cumulative report, except as hereinafter provided, shall contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value have been contributed since 48 hours preceding the date on which the previous such report was made and the amount contributed by each person or group, and where the contributor is an individual, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. In the case of any loan reported pursuant to this subsection, the report shall contain the name and mailing address of each person who has cosigned such loan since 48 hours preceding the date on which the previous such report was made, and where an individual has cosigned such loans, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The cumulative report shall also contain the name and address of each person, firm or organization to whom expenditures have been paid since 48 hours preceding the date on which the previous such report was made and the amount and purpose of each such expenditure. The cumulative report shall be filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission on the dates designated in section 16 hereof.1

The campaign treasurer of the political committee reporting shall certify to the correctness of each report.

Each campaign treasurer of a political committee shall file written notice with the commission of a contribution in excess of $500 received during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election, and of an expenditure of money or other thing of value in excess of $500 made, incurred or authorized by the political committee to support or defeat a candidate in an election, or to aid the passage or defeat of any public question, during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election. The notice of a contribution shall be filed in writing or by electronic transmission within 48 hours of the receipt of the contribution and shall set forth the amount and date of the contribution, the name and mailing address of the contributor, and where the contributor is an individual, the individual’s occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The notice of an expenditure shall be filed in writing or by electronic transmission within 48 hours of the making, incurring or authorization of the expenditure and shall set forth the name and mailing address of the person, firm or organization to whom or which the expenditure was paid and the amount and purpose of the expenditure.
(2) When a political committee or an individual seeking party office makes or authorizes an expenditure on behalf of a candidate, it shall provide immediate written notification to the candidate of the expenditure.
b. (1) A group of two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership, or any other incorporated or unincorporated association including a political club, political action committee, civic association or other organization, which in any calendar year contributes or expects to contribute at least $2,500.00 to the aid or promotion of the candidacy of an individual, or of the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions and which expects to make contributions toward such aid or promotion, or toward such passage or defeat, during a subsequent election shall certify that fact to the commission, and the commission, upon receiving that certification and on the basis of any information as it may require of the group, corporation, partnership, association or other organization, shall determine whether the group, corporation, partnership, association or other organization is a continuing political committee for the purposes of this act. If the commission determines that the group, corporation, partnership, association or other organization is a continuing political committee, it shall so notify that continuing political committee.

No person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the chairman of a continuing political committee.
(2) A continuing political committee shall file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, not later than April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 of each calendar year, a cumulative quarterly report of all moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value contributed to it during the period ending on the 15th day preceding that date and commencing on January 1 of that calendar year or, in the case of the cumulative quarterly report to be filed not later than January 15, of the previous calendar year, and all expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it during the period, whether or not such expenditures were made, incurred or authorized in furtherance of the election or defeat of any candidate, or in aid of the passage or defeat of any public question or to provide information on any candidate or public question.
The cumulative quarterly report shall contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value have been contributed and the amount contributed by each person or group, and where an individual has made such contributions, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. In the case of any loan reported pursuant to this subsection, the report shall contain the name and address of each person who cosigns such loan, and where an individual has cosigned such loans, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The report shall also contain the name and address of each person, firm or organization to whom expenditures have been paid and the amount and purpose of each such expenditure. The treasurer of the continuing political committee reporting shall certify to the correctness of each cumulative quarterly report.
Each continuing political committee shall provide immediate written notification to each candidate of all expenditures made or authorized on behalf of the candidate.
If any continuing political committee submitting cumulative quarterly reports as provided under this subsection receives a contribution from a single source of more than $500 after the final day of a quarterly reporting period and on or before a primary, general, municipal, school or special election which occurs after that final day but prior to the final day of the next reporting period it shall, in writing or by electronic transmission, report that contribution to the commission within 48 hours of the receipt thereof, including in that report the amount and date of the contribution; the name and mailing address of the contributor; and where the contributor is an individual, the individual’s occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. If any continuing political committee makes or authorizes an expenditure of money or other thing of value in excess of $500, or incurs any obligation therefor, to support or defeat a candidate in an election, or to aid the passage or defeat of any public question, after March 31 and on or before the day of the primary election, or after September 30 and on or before the day of the general election, it shall, in writing or by electronic transmission, report that expenditure to the commission within 48 hours of the making, authorizing or incurring thereof.
A continuing political committee which ceases making contributions toward the aiding or promoting of the candidacy of an individual, or of the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office in this State or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions in this State shall certify that fact in writing to the commission, and that certification shall be accompanied by a final accounting of any fund relating to such aiding or promoting including the final disposition of any balance in such fund at the time of dissolution. Until that certification has been filed, the committee shall continue to file the quarterly reports as provided under this subsection.
c. Each political party committee and each legislative leadership committee shall file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, not later than April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 of each calendar year, a cumulative quarterly report of all moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value contributed to it during the period ending on the 15th day preceding that date and commencing on January 1 of that calendar year or, in the case of the cumulative quarterly report to be filed not later than January 15, of the previous calendar year, and all expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it during the period, whether or not such expenditures were made, incurred or authorized in furtherance of the election or defeat of any candidate, or in aid of the passage or defeat of any public question or to provide information on any candidate or public question.
The cumulative quarterly report shall contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value have been contributed and the amount contributed by each person or group, and where an individual has made such contributions, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. In the case of any loan reported pursuant to this subsection, the report shall contain the name and address of each person who cosigns such loan, and where an individual has cosigned such loans, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The report shall also contain the name and address of each person, firm or organization to whom expenditures have been paid and the amount and purpose of each such expenditure. The treasurer of the political party committee or legislative leadership committee reporting shall certify to the correctness of each cumulative quarterly report.
d. (1) Each independent expenditure committee shall file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, not later than April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 of each calendar year, a cumulative quarterly report, upon a form prescribed by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, of all contributions received in excess of $10,000 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it, and of all expenditures in excess of $3,000 made, incurred, or authorized by it in influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the nomination, election, or defeat of any person to State or local elective public office or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation, or regulation, or in providing political information on any candidate or public question, legislation, or regulation, during the period ending 48 hours preceding the date of the report and beginning on the date on which the first of those contributions was received or the first of those expenditures was made, whichever occurred first. The quarterly report, except as hereinafter provided, shall contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value have been contributed since 48 hours preceding the date on which such previous report was made and the amount contributed by each person or group in excess of$10,000, and when the contributor is an individual, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. In the case of any loan reported pursuant to this subsection, the report shall contain the name and mailing address of each person who has cosigned such loan since 48 hours preceding the date on which the previous such report was made, and when an individual has cosigned such loans, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The quarterly report shall also contain the name and address of each person, firm, or organization to whom expenditures have been paid since 48 hours preceding the date on which the previous such report was made and the amount and purpose of each such expenditure.
(2) An independent expenditure committee shall disclose all expenditures made by it in excess of $3,000, including, but not limited to, for electioneering communications, voter registration, get-out-the-vote efforts, polling, and research. The disclosures required by this paragraph shall be reported to the Election Law Enforcement Commission on the same schedule as required for continuing political committees pursuant to this section.
The treasurer of the reporting independent expenditure committee shall certify the correctness of each report and shall maintain all records of contributions and expenditures for a period of not less than four years.
The $10,000 contribution amount and the $3,000 expenditure amount established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2).
e. When a political party committee , legislative leadership committee or independent expenditure committee receives a contribution from a single source of more than $500 after the final day of a quarterly reporting period and on or before a primary, general, municipal, school, or special election which occurs after that final day but prior to the final day of the next reporting period it shall, in writing or by electronic transmission, report that contribution to the commission within 48 hours of the receipt thereof, including in that report the amount and date of the contribution; the name and mailing address of the contributor; and where the contributor is an individual, the individual’s occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. When a political party committee ,legislative leadership committee , or an independent expenditure committee makes or authorizes an expenditure of money or other thing of value in excess of $800, or incurs any obligation therefor, to support or defeat a candidate in an election, or to aid the passage or defeat of any public question, or to aid the passage or defeat of legislation or regulation in the case of an independent expenditure committee, after March 31 and on or before the day of the primary election, or after September 30 and on or before the day of the general election, it shall, in writing or by electronic transmission, report that expenditure to the commission within 48 hours of the making, authorizing or incurring thereof.
f. In any report filed pursuant to the provisions of this section the organization or committee reporting may exclude from the report the name of and other information relating to any contributor whose contributions during the period covered by the report did not exceed $300, provided, however, that (1) such exclusion is unlawful if any person responsible for the preparation or filing of the report knew that it was made with respect to any person whose contributions relating to the same election or issue and made to the reporting organization or committee aggregate, in combination with the contribution in respect of which such exclusion is made, more than $300 and (2) any person who knowingly prepares, assists in preparing, files or acquiesces in the filing of any report from which the identification of a contributor has been excluded contrary to the provisions of this section is subject to the provisions of section 21 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-21), but (3) nothing in this proviso shall be construed as requiring any committee or organization reporting pursuant to this act to report the amounts, dates or other circumstantial data regarding contributions made to any other organization or political committee, political party committee or campaign organization of a candidate.
g. Any report filed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall include an itemized accounting of all receipts and expenditures relative to any testimonial affairs held since the date of the most recent report filed, which accounting shall include the name and mailing address of each contributor in excess of $300 to such testimonial affair and the amount contributed by each; in the case of an individual contributor, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer; the expenses incurred; and the disposition of the proceeds of such testimonial affair.
The $300 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2).

19:44A-8.1. Submission of statement of registration by committees; contents
a. Each political committee, as defined in subsection i. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-3), which aids or promotes the nomination for election or the election of a candidate or the passage or defeat of a public question, each independent expenditure committee, as defined in subsection t. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-3), each continuing political committee as defined in subsection n. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c. 83, and each legislative leadership committee as defined in subsection s. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c. 83, shall submit to the commission a statement of registration which includes:
(1) the complete name or identifying title of the committee and the general category of entity or entities, including but not limited to business organizations, labor organizations, professional or trade associations, candidate for or holder of public office, political party, ideological grouping or civic association, the interests of which are shared by the leadership, members, or financial supporters of the committee;
(2) the mailing address of the committee and the name and resident address of a resident of this State who shall have been designated by the committee as its agent to accept service of process; and
(3) a descriptive statement prepared by the organizers or officers of the committee that identifies (a) the names and mailing addresses of the persons having control over the affairs of the committee, including but not limited to persons in whose name or at whose direction or suggestion the committee solicits funds, and persons participating in any decision to make a contribution of such funds to any candidate, political committee or continuing political committee and, in the case of an independent expenditure committee, any decision to expend funds for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the nomination, election, or defeat of any person to State or local elective public office or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation, or regulation, or in providing political information on any candidate or public question, legislation, or regulation; (b) the name and mailing address of any person not included among the persons identified under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph who, directly or through an agent, participated in the initial organization of the committee; (c) in the case of any person identified under subparagraph (a) or subparagraph (b) who is an individual, the occupation of that individual, the individual’s home address, and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer, or, in the case of any such person which is a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, or other organization, the name and mailing address of the organization; and (d) any other information which the Election Law Enforcement Commission may, under such regulations as it shall adopt pursuant to the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), require as being material to the fullest possible disclosure of the economic, political and other particular interests and objectives which the committee has been organized to or does advance. The commission shall be informed, in writing, of any change in the information required by this paragraph within three days of the occurrence of the change. Legislative leadership committees shall be exempt from the requirements of subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this paragraph.
b. After submission of a statement of registration to the commission pursuant to this section, the committee shall use the complete name or identifying title on all documents submitted to the commission, in all solicitations for contributions, in all paid media advertisements purchased or paid for by the committee in support of or in opposition to any candidate or public question, and in all contributions made by the committee to candidates or other committees and, in the case of an independent expenditure committee, any decision to expend funds for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the selection, nomination, election, or defeat of any person to State or local elective public office or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation, or regulation, or in providing political information on any candidate or public question, legislation, or regulation.
c. Each report of contributions under section 8 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8) by a political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, or legislative leadership committee required under subsection a. of this section to submit a statement of registration shall include, in the case of each contributor who is an individual, the home address of the individual if different from the individual’s mailing address, or, in the case of any contributor which is an organization, any information, in addition to that otherwise required, which the Election Law Enforcement Commission may, under such regulations as it shall adopt pursuant to the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), require as being material to the fullest possible disclosure of the economic, political and other particular interests and objectives which the contributing organization has been organized to or does advance.
d. Any political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, or legislative leadership committee may at any time apply to the commission for approval of an abbreviation or acronym of its complete, official name or title for its exclusive use on documents which it shall submit to the commission. Upon verification that the abbreviation or acronym has not been approved for such use by any other political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, or legislative leadership committee, the commission shall approve the abbreviation or acronym for such use by the applicant committee, and the committee, and any individual, corporation, partnership, membership organization or incorporated or unincorporated association which, under the provisions of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.), submits any documents to the commission containing a reference to that committee, shall thereafter use that approved abbreviation or acronym in documents submitted to the commission. The commission shall, during its regular office hours, maintain for public inspection in its offices a current alphabetically arranged list of all such approved abbreviations and acronyms, indicating for each the name of the committee for which it stands, and shall make copies of the list available upon request.
e. No foreign national, government, instrumentality, or agent may register as an independent expenditure committee for the purpose of making independent expenditures in any State or local election.

19:44A-9 Candidates in elections; campaign treasurer and campaign depository; appointment; deputies; candidates required to wind up associations with political committees
a. Unless already established, each candidate, as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3), shall, no later than the date on which that candidate first receives any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditures in connection with an election, establish (1) a candidate committee, (2) a joint candidates committee, or (3) both, for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures. No person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the chairman of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, other than a candidate committee or joint candidates committee established to further the nomination for election or the election of that person as a candidate for public office. Subsequent to an election, a candidate, whether or not successful in that election, shall maintain a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee so long as contributions are received or expenditures made by that former candidate. An elected officeholder who receives contributions and who has not maintained a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee shall establish a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee, or both, in a timely manner for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures.

b. (1) The candidate or candidates, as the case may be, shall file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission a certificate of organization on a form prescribed by the commission. The certificate shall identify the name of the committee, which shall be the sole name under which the committee receives contributions, makes expenditures and otherwise does business and which shall include the surname or surnames, as appropriate, of the candidate or candidates, except that in the case of a joint candidates committee, the name of the committee need not include such surnames if it identifies the legislative district, county, municipality or other jurisdiction in which the candidates jointly seek nomination for election or election and, in any case in which they seek nomination for election or election as the candidates of a political party, the name of that party, provided that no joint candidates committee so named shall take the same name as that of any committee of a political party or another joint candidates committee. In the case of a candidate committee, the name of the committee shall identify the office sought by the candidate. The certificate shall provide for the initial appointment by the candidate, or candidates, of a campaign treasurer and for the designation by the candidate, or candidates, of that treasurer of the candidate committee, or joint candidates committee, as the campaign treasurer of the candidate, or candidates, for the purposes of subsection a. of section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8) and shall generally identify and be signed by the candidate, or candidates, and the chairman and the treasurer of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee, as the case may be. No person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the treasurer of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, other than a candidate committee or joint candidates committee established to further the nomination for election or the election of that person as a candidate for public office. The certificate shall be filed prior to or simultaneously with the filing of a notification of the designation of a campaign depository as provided under subsection c. of this section. Upon the filing of such a certificate of organization and until the termination of the committee, the candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall file the reports which the campaign treasurer or treasurers of the candidate or candidates would otherwise be required to file under subsection a. of section 16 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-16).

(2) Each campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee for a candidate, or candidates, for the Senate, the General Assembly or the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor shall be a trained treasurer, pursuant to subsection g. of section 6 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-6), or shall acquire such training within 90 days of designation as a campaign treasurer. Any other campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee may be a trained treasurer.

c. Each candidate, or the candidates comprising a joint candidates committee, shall designate a campaign depository. Any bank authorized by law to transact business in the State may be designated as the campaign depository. Notification of the designation of the campaign depository shall be made by the candidate’s, candidates’ or committee’s filing the name and address of such depository with the Election Law Enforcement Commission no later than the tenth day after receipt by the candidate or the committee of any contribution on behalf of the candidate or candidates or after the making or incurring by the candidate or candidates of any expenditure on behalf of that candidacy, whichever comes first.

d. Each candidate and campaign treasurer shall certify the correctness of each report filed by the candidate committee or joint candidates committee with the commission and that each report conforms with the limitations on contributions and expenditures provided for in sections 18, 19 and 20 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3, C.19:44A-11.4 and C.19:44A-11.5).

e. A campaign treasurer of a candidate or candidates may appoint deputy campaign treasurers as required and may designate additional campaign depositories in each county in which the campaign is conducted. The candidate or candidates shall file the names and addresses of deputy campaign treasurers and additional campaign depositories with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

f. A candidate or candidates may remove a campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer. In the case of the death, resignation or removal of a campaign treasurer, the candidate or candidates shall appoint a successor as soon as practicable and shall file the name and address of that person with the Election Law Enforcement Commission within three days. A candidate may serve as his or her own campaign treasurer. One of the candidates in a joint candidates committee may serve as the campaign treasurer of the entire committee.

g. An individual who is a candidate for two or more public offices in an election or in separate elections shall establish separate candidate committees or separate joint candidates committees or both for each office contested.

h. (1) On and after the 366th day following the effective date of P.L.1993, c.65, no candidate shall establish, authorize the establishment of, maintain, or participate directly or indirectly in the management or control of, any political committee or any continuing political committee. Within one year after the enactment of this act, every candidate who maintains, or who participates either directly or indirectly in the management or control of, one or more political committees or one or more continuing political committees, or both, shall wind up or cause to be wound up the affairs of those committees in accordance with the provisions of section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8) and transfer all of the funds therein into a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee. All funds thus transferred shall be subject to the provisions of section 17 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.2).

(2) The person or persons having control over a legislative leadership committee shall not be required to wind up the affairs of that committee but shall be required to conform to the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection with regard to any other political committees or continuing political committees under the control of the person or persons and used by that person for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures.

19:44A-10 Political committees; organizational treasurer and organizational depository
Each political party committee shall, on or before July 1 in each year, designate a single organizational treasurer and an organizational depository and shall, not later than the tenth day after the designation of the organizational depository file the name and address of that depository, and of the organizational treasurer, with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Every political committee may designate a chairman of the committee, but no person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the chairman of a political committee. Every political committee shall, not later than the date on which it first receives any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditure in the furtherance or aid of the election or defeat of any candidate or the passage or defeat of any public question, appoint a single campaign treasurer and designate a campaign depository, but no person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the campaign treasurer of a political committee. Not later than the tenth day after the initial designation of the campaign depository, the committee shall file the name and address of the depository, and of the campaign treasurer, with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Every independent expenditure committee may designate a chairman of the committee, but no person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the chairman of an independent expenditure committee. No candidate or holder of public office, directly or indirectly, shall establish, authorize the establishment of, maintain, or participate in the management or control of any independent expenditure committee. Every independent expenditure committee, not later than the date on which it first receives any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditure for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of any election or the nomination, election, or defeat of any person to State or local elective public office or the passage or defeat of any public question, legislation, or regulation, or providing political information on any candidate or public question, legislation, or regulation, shall appoint a single organizational treasurer and designate an organizational depository, but no person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the organizational treasurer of an independent expenditure committee. Not later than the 10th day after the initial designation of the organizational depository, the committee shall file the name and address of the depository, and of the organizational treasurer, with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Every continuing political committee shall, not later than the date on which it first receives any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditure in the furtherance or aid of the election or defeat of any candidate or the passage or defeat of any public question, appoint a single organizational treasurer and designate an organizational depository, provided that no person who is the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the organizational treasurer of a continuing political committee. Not later than the tenth day after the initial designation of the organizational depository, the committee shall file the name and address of the depository, and of the organizational treasurer, with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Every legislative leadership committee shall, not later than the date on which it first receives any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditure in the furtherance or aid of the election or defeat of any candidate or the passage or defeat of any public question, appoint a single organizational treasurer and designate an organizational depository. Not later than the tenth day after the initial designation of the organizational depository, the committee shall file the name and address of the depository, and of the organizational treasurer, with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Each organizational treasurer of a State political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be a trained treasurer, pursuant to subsection g. of section 6 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-6), or shall acquire such training within 90 days of appointment as an organizational treasurer. An organizational treasurer of any other political party committee or a continuing political committee or an independent expenditure committee and a campaign treasurer of a political committee may be a trained treasurer.

An organizational treasurer of a political party committee, a continuing political committee, an independent expenditure committee, or a legislative leadership committee and a campaign treasurer of a political committee may appoint deputy organizational or campaign treasurers as may be required and may designate additional organizational or campaign depositories. Such committees shall file the names and addresses of such deputy treasurers and additional depositories with the Election Law Enforcement Commission not later than the fifth day after their appointment or designation, respectively.

Any political party committee, any political committee, any independent expenditure committee, any continuing political committee, and any legislative leadership committee may remove its organizational or campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer. In the case of the death, resignation or removal of its organizational or campaign treasurer, the committee shall appoint a successor as soon as practicable and shall file his name and address with the Election Law Enforcement Commission within three days.

19:44A-10.1. Establishment of legislative leadership committee; appointment of committee members; adoption of bylaws
a. The President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly may each establish, authorize the establishment of, or designate one legislative leadership committee for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures to aid or promote the candidacy of any individual, or the candidacy of individuals, for elective office in any election or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions in any election. The President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, or the person authorized to establish a legislative leadership committee therefor, shall appoint such members and adopt such bylaws for the maintenance of the committee as is deemed appropriate. In the event that the State committee of a political party is designated hereunder to serve as a legislative leadership committee, any receipts and expenditures of that State committee which relate to its activity as a legislative leadership committee shall be accounted for separately from receipts and expenditures relating to the State committee’s other activities, and all activity by that State committee in its capacity as a legislative leadership committee shall, for all purposes of this act, be considered as having been conducted as the activities of a separate legislative leadership committee.

b. Within 30 days after such a committee is established, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall be informed, in writing, of the names and addresses of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and all other members of the committee. The commission shall be similarly informed of any change in the membership of the committee within three days of the occurrence of the change.

19:44A-11 Contributions, loans or obligations and expenditures in support of or to defeat candidate or public question or to aid passage or defeat of legislation or regulation; method; personal expenditures; report; anonymous contribution; disposition
No contribution of money or other thing of value, nor obligation therefor, including but not limited to contributions, loans or obligations of a candidate himself or of his family, shall be made or received, and no expenditure of money or other thing of value, nor obligation therefor, including expenditures, loans or obligations of a candidate himself or of his family, shall be made or incurred, directly or indirectly, to support or defeat a candidate in any election, or to aid the passage or defeat of any public question, or to aid the passage or defeat of legislation or regulation in the case of an independent expenditure committee, except through:

a. The duly appointed campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurers of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee;
b. The duly appointed organizational treasurer or deputy organizational treasurers of a political party committee or a continuing political committee;
c. The duly appointed campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurers of a political committee;
d. The duly appointed organizational treasurer or deputy organizational treasurer of a legislative leadership committee; or
e. The duly appointed organizational treasurer or deputy organizational treasurer of an independent expenditure committee.

It shall be lawful, however, for any person, not acting in concert with any other person or group, to expend personally from his own funds a sum which is not to be repaid to him for any purpose not prohibited by law, or to contribute his own personal services and personal traveling expenses, to support or defeat a candidate or to aid the passage or defeat of a public question; provided, however, that any person making such expenditure shall be required to report his or her name and mailing address and the amount of all such expenditures and expenses, except personal traveling expenses, if the total of the money so expended, exclusive of such traveling expenses, exceeds $500, and also, where the person is an individual, to report the individual’s occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer, to the Election Law Enforcement Commission at the same time and in the same manner as a political committee subject to the provisions of section 8 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8). Such expenditure made during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election shall be filed in writing or by telegram within 48 hours of the making, incurring or authorization of the expenditure and shall set forth the name and mailing address of the person, firm or organization to whom or which the expenditure was paid and the amount and purpose of the expenditure.

No contribution of money shall be made in currency, except contributions in response to a public solicitation, provided that cumulative currency contributions of up to $200 may be made to a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, a political committee, a continuing political committee, an independent expenditure committee, a legislative leadership committee or a political party committee if the contributor submits with the currency contribution a written statement of a form as prescribed by the commission, indicating the contributor’s name, mailing address and occupation and the amount of the contribution, including the contributor’s signature and the name and mailing address of the contributor’s employer. Adjustments to the $200 limit established in this paragraph which have been made by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2), prior to the effective date of P.L.2004, c. 28 are rescinded. The $200 limit established in this paragraph shall remain as stated in this paragraph without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2).
Any anonymous contribution received by a campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer shall not be used or expended, but shall be returned to the donor, if his identity is known, and if no donor is found, the contribution shall escheat to the State.

No person, partnership or association, either directly or through an agent, shall make any loan or advance, the proceeds of which that person, partnership or association knows or has reason to know or believe are intended to be used by the recipient thereof to make a contribution or expenditure, except by check or money order identifying the name, mailing address and occupation or business of the maker of the loan, and, if the maker is an individual, the name and mailing address of that individual’s employer; provided, however, that such loans or advances to a single individual, up to a cumulative amount of $50 in any calendar year, may be made in currency.

19:44A-11.2 Limitations on use of contributions received by a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidate committee or a legislative leadership committee
a. All contributions received by a candidate, candidate committee, a joint candidates committee or a legislative leadership committee shall be used only for the following purposes:

(1) the payment of campaign expenses;

(2) contributions to any charitable organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended or modified, or nonprofit organization which is exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, except any charitable organization of which the candidate or a member of the candidate’s immediate family is a paid officer, director or employee or receives compensation for goods or services provided to the organization;

(3) transmittal to another candidate, candidate committee, or joint candidates committee, or to a political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee or political party committee, for the lawful use by such other candidate or committee;

(4) the payment of the overhead and administrative expenses related to the operation of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate or a legislative leadership committee;

(5) the pro rata repayment of contributors; or

(6) the payment of ordinary and necessary expenses of holding public office.

As used in this subsection, “campaign expenses” means any expense incurred or expenditure made by a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee or legislative leadership committee for the purpose of paying for or leasing items or services used in connection with an election campaign, other than those items or services which may reasonably be considered to be for the personal use of the candidate, any person associated with the candidate or any of the members of a legislative leadership committee; and “member of the candidate’s immediate family” means the candidate’s spouse, child, parent, or sibling, and the child, parent, or sibling of the candidate’s spouse.

b. No contribution received by a candidate or by the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate may be used for the payment of the expenses arising from the furnishing, staffing or operation of an office used in connection with that person’s official duties as an elected public official.

c. Any funds remaining in the campaign depository of a candidate’s candidate committee or joint candidates committee upon the death of the candidate shall be used only for one or more of the purposes established in subsection a. of this section by the committee’s organizational treasurer or deputy treasurer or whoever has control of the depository upon the death of the candidate.

19:44A-11.3 Contributions to candidates, limitations.
a. No individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group shall:
(1) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee which in the aggregate exceeds $2,600 per election, or (2) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $2,600 per election per candidate, or (3) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $2,600 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $2,600 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, or their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $2,600 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $2,600 per election.

b. (1) No political committee or continuing political committee shall: (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, or the joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election per candidate, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, shall knowingly accept from any political committee or continuing political committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election.

(2) The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate for any elective public office in another county or, in the case of a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature, in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, less than 20% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.

The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, except that the amount of any contribution of money or other thing of value shall be in an amount which in the aggregate does not exceed $25,000, shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate, or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate, for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, at least 20% but less than 40% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.

With respect to the limitations in this paragraph, the Legislature finds and declares that:

(a) Persons making contributions to the county committee of a political party have a right to expect that their money will be used, for the most part, to support candidates for elective office who will most directly represent the interest of that county;
(b) The practice of allowing a county committee to use funds raised with this expectation to make unlimited contributions to candidates for the Legislature who may have a limited, or even nonexistent, connection with that county serves to undermine public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process;

(c) Furthermore, the risk of actual or perceived corruption is raised by the potential for contributors to circumvent limits on contributions to candidates by funneling money to candidates through county committees;

(d) The State has a compelling interest in preventing the actuality or appearance of corruption and in protecting public confidence in democratic institutions by limiting amounts which a county committee may contribute to legislative candidates whose districts are not located in close proximity to that county; and

(e) It is, therefore, reasonable for the State to promote this compelling interest by limiting the amount a county committee may give to a legislative candidate based upon the degree to which the population of the legislative district overlaps with the population of that county.

c. (1) No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election to the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, shall knowingly accept from another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election.

(2) No candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $8,200 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $8,200 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $8,200 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, shall knowingly accept from other candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing committee, $8,200 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $8,200 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $8,200 per election.

(3) No candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $8,200 per election.

(4) Expenditures by a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature or to an office of a political subdivision of the State, or by the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of such a candidate, which are made in furtherance of the nomination or election, respectively, of another candidate for the same office in the same legislative district or the same political subdivision shall not be construed to be subject to any limitation under this subsection; for the purposes of this sentence, the offices of member of the State Senate and member of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same office.

d. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to impose any limitation on contributions by a candidate, or by a corporation, 100% of the stock in which is owned by a candidate or the candidate’s spouse, child, parent or sibling residing in the same household, to that candidate’s campaign.

e. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given to or by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution to or by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

19:44A-11.3a Contributions to other county committees; limitations
In addition to any other applicable limit prescribed by law, between January 1 and June 30 of each year, a county committee of a political party shall not make a contribution to any other county committee of a political party, nor shall any such county committee accept a contribution from any other county committee during that time period. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a county committee that willfully and intentionally violates this section, or willfully and intentionally makes a contribution to any candidate or committee with the intent, condition, understanding or belief that the candidate or committee has made or shall make a contribution to another county committee, shall be liable to a penalty equal to four times the amount of the contribution.

19:44A-11.4 Contributions to political party leadership committees; limitations.
a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate.

(2) No national committee of a political party shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party which in the aggregate exceeds $72,000 per year, and no campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from the national committee of a political party any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $72,000 per year.

b. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any county committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $37,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $37,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $37,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a county committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $37,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $37,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $37,000 per year from that candidate.

c. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any municipal committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $7,200 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $7,200 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $7,200 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $7,200 per year from that candidate.

No county committee of a political party in any county shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a municipal committee of a political party in a municipality not located in that county which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of aggregate contributions which, under this subsection, a continuing political committee is permitted to pay or make to a municipal committee of a political party. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party in any municipality shall knowingly accept from any county committee of a political party in any county other than the county in which the municipality is located any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of contributions permitted to be so paid or made under that subsection.

d. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

19:44A-11.5 Contributions to political and continuing political committees; limitations.
a. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or a continuing political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to such a political committee or continuing political committee which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election from that candidate, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year from that candidate. No political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or a continuing political committee, shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year, and no such political committee or continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, and no such political committee or continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election from that candidate, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year from that candidate. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

b. No political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, and no continuing political committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or another continuing political committee which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of a recipient continuing political committee, $7,200 per year, or in the case of a recipient political committee, $7,200 per election. No political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, and no continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from another political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or another continuing political committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of a recipient continuing political committee, $7,200 per year, or in the case of a recipient political committee, $7,200 per election.

c. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employees concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, nor any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or a continuing political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, $7,200 per election, or in the case of a continuing political committee, $7,200 per year, and no such political committee or continuing political committee shall knowingly accept any contribution in excess of those amounts from an individual or from such corporation, labor organization, or other group.

19:44A-11.6. Loans for contributions; limitations
Any person, partnership, association, political committee or continuing political committee may make a loan or loans to any person, partnership, association, political committee or continuing political committee with knowledge or reason to know that the prospective recipient of the loan intends to use the proceeds thereof to make a contribution in aid of any candidate or the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any candidate, provided that, at any time, the aggregate total of the unrepaid portion of all such loans by that lender shall not exceed an amount equal to twice the maximum amount of contributions in the aggregate which, under subsection a. of section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3), the lender is permitted to make to such a candidate. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any bank, savings bank, savings and loan association or credit union, whether chartered by the United States, this State, or any other state or territory of the United States, or by a foreign country.

19:44A-11.7. Campaign-related payments required to be made by check
Any payment to any individual which is related to efforts by or on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee in aid of or to promote the candidacy of an individual for nomination for election or for election to elective public office or the passage or defeat of a public question, or to efforts directly to promote or encourage the participation of voters in an election, including but not limited to payments made to campaign workers and payments to other individuals which are intended for further transfer to election-day workers or other ultimate payees, shall be made by check payable to such named individual, and no such payment shall be made in currency.

Any payment to a candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee, or to any other person, association or group, by a candidate or any such committee or by any other person, association or group, which payment is related to efforts in aid of or to promote the candidacy of an individual for nomination for election or for election to elective public office or the passage or defeat of a public question, or to efforts directly to promote or encourage the participation of voters in an election, shall be made by check payable to the named committee, person, association, or group, and no such payment shall be made in currency.

As used in this section, “candidate”, “candidate committee”, “joint candidates committee,” “political committee,” “continuing political committee,” “political party committee,” and “legislative leadership committee” shall have the meanings prescribed for those respective terms by section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3).

19:44A-11.8 Additional reporting requirements
Any candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, or other person or group required to report a contribution to the commission pursuant to P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.) shall, in addition to the reporting requirements set forth in that act, unless specifically required in another provision of that act, file a report with the commission on any contribution accepted in currency, regardless of the amount of that contribution. The report shall be in the manner required by the commission. Such report shall include the name and mailing address of each contributor, the occupation of the contributor and the amount of the currency contribution, and the name and mailing address of the contributor’s employer. If the currency is contributed in response to a public solicitation, such report shall also include the name and mailing address of each individual that contributed currency to the solicitation, the occupation of the individual and the amount of the contribution, and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer.

19:44A-11.9 Prohibition upon contributions by public agencies; liability for knowingly accepting unlawful contributions
A public agency shall not pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value, whether out of public funds or any other funds which the public agency may control, to any candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee, and no such candidate or committee shall accept such contribution.

Any person who willfully and intentionally makes or accepts a contribution in violation of this section shall be liable to the penalties set forth in subsections e. and f. of section 22 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-22).

As used in this section, “public agency” means any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of State Government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission or other instrumentality within or created by such department; the Legislature of the State and any office, board, bureau or commission within or created by the Legislative Branch; and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The terms also mean any political subdivision of the State or combination of political subdivisions, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission or other instrumentality within or created by a political subdivision of the State or combination of political subdivisions, and any independent authority, commission, instrumentality or agency created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions.

19:44A-12. Funds received by treasurer; record; deposit; transfers
An organizational or campaign treasurer or deputy organizational or campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, a political committee, a continuing political committee, an independent expenditure committee, a political party committee or a legislative leadership committee shall make a written record of all funds which he receives as contributions to the candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee, including in that record the name and mailing address of the contributor, the amount and date of the contribution, and where the contributor is an individual, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The organizational or campaign treasurer shall retain that record for a period of not less than four years. All funds so received shall be deposited by the campaign or organizational treasurer or deputy campaign or organizational treasurer in a campaign depository of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee, the continuing political committee, political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee no later than the tenth calendar day following receipt of such funds; except that any such treasurer or deputy treasurer may, when authorized by the candidate, candidates or committee of which he is the campaign or organizational treasurer or deputy campaign or organizational treasurer, transfer any such funds to the duly designated campaign or organizational treasurer or deputy campaign or organizational treasurer of another candidate or committee, for inclusion in the campaign depository thereof, without first so depositing them; provided, however, that the amount so transferred shall not be in excess of the amount that may be contributed by one candidate to another candidate in an election pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-11.3), but this proviso shall not be construed to prohibit a county or municipal committee of a political party from making a contribution or contributions, or from transferring funds as hereinabove authorized, to any candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee. A record of all nondeposited funds so transferred shall be attached to the statement required under this section, identifying them as to source and amount in the same manner as deposited funds.

19:44A-16 Campaign treasurer; reports
a. The campaign treasurer of each candidate committee and joint candidates committee shall make a full cumulative report, upon a form prescribed by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, of all contributions in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value, made to him or to the deputy campaign treasurers of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee, and all expenditures paid out of the election fund of the candidate or candidates, during the period ending with the second day preceding the date of the cumulative report and beginning on the date of the first of those contributions, the date of the first of those expenditures, or the date of the appointment of the campaign treasurer, whichever occurred first. The report shall also contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value were contributed after the second day preceding the date of the previous cumulative report and the amount contributed by each person or group, and where an individual has made such contributions, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. In the case of any loan reported pursuant to this section, the report shall further contain the name and mailing address of each person who cosigns such loan, the occupation of the person and the name and mailing address of the person’s employer. If no moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value were contributed, the report shall so indicate, and if no expenditures were paid or incurred, the report shall likewise so indicate. The campaign treasurer and the candidate or several candidates shall certify the correctness of the report.

b. During the period between the appointment of the campaign treasurer and the election with respect to which contributions are accepted or expenditures made by him, the campaign treasurer shall file his cumulative campaign report (1) on the 29th day preceding the election, and (2) on the 11th day preceding the election; and after the election he shall file his report on the 20th day following such election. Concurrent with the report filed on the 20th day following an election, or at any time thereafter, the campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee may certify to the Election Law Enforcement Commission that the election fund of such candidate committee or joint candidates committee has wound up its business and been dissolved, or that business regarding the late election has been wound up but the candidate committee or joint candidates committee will continue for the deposit and use of contributions in accordance with section 17 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.2). Certification shall be accompanied by a final accounting of such election fund, or of the transactions relating to such election, including the final disposition of any balance remaining in such fund at the time of dissolution or the arrangements which have been made for the discharge of any obligations remaining unpaid at the time of dissolution. Until the candidate committee or joint candidates committee is dissolved, each such treasurer shall continue to file reports in the form and manner herein prescribed.

The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall promulgate regulations providing for the termination of post-election campaign reporting requirements applicable to political committees, candidate committees and joint candidates committees. The requirements to file quarterly reports after the first post-election report may be waived by the commission, notwithstanding that the certification has not been filed, if the commission determines under any regulations so promulgated that the outstanding obligations of the political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee do not exceed 10% of the expenditures of the campaign fund with respect to the election or $1,000.00, whichever is less, or are likely to be discharged or forgiven.

A candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, not later than April 15, July 15, October 15 of each calendar year in which the candidate or candidates in control of the committee does or do not run for election or reelection and January 15 of each calendar year in which the candidate or candidates does or do run for election or reelection, a cumulative quarterly report of all moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value contributed to it or to the candidate or candidates during the period ending on the 15th day preceding that date and commencing on January 1 of that calendar year or, in the case of the cumulative quarterly report to be filed not later than January 15, of the previous calendar year, and all expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it or the candidate or candidates during the period, whether or not such expenditures were made, incurred or authorized in furtherance of the election or defeat of any candidate, or in aid of the passage or defeat of any public question or to provide information on any candidate or public question. The commission may by regulation require any such candidate committee or joint candidates committee to file during any calendar year one or more additional cumulative reports of such contributions received and expenditures made as may be necessary to ensure that no more than five months shall elapse between the last day of a period covered by one such report and the last day of the period covered by the next such report.

The commission, on any form it shall prescribe for the reporting of expenditures by a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall provide for the grouping together of all expenditures under the category of “campaign expenses” under paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 17 of P.L.1993, c.65, identified as such, and for the grouping together, separately, of all other expenditures under the categories prescribed by paragraphs (2) through (6) of that subsection. The cumulative quarterly report due on April 15 in a year immediately after the year in which the candidate or candidates does or do run for election or reelection shall contain a report of all of the contributions received and expenditures made by the candidate or candidates since the 18th day after that election.

The cumulative quarterly report shall contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value have been contributed and the amount contributed by each person or group, and where an individual has made such contributions, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. In the case of any loan reported pursuant to this section, the report shall contain the name and address of each person who cosigns such loan, and where an individual has cosigned such loans, the report shall indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of his employer. The report shall also contain the name and address of each person, firm or organization to whom expenditures have been paid and the amount and purpose of each such expenditure. The treasurer of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee and the candidate or candidates shall certify to the correctness of each cumulative quarterly report.

c. No candidate for elective public office shall be required to file a duplicate copy of the campaign treasurer’s report with the county clerk of the county in which the candidate resides.

d. There shall be no obligation to file the reports required by this section on behalf of a candidate if such candidate files with the Election Law Enforcement Commission a sworn statement to the effect that the total amount to be expended in behalf of his candidacy by the candidate committee, by any political party committee, by any political committee, or by any person shall not in the aggregate exceed $2,000.00 or $4,000 for any joint candidates committee containing two candidates or $6,000 for any joint candidates committee containing three or more candidates. The sworn statement may be submitted at the time when the name and address of the campaign treasurer and depository is filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, provided that in any case the sworn statement is filed no later than the 29th day before an election. If a candidate who has filed such a sworn statement receives contributions from any one source aggregating more than $300 he shall forthwith make report of the same, including the name and mailing address of the source and the aggregate total of contributions therefrom, and where the source is an individual, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer, to the Election Law Enforcement Commission. The $300 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2).

e. There shall be no obligation imposed upon a candidate seeking election to a public office of a school district to file either the reports required under subsection b. of this section or the sworn statement referred to in subsection d. of this section, if the total amount expended and to be expended in behalf of his candidacy by the candidate committee, any political committee, any continuing political committee, or a political party committee or by any person, does not in the aggregate exceed $2,000.00 per election or $4,000 for any joint candidates committee containing two candidates or $6,000 for any joint candidates committee containing three or more candidates; provided, that if such candidate receives contributions from any one source aggregating more than $300, he shall forthwith make a report of the same, including the name and mailing address of the source, the aggregate total of contributions therefrom, and where the source is an individual, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer, to the commission.

The $300 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2).

f. In any report filed pursuant to the provisions of this section, the names and addresses of contributors whose contributions during the period covered by the report did not exceed $300 may be excluded; provided, however, that (1) such exclusion is unlawful if any person responsible for the preparation or filing of the report knew that such exclusion was made with respect to any person whose total contributions relating to the same election and made to the reporting candidate or to an allied campaign organization or organizations aggregate, in combination with the total contributions in respect of which such exclusion is made, more than $300, and (2) any person who knowingly prepares, assists in preparing, files or acquiesces in the filing of any report from which the identity of any contributor has been excluded contrary to the provisions of this section is subject to the provisions of section 21 of this act, but (3) nothing in this proviso shall be construed as requiring any candidate committee or joint candidates committee reporting pursuant to this act to report the amounts, dates or other circumstantial data regarding contributions made to any other candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee.

The $300 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2).

g. Any report filed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall include an itemized accounting of all receipts and expenditures relative to any testimonial affair held since the date of the most recent report filed, which accounting shall include the name and mailing address of each contributor in excess of $300 to such testimonial affair and the amount contributed by each; in the case of any individual contributor, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer; the expenses incurred; and the disposition of the proceeds of such testimonial affair.

The $300 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2).

h. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1993, c.65.)

i. Each campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall file written notice with the commission of a contribution in excess of $500 received during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election and of an expenditure of money or other thing of value in excess of $800 made, incurred or authorized by the candidate committee or joint candidates committee to support or defeat a candidate in an election, or to aid the passage or defeat of any public question, during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election, provided that a candidate shall not be required to file written notice pursuant to this subsection of an expenditure made to support his or her own candidacy, or to support or defeat a candidate for the same office in an election. For the purposes of this subsection, the offices of member of the Senate and member of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same office in a legislative district; the offices of member of the board of chosen freeholders and county executive shall be deemed to be the same office in a county; and the offices of mayor and member of the municipal governing body shall be deemed to be the same office in a municipality.

The notice of a contribution shall be filed in writing or by telegram within 48 hours of the receipt of the contribution and shall set forth the amount and date of the contribution, the name and mailing address of the contributor, and where the contributor is an individual, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. The notice of an expenditure shall be filed in writing or by telegram within 48 hours of the making, incurring or authorization of the expenditure and shall set forth the name and mailing address of the person, firm or organization to whom or which the expenditure was paid and the amount and purpose of the expenditure.

j. Each county shall provide on its Internet site a link to the Internet site for the Election Law Enforcement Commission for the purpose of providing public access to the reports that are required to be submitted to the commission pursuant to this section.

19:44A-18. Post-election contributions, expenditures, testimonial affairs or public solicitations; reports
If any former candidate or any political committee or any person or association of persons in behalf of such political committee or former candidate shall receive any contributions or make any expenditures with relation to any election after the date set in section 16 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-16) for the final report subsequent to such election, or shall conduct any testimonial affair or public solicitation for the purpose of raising funds to cover any part of the expenses of a candidate , political committee, independent expenditure committee, or other organization in such election, all such contributions, expenditures, testimonial affairs or public solicitations shall be reported to the Election Law Enforcement Commission by the person or persons receiving such contributions or making such expenditures or conducting such testimonial affairs or public solicitations. Such report shall be made by any person receiving any such contribution or contributions, or making any such expenditure or expenditures, which in the aggregate total more than $100.00, or conducting any testimonial affair or public solicitation of which the net proceeds exceed $100.00; and shall be made within 20 days from the date upon which the aggregate of such contributions, expenditures or proceeds exceed $100.00 for the period commencing with the 19th day following such election or with the date upon which any previous report was made pursuant to this section, whichever is sooner. Such report shall be made in the same form and shall contain the same detail prescribed for any other report made pursuant to section 8 or 16 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8 or C.19:44A-16).

19:44A-18.1 Contributions for gubernatorial inaugural fund-raising event; limitations; report
a. No person, candidate or political committee, otherwise eligible to make political contributions, shall make any contribution or contributions for the purpose of any gubernatorial inaugural fund-raising event or events in the aggregate in excess of $500.

b. For the purposes of the limitation in subsection a. of this section the term “gubernatorial inaugural fund-raising event” means any event or events held between the date of the general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor and a date 15 days after the date of the inauguration of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, whether the event is sponsored by the inaugural committee, the State political party committee representing the party of the Governor-elect and Lieutenant Governor-elect, or any other person or persons, and at which the Governor-elect or the Lieutenant Governor-elect is a prominent participant or for which solicitations of contributions include the names of the Governor-elect or Lieutenant Governor-elect in prominent display; except that this definition shall not apply to an event sponsored by a religious, charitable, benevolent, scientific, artistic or educational nonprofit institution as long as any proceeds from the event will not be controlled by the Governor-elect or Lieutenant Governor-elect or any political committee or political party committee, and the proceeds will not be contributed to the Governor-elect or Lieutenant Governor-elect, the candidacy of the Governor-elect or Lieutenant Governor-elect, a political committee or political party committee.

c. The person or committee sponsoring the event shall make a full report of all contributions and expenditures with respect to the event within 45 days following the event in accordance with the provisions of this act.

19:44A-19 Public solicitations; reports
a. No person shall conduct any public solicitation as defined in this act except (1) upon written authorization of the campaign or organizational treasurer of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, independent expenditure committee, or legislative leadership committee on whose behalf such solicitation is conducted, or (2) in accordance with the provisions of subsection c. of this section. A person with such written authorization may employ and accept the services of others as solicitors, and shall be responsible for reporting to the treasurer the information required under subsection b. of this section and for delivery to the treasurer the net proceeds of such solicitation in compliance with section 11 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-11). A contribution made through donation or purchase in response to a public solicitation conducted pursuant to written authorization of a treasurer shall be deemed to have been made through such treasurer.
b. Whenever a public solicitation has been authorized by a treasurer during a period covered by a report required to be filed under sections 8 and 16 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8 and C.19:44A-16), there shall be filed with such report and as a part thereof an itemized report on any such solicitation of which the net proceeds exceed $200, in such form and detail as required by the rules of the Election Law Enforcement Commission, which report shall include:
(1) The name and mailing address of the person authorized to conduct such solicitation, the method of solicitation and, where the person is an individual, the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer;
(2) The gross receipts and expenses involved in the solicitation including the actual amount paid for any items purchased for resale in connection with the solicitation, or, if such items or any portion of the cost thereof was donated, the estimated actual value thereof and the actual amount paid therefor, and the names and addresses of any such donors. If it is not practicable for such itemized report to be completed in time to be included with the report due under sections 8 and 16 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8 and C.19:44A-16) for the period during which such solicitation was held, then such itemized report may be omitted from said report and if so omitted shall be included in the report for the next succeeding period.
Adjustments to the $200 limit established in this subsection which have been made by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2), prior to the effective date of P.L.2004, c. 28 are rescinded. The $200 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2).
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section, it shall be lawful for any natural person, not acting in concert with any other person or group, to make personally a public solicitation the entire proceeds of which, without deduction for the expenses of solicitation, are to be expended by him personally or under his personal direction to finance any lawful activity in support of or opposition to any candidate or public question or to provide political information on any candidate or public question or to seek to influence the content, introduction, passage or defeat of legislation; provided, however, that any individual making such solicitation who receives gross contributions exceeding $200 in respect to activities relating to any one election shall be required to make a report stating (1) the amount so collected, (2) the method of solicitation, (3) the purpose or purposes for which the funds so collected were expended and the amount expended for each such purpose and (4) the individual’s name and mailing address, the individual’s occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual’s employer. Adjustments to the $200 limit established in this subsection which have been made by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2), prior to the effective date of P.L.2004, c. 28 are rescinded. The $200 limit established in this subsection shall remain as stated in this subsection without further adjustment by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-7.2).
Such report shall be made to the Election Law Enforcement Commission at the same time and in the same manner as a political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, independent expenditure committee, or a legislative leadership committee subject to the provisions of section 8 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-8).
d. Contributions or purchases made in response to a public solicitation conducted in conformity with the requirements and conditions of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.) shall not be deemed anonymous within the meaning of sections 11 and 20 of the act.1
e. No person contributing in good faith to a public solicitation not duly authorized in compliance with the provisions of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.) shall be liable to any penalty under the act by reason of having made such contribution.

19:44A-19.1 Solicitation and contributions for candidates for elective public office; limitations; enforcement
a. For the purposes of this section, the terms “contribution”, “candidate”, “candidate committee”, and “joint candidates committee”, shall have the meanings prescribed for those terms by section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3); and the term “property” means buildings used for the discharge of official government functions, business, duties, or purposes.

b. (1) No candidate for any elective public office, or any holder of that elective public office, or the candidate’s agent or representative, while located on any property exclusively owned or leased by the State, or any agency of the State, or by any county, municipality, board of education of a school district, fire district, authority, or other State or local entity, district or instrumentality shall, directly or indirectly, solicit any contribution to or on behalf of any candidate for elective public office, or the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any such candidate.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any casual or inadvertent communication otherwise made in connection with, but without intent to solicit, such a contribution.

(2) No person, while located on any property exclusively owned or leased by the State, or any agency of the State, or by any county, municipality, board of education of a school district, fire district, authority, or other State or local entity, district or instrumentality shall, directly or indirectly, make any contribution to or on behalf of any candidate for elective public office, or the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any such candidate.

c. Any candidate for elective public office, or any holder of that elective public office, or their agent or representative, or any person, who is determined by the Election Law Enforcement Commission to have violated this act shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $5,000 for each violation. Any penalty imposed pursuant to this section may be recovered by a summary proceeding pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

d. In the event property exclusively owned or leased by the State, or any agency of the State, or by any county, municipality, board of education of a school district, fire district, authority, or other State or local entity, district or instrumentality or part thereof, is made available, through rent, reservation or otherwise, for the exclusive use of any group for a non-governmental purpose as a meeting location, the prohibition in subsection b. of this section shall not apply and the solicitation or making of contributions or funds of any nature from any or among or by the members of the group during the time the group is using the property made available as a meeting location is permitted.

e. The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have the jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this section for violations thereof on property exclusively owned or leased by the State, or any agency of the State, or by any county, municipality, board of education of a school district, fire district, authority, or other State or local entity, district or instrumentality.

19:44A-19.2 Professional campaign fund raisers; registration requirements; violations
a. As used in this section:

“candidate” means a candidate for nomination for election or election to the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly, and any candidate committee, joint candidates committee, or both, of such a candidate;

“committee” means a political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee;

“person” means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or any other organization or group of persons; and

“professional campaign fund raiser” or “fund raiser” means a person who is employed, retained or engaged for monetary compensation of at least $5,000 per year in the aggregate to perform for any candidate or committee, or both, any service directly related to the solicitation of contributions for that candidate or committee. The terms “professional campaign fund raiser” and “fund raiser” do not include any person who is reimbursed only for incurred costs by a candidate or committee for performing any service directly related to the solicitation of contributions for that candidate or committee.

b. Whenever a professional campaign fund raiser plans or organizes or is involved in the planning or organizing of, or attends, at least three events within a three-month period at which contributions are raised by that person for a candidate or committee by whom he or she has been employed, retained or engaged, or that person raises money or other thing of value at least equivalent to the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by an individual to a candidate for public office pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3) in the aggregate in contributions for such a candidate or committee prior to a primary election or prior to a general election, that person shall register with the Election Law Enforcement Commission using a form prepared by the commission.

The form shall be filed within five business days after either threshold is reached and shall include the name, business mailing address, and regular occupation or business of the fund raiser, the resident mailing address of a State resident designated as the fund raiser’s agent for the service of process, the general nature of the services to be offered, the dates and locations of each fund raising event the person planned or organized or was involved in the planning or organizing of, or attended, the amount of money the person raised at each event and any other information the commission deems relevant. A professional campaign fund raiser who registers for the first time pursuant to this subsection shall re-register annually thereafter regardless of the number of events that person plans, organizes or attends, or the amount of contributions that person receives as long as the person remains employed, retained or engaged as a professional fund raiser. A fund raiser who chooses to terminate fund raising services in this State shall so notify the commission in writing within 30 days after such termination of services.

c. A fund raiser who has filed a registration form with the commission pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall file, not later than April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 of each calendar year, a report with the commission which includes, for the preceding quarter, the names of each candidate or committee for which fund raising services were provided, the services provided to each named candidate or committee, gross and net amounts raised for each named candidate or committee, the amount of compensation received from each candidate or committee, and an itemized list of expenditures made in connection with providing fund raising services.

d. A fund raiser who has not registered with the commission pursuant to subsection b. of this section but is required to be registered, shall not, for compensation, perform for any candidate or committee any service directly related to the solicitation of contributions for that candidate or committee. A candidate or committee shall not pay any compensation to any fund raiser who is not registered pursuant to subsection b. of this section but is required to be registered, for performing any service directly related to the solicitation of contributions for that candidate or committee.

e. Each fund raiser who registers with the commission shall pay, with the initial registration and annually thereafter, a fee to the commission which the commission shall establish by regulation to be not less than the fee paid by legislative agents pursuant to subsection j. of section 6 of P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-23), as well as reasonable fees for the filing of quarterly reports.

f. There is created a non-lapsing revolving fund to be known as the “Professional Campaign Fund Raiser Fund,” to be held separate and apart from all other funds of the State. All fees collected pursuant to subsection e. of this section shall be deposited in that fund and appropriated exclusively for the purposes of the commission. All monies appropriated from the fund shall be dedicated to defray the expenses of the commission in administering this act.

g. (1) Any fund raiser who is determined by the commission to have purposely violated any provision of this section or to have filed or prepared or assisted in the preparation for filing or purposely acquiesced in the preparation or filing of any report required under this section which the fund raiser knows is false, inaccurate or incomplete in any material particular, or who purposely fails or refuses to file any such report when required to do so pursuant to this section, or who purposely supplies any information the fund raiser knows to be false, inaccurate or incomplete to any person preparing or assisting in the preparation of any such report, with the knowledge that such information is intended for the purposes of such report, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(2) Any fund raiser responsible for the preparation, certification, filing or retention of any reports, notices or other documents, who fails, neglects or omits to prepare, certify, file or retain any such report, record or notice or document by the time required by this section or who omits or incorrectly states or certifies any of the information required by this section to be included in such report, record, notice or document shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $6,000 for the first offense and not more than $12,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. Any penalty imposed pursuant to this subsection may be recovered by a summary proceeding pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

19:44A-20. Contributions or expenditures in fictitious name, in name of another or anonymously; solicitation, acceptance or donation; prohibition
No contribution of money or other thing of value, nor obligation therefor, shall be made, and no expenditure of money or other thing of value, nor obligation therefor, shall be made or incurred whether anonymously, in a fictitious name, or by one person or group in the name of another, to support or defeat a candidate in an election or to aid the passage or defeat of any public question or to provide political information on any candidate or public question or to seek to influence the content, introduction, passage or defeat of legislation.

No individual, either alone or jointly with one or more other individuals, and no corporation, partnership, membership organization or other incorporated or unincorporated association shall loan or advance to any individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, membership organization or other incorporated or unincorporated association any money or other thing of value expressly for the purpose of inducing the recipient thereof, or any other individual, group, corporation, partnership, organization or association, to make a contribution, either directly or indirectly, of money or other thing of value to a candidate or the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate.

No person shall contribute, or purport to contribute, to any candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee funds or property which does not actually belong to him and is not in his full custody and control; which has been given or furnished to him by any other person or group for the purpose of making a contribution thereof, except in the case of group contributions by persons who are members of the contributing group; or which has been loaned or advanced expressly for the purpose of inducing the making of a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee.

No treasurer, candidate or member of a candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee shall solicit or knowingly accept, agree to accept or concur in or abet the solicitation or acceptance of any contribution contrary to the provisions of this section.

19:44A-20.1 Corporations and labor organizations prohibited from making contribution through employees; penalties
a. No corporation or labor organization of any kind shall provide to any of its officers, directors, attorneys, agents or other employees any additional increment of salary, bonus or monetary remuneration of any kind which, in whole or in part, is intended by that corporation or labor organization to be used for the express purpose of paying or making a contribution, either directly or indirectly, of money or other thing of value to any candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee.

Any corporation or labor organization of any kind found to be in violation of this subsection shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be liable to a penalty of not more than $6,000 for the first offense and not more than $12,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. Any officer, director, attorney, agent or other employee of a corporation or labor organization that provides to another employee of that corporation or labor organization any additional increment of salary, bonus or monetary remuneration of any kind for the purpose described in this subsection is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

b. No officer, director, attorney, agent or other employee of a corporation or labor organization of any kind shall use any part of any additional increment of salary, bonus or monetary remuneration of any kind which, in whole or in part, is intended by that corporation or labor organization to be used for the express and intentional purpose of paying or making a contribution, either directly or indirectly, of money or other thing of value to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee by a corporation or labor organization of any kind, for the purpose of paying or making a contribution, either directly or indirectly, of money or other thing of value to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee.

Any officer, director, attorney, agent or other employee of a corporation or labor organization of any kind found to be in violation of this subsection of this section is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:44A-20.3 Campaign contributions; business entities contracting with Legislative Branch; value of contract
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary:

a State agency in the Legislative Branch shall not enter into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, as determined in advance and certified in writing by the State agency, with a business entity, that requires approval by a presiding officer of either or both houses of the Legislature, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, if, during the preceding one-year period, that business entity has made a contribution, reportable by the recipient under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to the State committee of the political party of which that presiding officer, serving when the contract is awarded, is a member or to a legislative leadership committee or any candidate committee established by that presiding officer; and

a business entity that has entered into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500 with a State agency in the Legislative Branch, that requires approval by a presiding officer of either or both houses of the Legislature, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, shall not make a contribution, reportable by the recipient under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to the State committee of the political party of which that presiding officer is a member or to a legislative leadership committee or any candidate committee established by that presiding officer, during the term of that contract.

No such committee shall accept such a contribution from a business entity during the term of its contract with a State agency in the Legislative Branch.

19:44A-20.4 Campaign contributions; business entities contracting with county or agency or instrumentality thereof; value of contract
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary:

a county, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall not enter into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, as determined in advance and certified in writing by the county, agency or instrumentality, with a business entity, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, if, during the preceding one-year period, that business entity has made a contribution that is reportable by the recipient under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to any county committee of a political party in that county if a member of that political party is serving in an elective public office of that county when the contract is awarded or to any candidate committee of any person serving in an elective public office of that county when the contract is awarded; and

a business entity that has entered into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500 with a county, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, shall not make such a contribution, reportable by the recipient under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to any county committee of a political party in that county if a member of that political party is serving in an elective public office of that county when the contract is awarded or to any candidate committee of any person serving in an elective public office of that county when the contract is awarded, during the term of that contract.

No such committee shall accept such a contribution from a business entity during the term of its contract with the county.

19:44A-20.5 Campaign contributions; business entities contracting with municipalities; value of contract
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary:

a municipality, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall not enter into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, as determined in advance and certified in writing by the municipality, agency or instrumentality, with a business entity, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, if, during the preceding one-year period, that business entity has made a contribution that is reportable by the recipient under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to any municipal committee of a political party in that municipality if a member of that political party is serving in an elective public office of that municipality when the contract is awarded or to any candidate committee of any person serving in an elective public office of that municipality when the contract is awarded; and

a business entity that has entered into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500 with a municipality, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, shall not make such a contribution, reportable by the recipient under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), to any municipal committee of a political party in that municipality if a member of that political party is serving in an elective public office of that municipality when the contract is awarded or to any candidate committee of any person serving in an elective public office of that municipality when the contract is awarded, during the term of that contract.

No such committee shall accept such a contribution from a business entity during the term of its contract with the municipality.

19:44A-20.6 Person as business entity; contributions by spouse or child of person; contributions by persons having interest in business
When a business entity is a natural person, a contribution by that person’s spouse or child, residing therewith, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. When a business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by any person or other business entity having an interest therein shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity.

19:44A-20.7 Definitions
As used in sections 2 through 12 of this act:

“business entity” means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or of any other state or foreign jurisdiction;

“interest” means the ownership or control of more than 10% of the profits or assets of a business entity or 10% of the stock in the case of a business entity that is a corporation for profit, as appropriate;

“fair and open process” means, at a minimum, that the contract shall be: publicly advertised in newspapers or on the Internet website maintained by the public entity in sufficient time to give notice in advance of the contract; awarded under a process that provides for public solicitation of proposals or qualifications and awarded and disclosed under criteria established in writing by the public entity prior to the solicitation of proposals or qualifications; and publicly opened and announced when awarded. The decision of a public entity as to what constitutes a fair and open process shall be final.

“State agency in the Legislative Branch” means the Legislature of the State and any office, board, bureau or commission within or created by the Legislative Branch.

19:44A-20.8 Duty to report contributions
a. Prior to awarding any contract, except a contract that is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, a State agency in the Legislative Branch, a county, or a municipality shall require the business entity to which the contract is to be awarded to provide a written certification that it has not made a contribution that would bar the award of a contract pursuant to this act.

b. A business entity shall have a continuing duty to report to the Election Law Enforcement Commission any contributions that constitute a violation of this act that are made during the duration of a contract.

19:44A-20.9 Repayment of contribution.
If a business entity makes a contribution that would cause it to be ineligible to receive a public contract or, in the case of a contribution made during the term of a public contract, that would constitute a violation of this act, the business entity may request, in writing, within 60 days of the date on which the contribution was made, that the recipient thereof repay the contribution and, if repayment is received within those 60 days, the business entity would again be eligible to receive a contract or would no longer be in violation, as appropriate.

19:44A-20.10 Violation of act by business entity; penalty
A business entity which is determined by the Election Law Enforcement Commission to have willfully and intentionally made a contribution or failed to reveal a contribution in violation of this act may be liable to a penalty of up to the value of its contract with the public entity and may be debarred by the State Treasurer from contracting with any public entity for up to five years.

19:44A-20.11 Violation of act by person; penalty
Any person who is determined by the Election Law Enforcement Commission to have willfully and intentionally accepted a contribution in violation of the provisions of sections 1 through 4 of this act shall be liable to a penalty for each such violation equal to the penalties set forth in subsection e. of section 22 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-22).

19:44A-20.12 Public exigency exception
Nothing contained in this act shall be construed as prohibiting the awarding of a contract when the public exigency requires the immediate delivery of goods or performance of emergency services as determined by the State Treasurer.

19:44A-20.13 Prohibition of awards of public contracts to business entities which make political contributions; legislative findings and declarations
The Legislature finds and declares that:

In our representative form of government, it is essential that individuals who are elected to public office have the trust, respect and confidence of the citizenry; and

All individuals, businesses, associations, and other persons have a right to participate fully in the political process of New Jersey, including making and soliciting contributions to candidates, political parties and holders of public office; and

When a person or business interest makes or solicits major contributions to obtain a contract awarded by a government agency or independent authority, this constitutes a violation of the public’s trust in government and raises legitimate public concerns about whether the contract has been awarded on the basis of merit; and

The growing infusion of funds donated by business entities into the political process at all levels of government has generated widespread cynicism among the public that special interest groups are “buying” favors from elected officeholders; and

For the purposes of protecting the integrity of government contractual decisions and of improving the public’s confidence in government, it is a compelling interest of this State to prohibit awarding government contracts to business entities which are also contributors to candidates, political parties and the holders of public office; and

There exists the perception that campaign contributions are often made to a State or county political party committee by an individual or business seeking favor with State elected officials, with the understanding that the money given to such a committee will be transmitted to other committees in other parts of the State, or is otherwise intended to circumvent legal restrictions on the making of political contributions or gifts directly to elected State officials, thus again making elected State officials beholden to those contributors; and

County political party committees, through their powers of endorsement, fundraising, ballot slogan or party line designation, and other means, exert significant influence over the gubernatorial primary and general election process; and

Although the right of individuals and businesses to make campaign contributions is unequivocal, that right may be limited, even abrogated, when such contributions promote the actuality or appearance of public corruption; and

It is essential that the public have confidence that the selection of State contractors is based on merit and not on political contributions made by such contractors and it is essential that the public have trust in the processes by which taxpayer dollars are spent; and

It has long been the public policy of this State to secure for the taxpayers the benefits of competition, to promote the public good by promoting the honesty and integrity of bidders for public contracts and the system, and to guard against favoritism, improvidence, extravagance and corruption in order to benefit the taxpayers; and

In the procurement process, our public policy grants to the State broad discretion, taking into consideration all factors, to award a contract to a bidder whose proposal will be most advantageous to the State; and

The operations of the State government must be effectively and fairly managed to ensure public order and prosperity, and malfeasance, in whatever form it may take, must be confronted and uprooted; and

The Legislature must safeguard the integrity of State government procurement by imposing restrictions on State agencies and independent authorities to insulate the negotiation and award of State contracts from political contributions that pose the risk of improper influence, purchase of access, or the appearance thereof.

19:44A-20.14 State contracts with business entities to procure services, supplies, or to acquire, sell, or lease lands or buildings; prohibition where business entity has solicited or made political contributions; time limitations
The State or any of its purchasing agents or agencies or those of its independent authorities, as the case may be, shall not enter into an agreement or otherwise contract to procure from any business entity services or any material, supplies or equipment, or to acquire, sell, or lease any land or building, where the value of the transaction exceeds $17,500, if that business entity has solicited or made any contribution of money, or pledge of contribution, including in-kind contributions to a candidate committee or election fund of any candidate or holder of the public office of Governor or of Lieutenant Governor, or to any State or county political party committee: (i) within the eighteen months immediately preceding the commencement of negotiations for the contract or agreement; (ii) during the term of office of a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor, in the case of contributions to a candidate committee or election fund of the holder of one of those offices, or to any State or county political party committee of a political party nominating such Governor and Lieutenant Governor in the last gubernatorial election preceding the commencement of such term; or (iii) within the eighteen months immediately preceding the last day of the term of office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, in which case such prohibition shall continue through the end of the next immediately following term of the office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, in the case of contributions to a candidate committee or election fund of the holder of one of those offices, or to any State or county political party committee of a political party nominating such Governor and Lieutenant Governor in the last gubernatorial election preceding the commencement of the latter term.

19:44A-20.15 Business entities which have contracted with State for rendition of services or supplies or for acquisition, sale, or lease of any lands or buildings; prohibition of solicitation of or making political contributions; time limitations
No business entity which agrees to any contract or agreement with the State or any department or agency thereof or its independent authorities either for the rendition of services or furnishing of any material, supplies or equipment or for the acquisition, sale, or lease of any land or building, if the value of the transaction exceeds $17,500, shall knowingly solicit or make any contribution of money, or pledge of a contribution, including in-kind contributions, to a candidate committee or election fund of any candidate or holder of the public office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor or to any State or county political party committee prior to the completion of the contract or agreement.

19:44A-20.16 “Contribution” defined.
For the purposes of this act, a “contribution” means a contribution reportable by the recipient under “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act, ” P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.) made on or after the effective date of this act.

19:44A-20.17 “Business entity” defined.
For the purposes of this act, a “business entity” means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction. The definition of a business entity includes: (i) all principals who own or control more than 10 percent of the profits or assets of a business entity or 10 percent of the stock in the case of a business entity that is a corporation for profit, as appropriate; (ii) any subsidiaries directly or indirectly controlled by the business entity; (iii) any political organization organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that is directly or indirectly controlled by the business entity, other than a candidate committee, election fund, or political party committee; and (iv) if a business entity is a natural person, that person’s spouse or child, residing therewith, are also included within this definition.

19:44A-20.18 Reporting of contributions
Prior to awarding any contract or agreement to procure services or any material, supplies or equipment from, or for the acquisition, sale, or lease of any land or building from or to, any business entity, the State or any of its purchasing agents or agencies, as the case may be, shall require, as part of the procurement process, the business entity to report all contributions the business entity made during the preceding four years to any political organization organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that also meets the definition of a “continuing political committee” within the meaning of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3). Such reporting shall be made in a manner and form to be developed by the State Treasurer with the advice of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, which agencies shall promulgate regulations to effect and implement this disclosure obligation. Such reports shall be subject to review by the State Treasurer. If the State Treasurer determines that any such contribution, or any other act that would constitute a breach of contract pursuant to section 9 of this act, poses a conflict of interest in the awarding of any contract or agreement, the State Treasurer shall disqualify such business entity from bidding on or being awarded such contract or agreement.

19:44A-20.19 Certification of not having made contribution
Prior to awarding any contract or agreement to procure services or any material, supplies or equipment from, or for the acquisition, sale, or lease of any land or building from or to, any business entity, the State or any of its purchasing agents or agencies or independent authorities, as the case may be, shall require the business entity to provide a written certification that it has not made a contribution that would bar the award of the contract pursuant to this act. The business entity shall have a continuing duty to report any contribution it makes during the term of the contract. Such reports shall be subject to review by the State Treasurer. If the State Treasurer determines that any such contribution poses a conflict of interest, such contribution shall be deemed a material breach of such contract or agreement.

19:44A-20.20 Inadvertent contribution; request for reimbursement
If a business entity inadvertently makes a contribution that would otherwise bar it from receiving a contract or makes a contribution during the term of a contract in violation of this act, the entity may request a full reimbursement from the recipient and, if such reimbursement is received within 30 days after the date on which the contribution was made, the business entity would again be eligible to receive a contract or would no longer be in violation, as appropriate. It shall be presumed that contributions made within 60 days of a gubernatorial primary or general election were not made inadvertently.

19:44A-20.21 Breach of government contract
It shall be a breach of the terms of the government contract for a business entity to: (i) make or solicit a contribution in violation of this act; (ii) knowingly conceal or misrepresent a contribution given or received; (iii) make or solicit contributions through intermediaries for the purpose of concealing or misrepresenting the source of the contribution; (iv) make or solicit any contribution on the condition or with the agreement that it will be contributed to a campaign committee of any candidate or holder of the public office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor, or to any State or county party committee; (v) engage or employ a lobbyist or consultant with the intent or understanding that such lobbyist or consultant would make or solicit any contribution, which if made or solicited by the business entity itself, would subject that entity to the restrictions of this act; (vi) fund contributions made by third parties, including consultants, attorneys, family members, and employees; (vii) engage in any exchange or contributions to circumvent the intent of this act; or (viii) directly or indirectly, through or by any other person or means, do any act which would subject that entity to the restrictions of this act.

19:44A-20.22 Contracts required by public exigency
This act shall not prohibit the awarding of a contract when the public exigency requires the immediate delivery of goods or performance of services as determined by the State Treasurer.

19:44A-20.23 State agencies to which act applies
This act shall apply to all State agencies including any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission or other instrumentality within or created by such department and any independent State authority, board, commission, instrumentality or agency.

19:44A-20.24 Statement of requirements of act; required contract provision
Every contract and bid application and specifications promulgated in connection therewith covered by this act shall contain a provision describing the requirements of this act and a statement that compliance with this act shall be a material term and condition of said contract or bid application and binding upon the parties thereto upon the entry of all applicable contracts.

19:44A-20.25 Application of act; violation of federal law or regulation
The provisions of sections 1 through 12 of this act, P.L.2005, c.51, shall not: a. apply in circumstances when it is determined by the federal government or a court of competent jurisdiction that its application would violate federal law or regulation; or b. prevent the State, its executive departments, agencies or independent authorities from complying with all of the requirements, conditions and obligations of the “Eminent Domain Act of 1971,” P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.

19:44A-20.26 Bids for certain public contracts to include list of political contributions; covered contributions; definitions; violation
a. Not later than 10 days prior to entering into any contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, except for a contract that is required by law to be publicly advertised for bids, a State agency, county, municipality, independent authority, board of education, or fire district shall require any business entity bidding thereon or negotiating therefor, to submit along with its bid or price quote, a list of political contributions as set forth in this subsection that are reportable by the recipient pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) and that were made by the business entity during the preceding 12-month period, along with the date and amount of each contribution and the name of the recipient of each contribution. A business entity contracting with a State agency shall disclose contributions to any State, county, or municipal committee of a political party, legislative leadership committee, candidate committee of a candidate for, or holder of, a State elective office, or any continuing political committee. A business entity contracting with a county, municipality, independent authority, other than an independent authority that is a State agency, board of education, or fire district shall disclose contributions to: any State, county, or municipal committee of a political party; any legislative leadership committee; or any candidate committee of a candidate for, or holder of, an elective office of that public entity, of that county in which that public entity is located, of another public entity within that county, or of a legislative district in which that public entity is located or, when the public entity is a county, of any legislative district which includes all or part of the county, or any continuing political committee.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to a contract when a public emergency requires the immediate delivery of goods or services.

b. When a business entity is a natural person, a contribution by that person’s spouse or child, residing therewith, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. When a business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by any person or other business entity having an interest therein shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. When a business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by: all principals, partners, officers, or directors of the business entity or their spouses; any subsidiaries directly or indirectly controlled by the business entity; or any political organization organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that is directly or indirectly controlled by the business entity, other than a candidate committee, election fund, or political party committee, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity.

c. As used in this section:

“business entity” means a for-profit entity that is a natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or of any other state or foreign jurisdiction;

“interest” means the ownership or control of more than 10% of the profits or assets of a business entity or 10% of the stock in the case of a business entity that is a corporation for profit, as appropriate; and

“State agency” means any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of the State Government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission or other instrumentality within or created by such department, the Legislature of the State and any office, board, bureau or commission within or created by the Legislative Branch, and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency.

d. Any business entity that fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine imposed by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission in an amount to be determined by the commission which may be based upon the amount that the business entity failed to report.

19:44A-20.27 Business entity making political contributions of $50,000 or more to file annual disclosure statement; forms and procedures; public inspection of reports; covered contributions; definitions; violation
a. Any business entity making a contribution of money or any other thing of value, including an in-kind contribution, or pledge to make a contribution of any kind to a candidate for or the holder of any public office having ultimate responsibility for the awarding of public contracts, or to a political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee, which has received in any calendar year $50,000 or more in the aggregate through agreements or contracts with a public entity, shall file an annual disclosure statement with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-5), setting forth all such contributions made by the business entity during the 12 months prior to the reporting deadline.

b. The commission shall prescribe forms and procedures for the reporting required in subsection a. of this section which shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) the name and mailing address of the business entity making the contribution, and the amount contributed during the 12 months prior to the reporting deadline;

(2) the name of the candidate for or the holder of any public office having ultimate responsibility for the awarding of public contracts, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee receiving the contribution; and

(3) the amount of money the business entity received from the public entity through contract or agreement, the dates, and information identifying each contract or agreement and describing the goods, services or equipment provided or property sold.

c. The commission shall maintain a list of such reports for public inspection both at its office and through its Internet site.

d. When a business entity is a natural person, a contribution by that person’s spouse or child, residing therewith, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. When a business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by any person or other business entity having an interest therein shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. When a business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by: all principals, partners, officers, or directors of the business entity, or their spouses; any subsidiaries directly or indirectly controlled by the business entity; or any political organization organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that is directly or indirectly controlled by the business entity, other than a candidate committee, election fund, or political party committee, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity.

As used in this section:

“business entity” means a for-profit entity that is a natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or of any other state or foreign jurisdiction; and

“interest” means the ownership or control of more than 10% of the profits or assets of a business entity or 10% of the stock in the case of a business entity that is a corporation for profit, as appropriate.

e. Any business entity that fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine imposed by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission in an amount to be determined by the commission which may be based upon the amount that the business entity failed to report.

19:44A-21. Concealment or misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures; reports; violations; penalties
a. Any person who purposely and with intent to conceal or misrepresent contributions given or received or expenditures made or incurred to aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate for public office or party position, or to aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or to aid the dissemination of political information in connection with any election makes or accepts any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditure in violation of section 7, 11 or 20 of this act is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

b. Any person who purposely files or prepares or assists in the preparation for filing or purposely acquiesces in the preparation or filing of any report required under this act which the person knows is false, inaccurate or incomplete in any material particular; or who purposely fails or refuses to file any such report when required to do so pursuant to the provisions of this act; or who purposely supplies any information which he knows to be false, inaccurate or incomplete to any person preparing or assisting in the preparation of any such report, with the knowledge that such information is intended for the purposes of such report, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

c. The nomination for or election to any office of any candidate who is guilty of any violation within the description of subsection a. or b. of this section shall be void, and the office shall be filled as required by law in the case of a vacancy; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed in derogation of the constitutional authority of either House of the Legislature to be the judge of the election and qualification of its own members.

d. Any individual, partnership, membership organization or other association who or which, directly or through an agent, purposely makes a loan or advance of money or other thing of value in violation of section 11 or section 20 of P.L. 1973, c. 83 (C. 19:44A-11 or C. 19:44A-20) is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

e. Any individual, partnership, membership organization or other association who or which purposely makes a contribution as a result of having been induced to do so through the receipt, promise or offer of a loan or advance of money or other thing of value, the making of which loan or advance would constitute a violation of section 11 or section 20 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-11 or C.19:44A-20), is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:44A-22 Reports, records, notices, etc.; violations; additional penalty; hearing; determination; penalties for illegal contributions
a. (1) Except as provided in subsection e. or f., any person, including any candidate, treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee, charged with the responsibility under the terms of this act for the preparation, certification, filing or retention of any reports, records, notices or other documents, who fails, neglects or omits to prepare, certify, file or retain any such report, record, notice or document at the time or during the time period, as the case may be, and in the manner prescribed by law, or who omits or incorrectly states or certifies any of the information required by law to be included in such report, record, notice or document, any person who proposes to undertake or undertakes a public solicitation, testimonial affair or other activity relating to contributions or expenditures in any way regulated by the provisions of this act who fails to comply with those regulatory provisions, and any other person who in any way violates any of the provisions of this act shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be liable to a penalty of not more than $6,000 for the first offense and not more than $12,000 for the second and each subsequent offense.

(2) No person shall willfully and intentionally agree with another person to make a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee with the intent, or upon the condition, understanding or belief, that the recipient candidate or committee shall make or have made a contribution to another such candidate or committee, but this paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit a county or municipal committee of a political party from making a contribution or contributions to any candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee. A finding of a violation of this paragraph shall be made only upon clear and convincing evidence. A person who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be liable to a penalty equal to four times the amount of the contribution which that person agreed to make to the recipient candidate or committee.

b. Upon receiving evidence of any violation of this section, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have power to hold, or to cause to be held under the provisions of subsection d. of this section, hearings upon such violation and, upon finding any person to have committed such a violation, to assess such penalty, within the limits prescribed in subsection a. of this section, as it deems proper under the circumstances, which penalty shall be paid forthwith into the State Treasury for the general purposes of the State.

c. In assessing any penalty under this section, the Election Law Enforcement Commission may provide for the remission of all or any part of such penalty conditioned upon the prompt correction of any failure, neglect, error or omission constituting the violation for which said penalty was assessed.

d. The commission may designate a hearing officer to hear complaints of violations of this act. Such hearing officer shall take testimony, compile a record and make factual findings, and shall submit the same to the commission, which shall have power to assess penalties within the limits and under the conditions prescribed in subsections b. and c. of this section. The commission shall review the record and findings of the hearing officer, but it may also seek such additional testimony as it deems necessary. The commission’s determination shall be by majority vote of the entire authorized membership thereof.

e. Any person who willfully and intentionally makes or accepts any contribution in violation of section 4 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-29) or section 18, 19 or 20 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3, C.19:44A-11.4 or C.19:44A-11.5), shall be liable to a penalty of:

(1) Not more than $10,000 if the cumulative total amount of those contributions is less than or equal to $5,000.00;

(2) Not more than $150,000 if the cumulative total amount of those contributions was more than $5,000.00 but less than $75,000; and

(3) Not more than $200,000 if the cumulative total amount of those contributions is equal to or more than $75,000.00.

f. In addition to any penalty imposed pursuant to subsection e. of this section, a person holding any elective public office shall forfeit that public office if the Election Law Enforcement Commission determines that the cumulative total amount of the illegal contributions was more than $50,000.00 and that the violation had a significant impact on the outcome of the election.

g. Any penalty prescribed in this section shall be enforced in a summary proceeding under the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

19:44A-22.1. Summary action by candidate; injunctive relief; costs and attorney fees
If a political committee or continuing political committee, having been established or consisting of members or having received contributions in violation of this act, shall have made any contribution or expenditure in opposition to, or in furtherance of the defeat of, a candidate, that candidate may, in a summary action in the Superior Court, apply for an order directing that political committee or continuing political committee to show cause why the court should not grant such injunctive relief as the candidate may seek. The court shall decide the application within 48 hours of the filing thereof and, upon a proper demonstration of the candidate’s entitlement thereto, shall grant appropriate injunctive relief against that political committee or continuing political committee.

In addition, the court may order that contributions previously received by the committee shall be deemed to be contributions to the candidate committee or joint candidates committee, as appropriate, of the candidate’s opponent in the election for all purposes of section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3), and shall so advise the Election Law Enforcement Commission. The court may also order that, to the extent that the amounts of such contributions so attributed are, together with other amounts contributed by the same contributors directly to the candidate committee or joint candidates committee, in excess of the amounts of contributions which that candidate committee or joint candidates committee could legally have received directly from those contributors under that section 18, the candidate committee or joint candidates committee of the aggrieved candidate may receive contributions in excess of the amounts of contributions which that candidate committee or joint candidates committee could legally receive under section 18 of that P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3).

If the court determines that an application for injunctive relief under this section is frivolous, the court may award costs, including any attorney’s fees, to the political committee or continuing committee against which such relief was sought.

19:44A-22.2. Legislative findings and declarations
The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. in McIntyre v. Ohio, 63 U.S.L.W. 4279 (U.S. April 19, 1995) (No. 93-986), the United States Supreme Court invalidated, on First Amendment grounds, an Ohio statute prohibiting the distribution of campaign materials which did not bear the issuer’s name and address;

b. nevertheless, this decision recognized that there may be circumstances in which a state’s enforcement interest justifies a more limited identification requirement;

c. the court noted that in the area of campaign finance, in particular, a more narrowly drawn statute may be permitted;

d. prior decisions of the United States Supreme Court have established that regulation of campaign finance may be justified by a state’s interest in preventing actual or perceived corruption; and

e. because the McIntyre decision calls into question the validity of certain New Jersey statutes requiring disclosures on campaign advertising, there is a need to revise the law so that it is narrowly-tailored to help effectuate the State’s compelling interest in preventing corruption in connection with the financing of campaigns for public office.

19:44A-22.3 Campaign advertisements; identification of issuer; disclosure of campaign financing; violations; penalties
a. Whenever a candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee, or any group other than such a committee, or any person makes, incurs or authorizes an expenditure for the purpose of financing a communication aiding or promoting the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or providing political information on any candidate which is an expenditure that the committee, group or person is required to report to the Election Law Enforcement Commission pursuant to P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), the communication shall clearly state the name and business or residence address of the committee, group or person, as that information appears on reports filed with the commission, and that the communication has been financed by that committee, group or person.
b. Whenever a candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee, or any group other than such a committee, or any person makes, incurs or authorizes an expenditure for the purpose of financing a communication aiding the passage or defeat of any public question or providing political information on any public question, or aiding the passage or defeat of legislation or regulation in the case of an independent expenditure committee, which is an expenditure that the committee, group or person is required to report to the Election Law Enforcement Commission pursuant to P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), the communication shall clearly state the name and business or residence address of the committee, group or person, as that information appears on reports filed with the commission, and that the communication has been financed by that committee, group or person.
c. A communication that is financed by an independent expenditure committee or by any person, not acting in concert with a candidate or any person or committee acting on behalf of a candidate, shall contain a clear and conspicuous statement that the expenditure was not made with the cooperation or prior consent of, or in consultation with or at the request or suggestion of, any such candidate, person or committee.
d. Any person who accepts compensation from a committee, group or individual described in subsection a. or b. of this section for the purpose of printing, broadcasting, or otherwise disseminating to the electorate a communication shall require the committee, group, or individual to file a copy of the statement of registration required to be filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission pursuant to section 21 of P.L.1993, c. 65 (C.19:44A-8.1) and shall maintain a record of the transaction which shall include an exact copy of the communication and a statement of the number of copies made or the dates and times that the communication was broadcast or otherwise transmitted, and the name and address of the committee, group or individual paying for the communication. The record shall be maintained on file at the principal office of the person accepting the communication for at least two years and shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours.
e. As used in this section, “communication” means a press release, pamphlet, flyer, form letter, sign, billboard, paid advertisement printed in any newspaper or other publication or broadcast on radio or television, or telephone call featuring a recorded message, or any other form of advertising, including Internet and digital advertising, directed to the electorate.
f. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to any bona fide news item or editorial contained in any publication of bona fide general circulation.
g. (1) A person who violates a provision of this section shall be subject to the civil penalties provided in section 22 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-22).
(2) A person who, with intent to injure anyone or to conceal wrongdoing, purposely falsifies, conceals or misrepresents information required by this section to be disclosed or maintained on file is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
h. The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to effectuate the purpose of this section. The commission may, by regulation, exempt from the provisions of this section small, tangible items of de minimis value which are commonly used in campaigns to convey a political message, including, but not limited to, buttons, combs, and nail files. The commission may also, by regulation, exempt from the provisions of this section advertising space purchased by a candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee or other person, in a political program book distributed at a fund-raising event if the financial transaction is otherwise subject to disclosure. An exemption granted by the commission with respect to any item shall not relieve the committee, group or individual making an expenditure therefor from any applicable campaign finance reporting requirements.

In addition, the commission shall have the authority to provide, by regulation, that a communication need not include the address of the committee, group or person financing the communication in circumstances where the name of a committee, group or person would be sufficient to identify it from the commission’s records.

19:44A-23. Construction of act
This act shall be construed liberally to effectuate the legislative intent and as complete and independent authority for the performance of each and every act and thing herein authorized.

19:44A-24. Supersedure of inconsistent acts
All acts and parts of acts, rules and regulations issued thereunder inconsistent in whole or in part with the provisions of this act are to such extent superseded.

19:44A-25. Severability
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered.

19:44A-26. Repeals
The following acts or parts of acts are repealed.
a. R.S. 19:3-8, 19:34-36 and 19:34-37.
b. Chapters 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
c. P.L.1946, c. 152 (C. 19:41-4.1 and 19:41-4.2).

II. Gubernatorial Elections

19:44A-27 Public policy.
It is hereby declared to be a compelling public interest and to be the policy of this State that primary election campaigns for the office of Governor and general election campaigns for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be financed with public support pursuant to the provisions of this act. It is the intention of this act that such financing be adequate in amount so that candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor may conduct their campaigns free from improper influence and so that persons of limited financial means may seek election to the State’s highest office.

19:44A-27.1 Manager of advocacy organization as candidate for Governor or Lieutenant Governor; disclosure necessary to obtain public financing
Whenever an individual who formed, assisted in the formation of, or was involved in any way in the management of:

an issue advocacy organization organized under section 527 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.527);

an organization organized under paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of section 501 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.501); or

an organization organized under any other current or future section of the federal Internal Revenue Code which the Election Law Enforcement Commission determines is similar to any of the organizations described above;

becomes a candidate for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor, those candidates shall be ineligible to receive public financing for the candidate’s campaign, pursuant to P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-27 et seq.), unless the organization agrees to disclose the name of each of its contributors and the amount of each contribution and expenditure from the date occurring four years prior to the date the individual becomes a candidate for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor through the date that the candidate ceases to be a candidate.

19:44A-27.2. Rules and regulations
The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall adopt rules and regulations: a. to enable an organization described in section 1 of P.L.2001, c.20 (C.19:44A-27.1) to make the required disclosures; and b. to determine, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.20 (C.19:44A-27.1), which organizations organized under any other current or future section of the federal Internal Revenue Code are similar to those specifically described in section 1.

19:44A-28 Application of act.
The provisions of this act shall apply to the general election campaign for the office of Governor to be held in November, 1977 and to all subsequent primary election campaigns for the office of Governor and general election campaigns for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, except that the provisions of this act shall not apply to any primary election campaign for the office of Governor or general election campaign for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for which the Legislature fails to make an appropriation.

19:44A-29 Contributions; limit of $1,500; political committees; limitations; report; contributions of own funds
a. Except in the case of a candidate, as provided in subsection g. of this section, no person, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee or legislative leadership committee, otherwise eligible to make contributions, shall make any contribution or contributions to a candidate, his campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee, a political party committee, or to any other person or committee, in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor in a primary election or candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in any general election in the aggregate in excess of $1,500.00, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, in excess of $1,500.00 per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $1,500.00 from that candidate. No candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor in a primary election or candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in any general election and no campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of such candidate or candidates shall knowingly accept from any person, candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee or legislative leadership committee any contribution or contributions in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidate or candidates in the aggregate in excess of $1,500.00, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, in excess of $1,500.00 per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $1,500.00 from that candidate, in any primary or general election. No provision of this act shall be construed to prohibit a contribution or contributions in the aggregate in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of any candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor in a primary election not in excess of $1,500.00, or in the case of a contribution or contributions by a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, in excess of $1,500.00 per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $1,500.00 from that candidate, and another contribution or contributions in the aggregate in the aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of any candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election not in excess of $1,500.00, or in the case of a contribution or contributions by a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, in excess of $1,500.00 per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $1,500.00 from that candidate. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1980, c.74.)

c. The spouse of any contributor may make a contribution or contributions in the aggregate in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor of up to $1,500.00.

d. No State committee of any political party shall knowingly accept from any person, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee or legislative leadership committee, any contribution or contributions in the aggregate in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election in excess of $1,500.00, or in the case of a contribution or contributions by a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, in excess of $1,500.00 per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $1,500.00 from that candidate. A State committee may allocate a contribution of up to $1,500.00, and up to $1,500.00 of a contribution in excess of $1,500.00 in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidates, except that in the case of a contribution from a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, the amounts which may be so allocated shall be $1,500.00 per candidate in the joint candidates committee, and in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, the amount which may be so allocated shall be $1,500.00 from that candidate. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee. A State committee shall create an account in a national or State bank in behalf of any candidates the committee intends to or does assist for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election, shall deposit in such account and report to the Election Law Enforcement Commission the name of the contributor of all moneys accepted or allocated in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidates, and may make a contribution or contributions from such account in any amount in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidates. No State committee may make any contribution or contributions in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidates of moneys not deposited in a bank account pursuant to this subsection, and no State committee may make a contribution or contributions in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidates of moneys or other thing of value pledged or received in a calendar year in which no gubernatorial election was held.

e. The county committee of a political party in a county and the municipal committees of that political party in the same county may make an expenditure or expenditures in the aggregate of $10,000.00 in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of any candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election. No county committee or municipal committee may transfer or contribute any funds to any such candidate or to such candidates’ campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, or to any political committee supporting such candidates. Candidates or their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer shall determine the exact amount that individual county committees or municipal committees may contribute in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidates, and shall file a report of such determination with the Election Law Enforcement Commission no later than the seventh day prior to the general election being funded.

f. Communications on any subject by a corporation to its stockholders and their families, or by a labor organization to its members and their families, and nonpartisan registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by a corporation aimed at its stockholders and their families, or by a labor organization aimed at its members and their families, shall not be construed to be in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of a candidate for election to the office of Governor in any primary election or in behalf of candidates for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election.

g. No candidate receiving public funds may make expenditures from his own funds, including any contributions from his own funds, in aid of his candidacy for nomination for election to the office of Governor in excess of $25,000.00 for the primary election and in aid of the candidacy of candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in excess of $25,000.00 each for the general election.

As used in this subsection “own funds” means funds to which the candidate is legally and beneficially entitled, but shall not include funds as to which he is a trustee, or funds given or otherwise transferred to the candidate by any person other than the spouse of the candidate for use in aid of his candidacy.

19:44A-29.1 Candidate committee for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
For the purpose of contribution and expenditure limits established pursuant to P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), limits on contributions to and expenditures of the joint candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be considered and treated as contributions to and expenditures of one candidate and those two candidates shall establish only one candidate committee.

19:44A-30 Appropriations for fund for election campaign expenses.
The Legislature shall appropriate to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission out of the Gubernatorial Elections Fund established pursuant to N.J.S.54A:9-25.1 and available for appropriation from the fund, and, if necessary, out of the General Treasury of the State such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, which sums shall constitute a fund for campaign expenses for the primary election to the office of Governor and the general election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, in such amounts or proportions as the Legislature shall direct the appropriation to be distributed between each of the two elections, to be regulated and distributed by the commission pursuant to this act. Upon notice by the commission, the Legislature shall appropriate to the commission out of the General Treasury such additional sums as may be required to carry out the purposes of this act if the sums first appropriated become inadequate.

19:44A-32 Primary and general election bank accounts of candidates; deposits; expenditures; nonliability of banks.
a. Each candidate in the primary election to the office of Governor, shall, with the approval of the Election Law Enforcement Commission, create a bank account in a National or State bank. The candidate, his campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer shall deposit promptly into the account all moneys received pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-29) and sections 11 and 12 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-11 and 19:44A-12).

b. Candidates in the general election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall, with the approval of the Election Law Enforcement Commission, create an account in a National or State bank. The candidates, their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer shall deposit promptly into the account all moneys received for the purpose of the election, provided that the moneys are received pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-29) and sections 11 and 12 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-11 and 19:44A-12).

c. Immediately after deposit in the bank account the candidates or their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer may transfer or expend the moneys, except that no moneys deposited in a gubernatorial candidate’s bank account for the primary election may be expended for any general election expenses for candidates for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and except that no moneys deposited in the candidates’ bank account for the general election may be transferred or expended until the day following the primary election or may be expended for primary election expenses.

d. No State or National bank which acts as a depository for election funds as provided in this act shall be held accountable for the proper application of funds withdrawn, transferred or expended from such accounts by the person or persons in whose name or names the accounts are opened or maintained, nor shall the State or National bank be under any duty to determine whether the funds deposited in the account are withdrawn, transferred or expended for the purposes and at the time or times prescribed by law, or are received from sources and in amounts prescribed or limited by law.

19:44A-33 Payment from fund for primary or general election campaign expenses; amounts
a. The campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of any qualified candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor in a primary election upon application to the commission shall promptly receive in behalf of the qualified candidate from the fund for election campaign expenses, but not prior to January 1 of the year of the election, moneys in an amount equal to twice the amount of no more than $1,500.00 of each contribution deposited in the qualified candidate’s primary election bank account described in section 7 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-32), except that no payment shall be made from the fund to any candidate for the first $50,000.00 deposited in the qualified candidate’s bank account. The maximum amount which any qualified candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor in a primary election may receive from the fund for election campaign expenses shall not exceed $1,350,000. Applications for payments and payments under this subsection following the date on which a candidate is determined to be a qualified candidate shall be made only on the basis of no less than $12,500.00 of such contributions.

b. The campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of any qualified candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election upon application to the commission shall promptly receive in behalf of such qualified candidates from the fund for election campaign expenses, but not prior to the primary election, moneys in an amount equal to twice the amount of no more than $1,500.00 of each contribution deposited in such qualified candidates’ bank account described in section 7 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-32), except that no payment shall be made from the fund to any candidates for the first $50,000.00 deposited in such qualified candidates’ bank account.

The maximum amount which any qualified candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a general election may receive from the fund for election campaign expenses shall not exceed $3,300,000. Applications for payments and payments under this subsection following the date on which joint candidates are determined to be qualified candidates shall be made only on the basis of no less than $12,500.00 of such contributions.

19:44A-33.1. Governor candidate certificate nomination procedure; funding; debates; responsibilities
In the event that a certificate provided for in R.S.19:23-12 is filed for a candidate for nomination for election to the office of Governor, the candidate nominated in the certificate shall: (a) be given, on an accelerated basis determined by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, the opportunity to become a qualified candidate as defined in subsection m. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C.19:44A-3) for the primary election; (b) if the candidate so nominated becomes a qualified candidate, be eligible to receive the maximum amount from the fund for election campaign expenses, as provided by law, which any other qualified candidate may be eligible to receive for the primary election pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33), regardless of the amount from that fund received and expended by the candidate for whom the substitution has been made; (c) participate in the gubernatorial primary election debates held pursuant to sections 9 through 11 of P.L.1989, c.4 (C.19:44A-45 et seq.); and (d) fulfill any of the other responsibilities required of a qualified candidate, as provided for in P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.), P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-27 et al.) or any other applicable rule or regulation derived therefrom. The candidate for whom the substitution was made by the certificate of nomination to fill the vacancy shall pay into the fund for election campaign expenses moneys received from the fund and not otherwise used to pay expenses which were incurred for the purposes permitted during the election campaign.

19:44A-34. Separate bank accounts for other funds; disposition of contributions of political committees
a. No contribution which must be or is intended by the contributor or the recipient to be refunded or repaid at any time, no loan obtained pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-44), no amount of the candidate’s own funds in the aggregate in excess of $800.00, and no other moneys received by the candidate, his campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, except those contributions described in subsections a. and b. of section 4 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-29), shall be deposited into any candidate’s primary election and general election bank accounts described in section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-32), but shall be deposited in separate bank accounts from which expenditures for the respective campaigns may be made.

b. No contribution by any county committee or municipal committee of any political party shall be deposited into any candidate’s bank accounts. A State committee may forward to a candidate and have deposited into the candidate’s general election bank account described in section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-32) money in aid of the candidacy of or in behalf of such candidate received pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-29) and sections 11 and 12 of P.L.1973, c. 83 (C. 19:44A-11 and 19:44A-12).

19:44A-35. Expenditures from fund for election campaign expenses; rules and regulations; purposes; return of unexpended funds
a. All expenditures from the fund for election campaign expenses shall be made pursuant to rules and regulations of the Election Law Enforcement Commission and shall be strictly limited to the following purposes:

(1) Purchase of time on radio and television stations;

(2) Purchase of rental space on outdoor signs or billboards;

(3) Purchase of advertising space in newspapers and regularly published magazines and periodicals;

(4) Payment of the cost of producing the material aired or displayed on radio, television, outdoor signs or billboards, and in newspapers, regularly published magazines and periodicals;

(5) Payment of the cost of printing and mailing campaign literature and brochures distributed under the name of any qualified candidate;

(6) Payment of the cost of legal and accounting expenses incurred in complying with the public financing regulations of the Election Law Enforcement Commission and with the public financing provisions of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-27 et seq.);

(7) Payment of the cost of telephone deposits, and installation charges and monthly billings in excess of deposits. Within 6 months after the primary and general elections, respectively, a candidate shall return to the fund the amount of any public funds used to pay such telephone deposits which are later returned.

b. The limitations in subsection a. of this section upon expenditures from the fund for election campaign expenses shall not apply to expenditures of private contributions, whether or not such private contributions were deposited in a candidate’s bank accounts pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1974, c. 26 (C. 19:44A-32).

c. Moneys received by a qualified candidate from the fund for election campaign expenses may be retained for a period not exceeding 6 months after the election for which such moneys were received in order to liquidate all obligations to pay expenses for the purposes permitted by this section which were incurred during the election campaign. All obligations having been liquidated, all moneys remaining available to any qualified candidate, shall be paid into the fund, except that no candidate shall pay into the fund moneys in excess of moneys received from the fund.

19:44A-36 Moneys from fund as “spent in aid of the candidacy of any candidate”; limitations on withdrawal from fund
Moneys received by any qualified candidate or candidates from the fund for election campaign expenses are to be considered “spent in aid of the candidacy of any candidate or candidates” for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for the purpose of section 7 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-7). The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall not withdraw from the fund for election campaign expenses any sum, which results in a candidate’s exceeding the limitations of that section.

19:44A-37 Statements from gubernatorial candidates; posting on websites; hardcopy available upon request
The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall, on or before the forty-fifth day prior to the date on which the general election is to be held, supply each county clerk with the text of statements from each candidate for election to the office of Governor. Each candidate for the office of Governor who wishes a statement to be posted on the county clerk’s website on his behalf shall submit to the commission, on forms provided by it, his proposed statement which shall not exceed 500 words in length. Each county clerk shall cause the statements submitted by all such candidates to be posted on the county clerk’s website in a conspicuous location and available as a hardcopy upon request, with a short explanation prepared by the commission that such statements are provided pursuant to this law to assist the voters of this State in making their determination among the candidates for the office of Governor. The statements shall also be posted in a conspicuous location on the websites of the Division of Elections and the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

The sample ballot shall note that gubernatorial statements are available upon request to the county clerk, on the county clerk’s website and the websites of the Division of Elections and the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

The cost of posting such statements shall be paid for by the counties; except that any cost to the counties resulting from the posting of such statements shall be reimbursed from State funds appropriated to the commission for that purpose on claim therefor made by the county clerk to the commission.

19:44A-38. Rules and regulations
The Election Law Enforcement Commission may adopt such rules and regulations as may be required to implement the provisions of this act and to carry out its purpose.

19:44A-40. Violations; misdemeanor; forfeiture of office
a. Any person who willfully and knowingly violates section 4, 9 or 10 of P.L.1974, c. 26 or section 17 of P.L.1980, c. 74 (C. 19:44A-18.1) is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

b. The election to office of any candidate who is guilty of any violation within the description of subsection a. of this section shall be void, and the office shall be filled as required by law in the case of a vacancy; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed in derogation of the constitutional authority of either House of the Legislature to be the judge of the election and qualification of its own members.

19:44A-41. Violations; fines; hearings; assessment of penalty
a. Any person who willfully and knowingly violates sections 4, 6, 9, 10 or 19 of this act shall in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be liable to a penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for the first offense and not more than $2,000.00 for the second and each subsequent offense.

b. Upon receiving evidence of any violation of sections 4, 6, 9, 10 or 19 of this act, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have power to hold, or to cause to be held under the provisions of subsection d. of this section, hearings upon such violation and, upon finding any person to have committed such a violation, to assess such penalty, within the limits prescribed in subsection a. of this section, as it deems proper under the circumstances, which penalty shall be paid forthwith into the State Treasury for the general purposes of the State. Such penalty shall be enforceable in a summary proceeding under the “Penalty Enforcement Law” (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.).

c. In assessing any penalty under this section, the Election Law Enforcement Commission may provide for the remission of all or any part of such penalty conditioned upon the prompt correction of any failure, neglect, error or omission constituting the violation for which said penalty was assessed.

d. The commission may designate a hearing officer to hear complaints of violations of this act. Such hearing officer shall take testimony, compile a record and make factual findings, and shall submit the same to the commission, which shall have power to assess penalties within the limits and under the conditions prescribed in subsection b. of this section. The commission shall review the record and findings of the hearing officer, but it may also seek such additional testimony as it deems necessary. The commission’s determination shall be by majority vote of the entire authorized membership thereof.

19:44A-42. Liberal construction of act
The provisions of this act shall be construed liberally and applied so as to promote the purposes expressed herein.

19:44A-43. Severability
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered.

19:44A-44 Borrowing by candidate; limitation; repayment; certification; failure to repay or certify; stoppage of payments from fund
Notwithstanding any provision of this act, any candidate in a primary election for the office of Governor, or his campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, or any candidate in a general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, or the campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer thereof may borrow funds from any national or State bank. No person or political committee, other than the candidates or the State committee of any political party in a general election, may in any way endorse or guarantee such loan in an amount in the aggregate in excess of $1,500.00. The endorsement shall constitute a contribution for so long as the loan is outstanding. The amount borrowed by any such candidates or their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer shall in the aggregate not exceed $50,000.00 and must be repaid in full by such candidate or the campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer from moneys accepted or allocated pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-29) 20 days prior to the date of the primary or general election for which the loan was made, and certification of such repayment shall be made by the borrower to the Election Law Enforcement Commission in accordance with commission regulations.

Upon the failure of the borrower to repay the full amount borrowed on or before the 20th day prior to the date of the primary election for the office of Governor or general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, or to certify such repayment to the Election Law Enforcement Commission as required herein, all payments of moneys to such candidates from the fund for election campaign expenses pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33) shall promptly cease; and the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall forthwith seek and may obtain in a summary action in the Superior Court an injunction prohibiting the expenditure by any such candidate or candidates of any moneys received at any time from the fund for election campaign expenses pursuant to said section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33), and any other moneys received in aid of or in behalf of the candidates in said election.

19:44A-45 Interactive gubernatorial primary and general election debates; participation by qualified candidates
a. In any year in which a primary election is to be held to nominate candidates for the office of Governor, there shall be held among the several candidates for each such nomination a series of interactive gubernatorial primary debates, in which all “qualified candidates,” as defined by paragraph (3) or paragraph (4) of subsection m. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3), for that nomination who have applied or who intend to apply to receive money for election campaign expenses under subsection a. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33) shall participate, and in which any other candidate for that nomination who has deposited and expended the amount necessary, under paragraph (3) or paragraph (4) of subsection m. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3), to be deemed a “qualified candidate” may elect to participate, provided that other candidate notifies the Election Law Enforcement Commission of the candidate’s intent to so participate within the time allowed under those paragraphs for such notification to be made by candidates wishing to become qualified candidates; except that in any year in which no such candidate or only one such candidate for that nomination is required or elects to participate, no gubernatorial primary debate shall be required to be held under this subsection.

b. In any year in which a general election is to be held for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, there shall be held a series of interactive gubernatorial election debates, in which all “qualified candidates,” as defined by paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of subsection m. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3), for election to those offices who have applied or who intend to apply to receive money for election campaign expenses under subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33) shall participate, and in which any other candidates for election to those offices who have deposited and expended the amount necessary, under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of subsection m. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3), to be deemed a “qualified candidate” may elect to participate, provided those other candidates notify the Election Law Enforcement Commission of the candidates’ intent to so participate within the time allowed under those paragraphs for such notification to be made by candidates wishing to become qualified candidates; except that in any gubernatorial election year in which only one pair of candidates, or no candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are required or elect to participate, no gubernatorial election debate shall be required to be held under this subsection.

19:44A-46 Time and contents; sponsors
a. The series of gubernatorial primary debates under subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.1989, c.4 (C.19:44A-45) shall consist of two debates. Each of the debates shall be of at least one hour’s duration. The first debate in the series shall occur not earlier than the date on which the ballot for the primary election in which candidates are to be nominated for election to the office of Governor is finally certified by the Secretary of State to the clerks of the several counties, and the second debate in the series shall occur not later than the 11th day prior to the primary election to select candidates for that office unless an emergency, as determined by the vote of a majority of the participating candidates, requires the postponement thereof, but the second gubernatorial primary debate shall in no event be held later than the second day preceding that primary election.

b. The series of gubernatorial election debates under subsection b. of section 9 of P.L.1989, c.4 (C.19:44A-45) shall consist of three debates, two for candidates seeking the office of Governor and one for candidates seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor. The debate for candidates seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be the second of the three debates. Each of the gubernatorial election debates shall be of at least one hour’s duration. The first debate in the series shall occur not earlier than the third Tuesday following the first Monday in September of the year in which a general election is to be held for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and the third debate in the series shall occur not later than the 11th day prior to the general election for that office unless an emergency, as determined by the vote of a majority of the participating candidates, requires the postponement thereof, but the final gubernatorial election debate shall in no event be held later than the second day preceding that general election.

c. Organizations which are not affiliated with any political party or with any holder of or candidate for public office, which have not endorsed any candidate in the pending primary or general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, shall be eligible to sponsor one or more interactive gubernatorial primary debates or interactive gubernatorial election debates under subsection a. or subsection b., respectively, of this section. In addition, any association of two or more separately owned news publications or broadcasting outlets, including newspapers, radio stations or networks, and television stations or networks, having between or among them a substantial readership or audience in this State, and any association of print or broadcast news or press service correspondents having among them a substantial readership or audience in this State, shall be eligible to sponsor any such gubernatorial primary or gubernatorial election debate, without regard to whether that association or any of its members shall previously have sponsored any debate among candidates for Statewide office.

The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall accept applications from eligible organizations and eligible associations of news publications and broadcasting outlets or news or press service correspondents to sponsor one or more of those interactive gubernatorial debates. Applications to sponsor debates under subsection a. shall be submitted to the commission no later than March 15 of any year in which a primary election is to be held to nominate candidates for the office of Governor, and applications to sponsor debates under subsection b. shall be submitted to the commission no later than July 1 of any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Where the number of eligible applicants to sponsor gubernatorial primary debates or gubernatorial election debates exceeds the number prescribed under subsection a. or subsection b. of this section, respectively, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall select the sponsors from among the applicants within 30 days of the last day for submitting those applications, as provided by this subsection. To the maximum extent practicable and feasible, the commission shall select a different sponsor for each of the interactive gubernatorial debates, but shall not be precluded from selecting the same sponsor for more than one debate.

The sponsors selected by the commission shall be responsible for selecting the date, time and location of the debates, subject to the limitations set forth in this section. The rules for conducting each debate shall be solely the responsibility of the sponsors so selected, but shall not be made final without consultation with both the chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and the chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee in the case of gubernatorial primary debates, and with a representative designated by each of the participating candidates in the case of gubernatorial election debates.

19:44A-47 Failure of candidate to participate in debates; complaint; hearing; determination; penalties
The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have the power and duty, upon receipt of a complaint against a candidate for nomination for election for the office of Governor or for election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor who is required to participate in gubernatorial primary debates or gubernatorial election debates, respectively, to hold a hearing to determine whether that candidate has failed to participate in such debates. If, at the conclusion of a hearing under this section, the commission determines by majority vote that a candidate required to participate under section 10 of this 1989 amendatory and supplementary act has failed to do so, the chairman shall immediately inform the candidate in writing of that determination, identifying in that writing the date and circumstances of the failure. If, after having found that a candidate required to participate in a gubernatorial primary or gubernatorial election debate has failed to do so, the commission further finds that the failure occurred under circumstances which were beyond the control of the candidate and of such a nature that a reasonable person, taking into account the purposes of this act and the relevant facts of the case, would find the failure justifiable or excusable, then the candidate shall not be subject to any penalty or liability for his failure to participate. The candidate charged with the failure to participate shall have the burden of showing justification or excuse.

The campaign of any candidate or former candidate who shall have been required to participate in a gubernatorial primary debate or gubernatorial election debate under this 1989 amendatory and supplementary act, but who shall have been found to have failed to do so without reasonable justification or excuse, shall be liable for return of moneys previously received for use by the candidate to pay primary election campaign expenses or general election campaign expenses, respectively. In the case of a candidate for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor who is found to have failed to participate in a gubernatorial election debate, the candidate for election to the office of Governor shall jointly be liable for return of one half of the moneys previously received for use by the joint candidates to pay general election expenses. The commission shall determine the total amount of moneys for election campaign expenses in that year by the commission to the candidate or candidates under subsection a. or subsection b. of section 8 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-33), as appropriate, and shall notify the campaign treasurer or the deputy campaign treasurer of the candidate or candidates of the liability of the campaign of the candidate or candidates, as of the date of the notice, for the repayment of those moneys plus interest on the unpaid amount of that liability from that date at the rate of 1% for each month or fractional part of a month during which that amount remains unpaid.

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Subtitle 12b – Financial Disclosure by Candidates

Chapter 44B. Gubernatorial Legislative Disclosure Statement

19:44B-1 Definitions.
a. “Gift” means any money or thing of value received other than as income, and for which a consideration of equal or greater value is not received, but does not include any political contribution reported as otherwise required by law, any loan made in the ordinary course of business, or any devise, bequest, intestate estate distribution or principal distribution of a trust or gift received from a member of a person’s household or from a relative within the third degree of consanguinity of the person or his spouse, or from the spouse of that relative;

b. “Income” means any money or thing of value received, or to be received, as a claim on future services, whether in the form of a fee, expense, allowance, forbearance, forgiveness, interest, dividend, royalty, rent, capital gain, or any other form of recompense, or any combination thereof;

c. “Member of household” means the spouse of a candidate for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor or of a candidate for the Senate or General Assembly residing in the same domicile and any dependent children.

19:44B-2 Financial disclosure statement; filing and certification.
a. Every candidate for the office of Governor and every candidate for the Senate or General Assembly shall file and certify the correctness of a financial disclosure statement on or before the tenth day following the last day for filing a petition to appear on the ballot, and the financial disclosure statement shall be filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

b. Every candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor shall file and certify the correctness of a financial disclosure statement on or before the 30th day following the day such candidate is selected by the candidate for the office of Governor of the same political party, and the financial disclosure statement shall be filed with the commission.

19:44B-3 Forms; preparation; transmittal to candidates.
The commission shall prepare and transmit to each candidate for the office of Governor and the office of Lieutenant Governor and to each candidate for the Senate or General Assembly forms for the filing of financial disclosure statements required by this act.

19:44B-4. Contents
Financial disclosure statements shall include the sources of income received from sources other than the State during the preceding calendar year by the candidate and members of his household. Without disclosing the amounts of income, gifts, reimbursements, and holdings, the statements shall include the following:

a. Each of the following categories of earned income totalling more than $1,000.00: salaries, bonuses, royalties, fees, commissions and profit sharing received as an officer, employee, partner or consultant of a named corporation, professional association, partnership or sole proprietorship;

b. Each of the following categories of unearned income totalling more than $1,000.00: rents, dividends and other income received from named investments, trusts and estates;

c. Fees and honorariums totalling more than $100.00 received from named payers for personal appearances, speeches or writings;

d. Reimbursements totalling more than $100.00 for travel, subsistence or facilities provided in kind received from named payers or providers other than the State, any political subdivision thereof, a principal employer, or a nonprofit organization;

e. Gifts having a value totalling more than $250.00 received from named donors; and

f. Ownership, holding, or control of an interest in any land or building in any city in which casino gambling is authorized, which land or building shall be specified.

19:44B-5 Notice to commission of candidates by Secretary of State.
Upon receipt from any person of a declaration of candidacy or a petition to appear on the ballot for election as Governor or as Lieutenant Governor, or as a member of the Legislature, the Secretary of State shall, within 2 days of the receipt, notify the commission of the name and address of the candidate and the date of the receipt.

19:44B-6. Willful and knowledgeable failure to file or filing false statement; penalty
a. A candidate who willfully and knowingly fails or refuses to file a financial disclosure statement on a date prior to the election for which he has filed a declaration of candidacy or a petition to appear on the ballot shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

b. A candidate who willfully and knowingly files any financial disclosure statement which is false, inaccurate or incomplete in any substantial and material manner or particular, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

19:44B-7. Powers and duties of commission
It shall be the duty of the commission to investigate and conduct hearings with regard to possible violations and impose penalties, to issue subpenas for the production of documents and the attendance of witnesses, and to enforce the provisions of this act in the manner set forth in “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,” P.L.1973, c. 83 (C. 19:44A-1 et seq.). The commission shall have the authority to initiate a civil action in the Superior Court of New Jersey or in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing compliance with the provisions of this act or enjoining violations thereof or recovering any penalty prescribed by this act. The commission shall promulgate such regulations and official forms and perform such duties as are necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

19:44B-8. Candidate with responsibility for filing reports or documents; failure to file or omission in or incorrect statement; penalty; hearings; enforcement
a. Any candidate charged with the responsibility under the terms of this act for the filing of any reports or other documents required to be filed pursuant to this act who fails, neglects or omits to file any such report or document at the time and in the manner prescribed by law, or who omits or incorrectly states any of the information required by law to be included in such report or document, shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be liable to a penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for the first offense and not more than $2,000.00 for the second and each subsequent offense.

b. Upon receiving evidence of any violation of this section, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have power to hold, or to cause to be held, hearings upon such violation and, upon finding any person to have committed such a violation, to assess such penalty, within the limits prescribed in subsection a. of this section, as it deems proper under the circumstance which penalty shall be paid forthwith into the State Treasury for the general purposes of the State. Such penalty shall be enforceable in a summary proceeding under the “Penalty Enforcement Law” (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.).

c. In assessing any penalty under this section, the Election Law Enforcement Commission may provide for the remission of all or any part of the penalty conditioned upon the prompt correction of any failure, neglect, error or omission constituting the violation for which the penalty was assessed, provided the correction is made on a date prior to the election for which the candidate has filed a declaration of candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot.

19:44B-9. Financial disclosure statements as public records
Financial disclosure statements required to be filed pursuant to this act shall be public records. The commission shall make the statements available to any person upon written request. The statements shall be available for examination and copying during the normal business hours of the commission. No fee shall be charged for the inspection of the statements, but a fee, equal to the cost of copying, may be charged for the use of equipment to copy the statements and a reasonable charge may be imposed for the performance of copying services by personnel of the commission when the person desiring copies requests that assistance.

19:44B-10. Use in investigations and production in evidence
A financial disclosure statement filed pursuant to this act may be used by the commission in the course of its investigation of any alleged violation of provisions of this act and may be produced as evidence in any hearing conducted by the commission concerning a violation.

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Subtitle 13 – Public Election Expenses

Chapter 45. Liability for

19:45-1. Payable by state and political subdivisions
All general elections, special elections, municipal elections, primary elections for general elections and primary elections for delegates and alternates to national conventions held in the state or in any of its political subdivisions shall be conducted at the expense of the state or its political subdivisions.

19:45-1.1. Special election to fill vacancy in Senate or General Assembly; payment of expenses by State; notice
Notwithstanding the provisions in chapter 45 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes to the contrary, the State shall pay all expenses incurred by any of its political subdivisions in connection with any special election held for the purpose of filling a vacancy occurring in the Senate or General Assembly. When such a special election has been held, the Secretary of State shall notify all affected political subdivisions that the State shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with that election.

19:45-2. State’s expenses
All costs, charges and expenses incurred by the State Board of Canvassers, Secretary of State or any other officer or official of the State government in carrying out any provisions of this Title shall be paid by the State.

19:45-3. Expenditures by attorney general to prosecute violations of title
The attorney general is hereby authorized to expend annually, under the direction and with the approval of the governor, a sum not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars, for the purpose of securing evidence of violations of this title and assisting in the prosecution of such violations, when such sum shall be regularly appropriated in any annual or supplemental appropriation bill.

19:45-4. County’s expenses
All costs, charges and expenses incurred by the county clerk, county board, commissioner, superintendent, or any other officer or official of a county in carrying out the provisions of this title and the salaries of the members of the county board, commissioner, superintendent, salaries and compensation for extra service of the clerk and other employees of the county board and the compensation of the members of the district boards, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be paid by the county upon certification by the county clerk, county board, commissioner, superintendent or other county officer or official; but the board of chosen freeholders of any county, to facilitate the prompt payment of the compensation of members of district boards and the rental of polling places, is authorized to pay to the several municipal clerks in the county one payment for the gross amount due for such compensation and rentals in the municipality and direct the municipal clerks to pay the individual amounts due the members of the district boards and the lessors of the polling places in the municipality upon the proper certification of the county board. Where any municipality may provide voting machines there shall be paid by the county to such municipality the difference between the costs, charges and expenses incurred and the costs, charges and expenses which would have been incurred had such voting machines not been provided by such municipality, including the saving in rental of polling places and in compensation paid to members of district boards resulting from consolidation of or reduction in number of election districts, and including the saving resulting from the payment of a lesser rate of compensation to members of district boards where such machines are provided by the municipality.

19:45-5. Municipality’s expenses
All costs, charges and expenses incurred by the municipal clerk or any other officer or official of a municipality in carrying out the provisions of this title shall be paid by such municipality except as herein otherwise provided.

Where any election is held in and for a municipality only, all costs, charges and expenses, including the compensation of the members of the district boards of the municipality and the compensation and expenses of the county board and the clerk thereof, for such elections, shall be paid by the municipality.

19:45-6 Compensation of members of district boards
The compensation of each member of the district boards for all services performed by them under the provisions of this Title shall be as follows:

In all counties, for all services rendered including the counting of the votes, and in counties wherein voting machines are used, the tabulation of the votes registered on the voting machines, and the delivery of the returns, registry binders, ballot boxes and keys for the voting machines to the proper election officials, $200 each time the primary election, the general election or any special election is held under this Title; provided, however, that:

a. (1) The member of the board charged with the duty of obtaining and signing for the signature copy registers shall receive an additional $12.50 per election, such remuneration being limited to only one board member per election, or $6.25 to each of two board members if they share such responsibility for the signature copy registers, and (2) the member of the board charged with the duty of returning the signature copy registers shall receive an additional $12.50 per election, such remuneration being limited to only one board member per election, or $6.25 to each of two board members if they share such responsibility for the signature copy registers;

b. In the case of any member of the board who is required under R.S.19:50-1 to attend in a given year a training program for district board members, but who fails to attend such a training program in that year, that compensation shall be $50.00 for each of those elections;

c. In counties wherein voting machines are used no compensation shall be paid for any services rendered at any special election held at the same time as any primary or general election. Such compensation shall be in lieu of all other fees and payments; and

d. Compensation for district board members serving at a school election held at a time other than the time of the general election shall be paid by the board of education of the school district conducting the election at an hourly rate of $5.77, except that the board of education may compensate such district board members at a pro-rated hourly rate consistent with the daily rate up to a maximum of $14.29. The provisions of subsections a., b., and c. of this section shall also apply to district board members serving at a school election held at a time other than at the time of the general election, except that in the case of subsection b., the compensation shall be at an hourly rate of $3.85.

Compensation due each member shall be paid within 30 days but not within 20 days after each election; provided, however, that no compensation shall be paid to any member of any such district board who may have been removed from office or application for the removal of whom is pending under the provisions of R.S.19:6-4.

19:45-6.1. Voucher for compensation
A voucher for compensation for services rendered by members of any district board of elections in this State for performing any of the services mentioned in section 19:45-6 of the Revised Statutes shall be submitted to the respective county boards of elections on a form prepared by said county boards of elections. This form shall contain a written declaration to be signed by the individual members of the district board of elections, in lieu of any requirement elsewhere for an oath or affirmation, in which such district board members shall state “I hereby declare under the penalties for false swearing that this voucher is for services performed by me for the election herein mentioned and to the best of my knowledge and belief is true, correct and complete.”

Any individual who willfully makes and subscribes any such voucher which he or she does not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Upon certification by the county board of elections as correct such vouchers shall be paid by the county treasurer in the manner provided in section 19:45-4 et seq. of the Revised Statutes.

19:45-6.2 Reimbursement of counties for compensation for board of election members
In accordance with the provisions of Art.VIII, Sec.II, par.5 of the Constitution, upon application for reimbursement by a county governing body to the Attorney General and approval of the application by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, a county shall be reimbursed by the State for:

a. compensation to each member of the district board of elections who shall have served at the general election, the primary election, and any nonpartisan municipal, special, or recall election, and who shall have qualified for and been paid $200 for such service in accordance with R.S.19:45-6, the sum of $125; and

b. any additional costs incurred by the county as a result of the provisions of this act, P.L.2001, c.245.

19:45-7 Members of county boards; commissioner of registration; compensation.
The compensation of the members of the several county boards shall be no less than the minimum salary and no more than the maximum salary as follows:

Minimum Maximum
County Population Salary Salary

Over 550,000 $8,700 $17,600

300,000 to 550,000 $6,000 $15,000

150,000 to 300,000 $4,500 $12,000

120,000 to 150,000 $3,700 $11,000

Under 120,000 $3,200 $10,500

provided, however, that any increases herein granted shall be effected only upon the approval of the governing body in the county affected.

The compensation fixed and determined under any of the foregoing classifications shall include all services rendered by any county board in conducting all elections, and in connection with any recount or recheck after any such election.

The members of the county board in counties other than counties of the first class and in counties of the first class not having a superintendent of elections who shall be elected as chairman and secretary thereof and who shall perform the duties of chairman and secretary thereof shall each receive an additional compensation of one-half of the compensation of the individual members of the board.

The commissioner of registration in a county of the first class having a superintendent of elections shall receive such salary per annum as the governing body of such county may by resolution authorize, but not less than $10,000, for services performed as such commissioner of registration, and the commissioner of registration in a county of the second class having a superintendent of elections shall receive such salary per annum as the governing body of such county may by resolution authorize, but not less than $2,500 for services performed as such commissioner of registration, and for such services performed by a commissioner of registration in a county not having a superintendent of elections additional compensation shall be paid to such commissioner in an amount equal to 50% of his salary as member and secretary of the county board. In counties of the second class and in counties of the first class not having a superintendent of elections where a member of the county board serves as commissioner of registration, he shall receive no additional compensation for the performance of his duties as such commissioner unless he shall devote his full time to the performance of his duties as member of the county board, secretary thereof, and commissioner of registration. “Full time” as here used means such time as is duly required of employees in the office of the county board. Notwithstanding the above, the commissioner of registration in a county having a superintendent of elections, upon the approval of the governing body of the county, shall receive a salary not less than the maximum which the secretary of a county board of elections in a county of the same class, not having a superintendent of elections, would receive for performing the duties of secretary and commissioner of registration. This minimum does not reduce the current base salary for any superintendent who also serves as commissioner of registration.

19:45-8. Compensation of judges holding court
Each of the judges holding court, as herein required, shall be entitled to receive the sum of twenty dollars for each day he shall be personally present, pursuant to the provisions of this title, in addition to the salary to which he is now entitled by law, which sum shall be paid by the treasurer of the county as other court expenses are paid.

19:45-9. Compensation of county and municipal clerks
The boards of chosen freeholders in the several counties may pay the county clerks for extra duties and services imposed upon and performed by them under this title an amount to be fixed by such boards. The governing bodies of the several municipalities may pay the municipal clerks for extra duties and services imposed upon and performed by them under this title an amount to be fixed by such governing body.

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Subtitle 14 – Congressional Districts

Chapter 46. Districts Constituted

19:46-6. – 19:46-14 [Expired]

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Subtitle 15 – Voting Machines; Procedure

Chapter 47. Definitions and Construction

19:47-1 Words and terms defined.
As used in this subtitle:

“Ballot”, except when reference is made to irregular ballots, means that portion of the ballot containing the name of the candidate and the designation of the party by which he was nominated, or a statement of a proposed constitutional amendment, or other question or proposition with the word “yes” for voting for any question or proposition, and the word “no” for voting against any question.

“Question” includes any constitutional amendment, proposition or other question submitted to the voters at any election.

“Official ballot” means the material displaying the names of the candidates nominated and a statement of the questions submitted.

“Irregular ballot” means a vote cast, by or on a special device, for a person whose name does not appear on the ballots.

“Voting machine custodian” means the person who shall have charge of preparing and arranging the voting machine for elections.

“Protective counter” means a separate counter built into the voting machine which cannot be reset, which records the total number of votes cast.

The list of candidates used or to be used on the front of the voting machine for an election district in which the voting machine is used pursuant to law shall be deemed official ballots under this subtitle.

19:47-2. Construction
All provisions of law relating to elections shall apply to all elections where voting machines are used so far as the same may be applicable thereto and so far as such provisions are not inconsistent with the provisions of this subtitle.

Chapter 48. Voting Machines

19:48-1 Requirements for voting machines; permanent paper record; waiver
a. Any thoroughly tested and reliable voting machines may be adopted, rented, purchased or used, which shall be so constructed as to fulfill the following requirements:

(a) It shall secure to the voter secrecy in the act of voting;

(b) It shall provide facilities for such number of office columns, not less than 40 and not exceeding 60, as the purchasing authorities may specify and of as many political parties or organizations, not exceeding nine, as may make nominations, and for or against as many questions, not exceeding 30, as submitted;

(c) It shall, except at primary elections, permit the voter to vote for all the candidates of one party or in part for the candidates of one party or one or more parties;

(d) It shall permit the voter to vote for as many persons for an office as he is lawfully entitled to vote for, but no more;

(e) It shall prevent the voter from voting for the same person more than once for the same office;

(f) It shall permit the voter to vote for or against any question he may have the right to vote on, but no other;

(g) It shall for use in primary elections be so equipped that the election officials can stop a voter from voting for all candidates except those of the voter’s party;

(h) It shall correctly register or record and accurately count all votes cast for any and all persons, and for or against any and all questions;

(i) It shall be provided with a “protective counter” or “protective device” whereby any operation of the machine before or after the election will be detected;

(j) It shall be so equipped with such protective devices as shall prevent the operation of the machine after the polls are closed;

(k) It shall be provided with a counter which shall show at all times during an election how many persons have voted;

(l) It shall be provided with a model, illustrating the manner of voting on the machine, suitable for the instruction of voters;

(m) It must permit a voter to vote for any person for any office, except delegates and alternates to national party conventions, whether or not nominated as a candidate by any party or organization by providing an opportunity to indicate such names or name;

(n) It shall be equipped with a permanently affixed box or container of sufficient strength, size and security to hold all emergency ballots and pre-punched single-hole envelopes and with a clipboard and a table-top privacy screen;

(o) It shall not use mechanical lever machines or punch cards to record votes.

All voting machines used in any election shall be provided with a screen, hood or curtain, which shall be so made and adjusted as to conceal the voter and his action while voting.

It shall also be provided with one device for each party for voting for all the presidential electors of that party by one operation, and a ballot therefor containing only the words “presidential electors for,” preceded by the name of that party and followed by the names of the candidates thereof for the offices of President and Vice-President and a registering device therefor which shall register the vote cast for such electors when thus voted collectively.

b. (1) By January 1, 2009, each voting machine shall produce an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast, which shall be made available for inspection and verification by the voter at the time the vote is cast, and preserved for later use in any manual audit. In the event of a recount of the results of an election, the voter-verified paper record shall be the official tally in that election. A waiver of the provisions of this paragraph shall be granted by the Secretary of State if the technology to produce a permanent voter-verified paper record for each vote cast is not commercially available.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be suspended until: (i) the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer certify in writing that sufficient funds have been provided by the federal government and received by the State to offset the entire cost of ensuring that each voting machine used in this State produces an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast; or (ii) the annual appropriation act contains an appropriation of sufficient funds to ensure that each voting machine used in this State produces an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast and such appropriated funds have not been reserved by the Governor under a spending reduction plan; or (iii) the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer certify in writing that sufficient funds have been provided by the federal government and received by the State, and the annual appropriation act contains an appropriation of sufficient unreserved funds, to ensure, when such funds are combined, that each voting machine used in this State produces an individual paper record for each vote cast.

19:48-2. Examination of voting machines by secretary of state
Any person or corporation owning or being interested in any voting machine may apply to the Secretary of State to examine such machine. Before the examination the applicant shall pay to the Secretary of State an examination fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00). The Secretary of State within a period of thirty days shall examine the machine and shall make and file in the office of the Secretary of State his report of the examination, which report shall state whether in his opinion the kind of machine so examined can be safely used by the voters at elections under the conditions prescribed in this subtitle. If the report states the machine can be so used, it shall be deemed approved, and machines of its kind may be adopted for use at elections as herein provided.

Before making such report the Secretary of State shall require the voting machine to be examined by three examiners to be appointed for such purpose by him, one of whom shall be an expert in patent law and the other two mechanical experts, and shall require of them a written report on such machine, which the Secretary of State shall attach to his own report on the machine. Each examiner shall receive one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for his compensation and expenses in making an examination and report as to each voting machine examined by him from and out of the examination fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00). Neither the Secretary of State nor any examiner shall have any pecuniary interest in any voting machine. When the machine has been so approved, any improvement or change that does not impair its accuracy, efficiency, or capacity, shall not render necessary a re-examination or reapproval thereof. Any form of voting machine not so approved cannot be used at any election.

The certificate of approval, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence that the kind of machine so examined complies with the provisions of this subtitle, except that the action of the Secretary of State in approving such machine may be reviewed by the Superior Court in a proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ.

19:48-3. Adoption of voting machines in counties other than counties of first class; purchase or rental; furnishing voting machines for election following enactment; competitive bidding; method of payment
In all counties other than counties of the first class the board of chosen freeholders or the governing body of any municipality by a majority vote of their respective bodies may adopt for use at all elections any kind of voting machine that meets the requirements of this subtitle, or any voting machines which meet the requirements of this subtitle may also be adopted in any county or municipality at any general, local or special election, by popular referendum, by a majority of the qualified votes cast. Such referendum shall be placed on the ballot on petition of ten per centum (10%) of the qualified voters of such county or municipality who cast their votes at the last preceding general election in such county or municipality and shall be adopted by a majority vote of the qualified electors voting thereon. Such referendum shall read as follows: “Shall voting machines be adopted and used in all elections in the (county or municipality) of ?” Upon the adoption thereof the local governing body of such political unit shall proceed to acquire within eighteen months, by rental or purchase, a complete equipment of voting machines. The governing body of the county or municipality shall provide that all election districts of any one municipality shall be equipped with voting machines on the same day. In all counties of the first class on and after September first, one thousand nine hundred and forty, voting machines of the type to meet the requirements of this subtitle shall be adopted and furnished by rental or purchase, by the board of chosen freeholders and used at all elections, in all election districts, in said counties; provided, however, that the purchase price of voting machines shall be paid at a rate not to exceed three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) in any one year. In the event the board of chosen freeholders of any county of the first class shall not have furnished and provided by rental or purchase at least forty (40) days before the election immediately following the enactment of this act, voting machines of the description and in the quantity required for use as aforesaid then the State House Commission shall forthwith furnish, by purchase or rental, a sufficient number of voting machines for use at all elections in all election districts in said county; in the event that the State House Commission finds it impracticable to obtain the number of machines necessary for use in all election districts in the said county at the next election, the State House Commission shall furnish as many machines for use in the said county at the next election as it finds practicable, and in that event the superintendent of elections of such county shall direct the installation and use of voting machines, so furnished, in such municipalities and in such wards thereof as the superintendent of elections shall designate, giving preference to municipalities in the descending order of population measured by the last published Federal or State census, and, in any municipality, giving preference to the several wards thereof according to the same standard. Any voting machines purchased by the State House Commission under the provisions of this section shall be purchased through competitive bidding upon such notice and according to such procedure as the State House Commission may prescribe. The cost of the rental or purchase of voting machines by the State House Commission under the provisions of this section shall be paid as follows: The State Treasurer shall withhold ten per centum (10%) of all subventions, excepting school and relief funds, due said county in any fiscal year until sufficient funds, together with interest at the rate of three per centum (3%) per annum, on the unpaid balance has been withheld, to cover the cost of the purchase or rental of the voting machines. The State Treasurer shall disburse said funds so retained to such persons or corporations, public or private, as shall be entitled to the same.

19:48-3.1. State House Commission, convening of and action by
For the purpose of this act, a vote by the majority of the members of the State House Commission shall constitute valid action by said commission, and the said State House Commission shall be convened by any member thereof.

19:48-3.2. Ballots, preparation and use
No ballots shall be prepared or used at any election in any election district under the provisions of this act other than such ballots as are required for use in voting machines, emergency ballots for use if a voting machine fails to operate, as provided in P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.), and provisional ballots for use by certain voters who no longer reside at the place from which they are registered, as provided in P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.).

19:48-3.3. State House Commission to provide voting machines in first and second class counties
In each county of the first class and each county of the second class in which voting machines of the type to meet the requirements of subtitle fifteen of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes have not been furnished by the board of chosen freeholders for use at all elections in all election districts in said county, such voting machines shall be provided by the State House Commission for use in all election districts of each said county in the manner provided by this act.

19:48-3.4. Appropriation for purchase of voting machines
There is hereby appropriated to the State House Commission the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00) for the purpose of purchasing the voting machines required by this act.

19:48-3.5. Purchase of voting machines; competitive bids; notice; procedure
The State House Commission shall purchase such voting machines of the type described in subtitle fifteen of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, by competitive bidding and upon such notice and according to such procedure as the State House Commission shall prescribe.

19:48-3.6. Purchase of voting machines as available
If the State House Commission is unable to purchase sufficient voting machines to meet the requirements of this act, it shall purchase such number as may be available and thereafter, from time to time, make further purchases of such voting machines as they become available, until sufficient voting machines have been purchased to meet the requirements of this act.

19:48-3.7. Delivery of voting machines purchased
All voting machines purchased by the State House Commission pursuant to this act shall be delivered to the superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections and to the county board of elections in each county of the second class. If the State House Commission is unable at its first purchase to purchase sufficient voting machines to meet the requirements of this act, it shall determine in its discretion the county or counties to which the voting machines purchased are to be delivered and the machines shall be delivered as required by such determination, and as further purchases are made the same procedure shall be followed.

19:48-3.8. Certification to counties of voting machines purchased; appropriations in annual budget
As soon as any voting machines are purchased by the State House Commission and the determination is made as to the number to be delivered to any county, the State House Commission shall certify to the board of chosen freeholders of said county the number of voting machines purchased for said county and the amount of the purchase price paid therefor. In the annual budget of said county for the year following the date of such certification, and in each annual budget thereafter until the full amount so certified is paid, the board of chosen freeholders of said county shall appropriate an amount sufficient to pay one-fifth of the total amount or amounts so certified by the State House Commission, together with three per centum (3%) interest from the date of certification; provided, however , that, in any year, the board of chosen freeholders may appropriate and pay any amount greater than herein required.

19:48-3.9. Payments by counties out of first tax moneys
In each county in which it is required by this act that an appropriation for the purposes of this act be included in the annual budget of any county, the board of chosen freeholders of said county shall direct the county treasurer of said county to pay, and the county treasurer, not later than the first day of March in such year, shall pay to the State Treasurer the amount of such appropriation out of the first moneys received from the various municipalities of the county for county taxes and before making any other payment out of said moneys.

19:48-3.10. Certification to Commissioner of Local Government of moneys to be appropriated; withholding approval of county budget
Whenever the State House Commission makes its certification to any county of money to be appropriated by said county pursuant to the provisions of this act, it shall make a like certification to the Commissioner of Local Government and it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Local Government to withhold approval of any county budget which does not contain any appropriation required by this act until such time as such appropriation is included.

19:48-3.11. Use of voting machines when insufficient number delivered to counties
When voting machines are delivered to any county pursuant to the provisions of this act and they are insufficient to provide voting machines for use in all election districts of said county, such voting machines shall be installed and used in such municipalities of said county and in such wards thereof as, in counties having a superintendent of elections, the superintendent of elections shall designate and as, in counties of the second class, not having a superintendent of elections the commissioner of registration shall designate, giving preference to municipalities in the descending order of population measured by the last Federal census and, in any municipality, giving preference to the several wards thereof according to the same standard.

19:48-3.12. Convening of State House Commission; majority vote
For the purpose of this act, the State House Commission may be convened by any member thereof on ten days’ notice, in writing, given to the other members thereof, and a vote of the majority of the members thereof shall constitute valid action by said commission.

19:48-3.13. Voting machine or emergency ballots only to be prepared and used
No ballots other than ballots required for use in voting machines, emergency ballots for use if a voting machine fails to operate and provisional ballots for use by certain voters who no longer reside at the place from which they are registered, as provided in P.L.1999, c. 232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.), shall be prepared or used at any election in any election district.

19:48-3.14. Enforcement of act by Attorney General
If any provision of this act is not complied with, the Attorney-General, at the request of the State House Commission, shall forthwith proceed to enforce compliance with the same.

19:48-3.15. Definitions
As used in this act–

“Municipal election” means an election to be held in and for a single municipality only, at regular intervals;

“Pertinent equipment” means channels, rollers, compensators, lockouts, pins and shutters used in connection with voting machines.

19:48-3.16. Purpose of act
The purpose of this act is to provide a method of establishing a uniform system of voting, by voting machines in all election districts, at any municipal election, in municipalities in which voting machines have been installed, pursuant to the provisions of the act to which this act is a supplement, for use in part of, but not in all of, such election districts.

19:48-3.17. Renting of voting machines
In any case in which voting machines have been so installed for use in part of, but not in all of, the election districts of any municipality in any county of the first or second class, thereby preventing the holding of any such municipal election in such municipality with the use of voting machines in all election districts, in accordance with the provisions of law relating to elections where voting machines are used, the superintendent of elections of any such county having a superintendent of elections or the county board of elections of any such county of the second class, if there be no superintendent of elections, as the case may be, may rent from any other county or counties in which voting machines have been installed under any law other than the act to which this act is a supplement, as many voting machines and any pertinent equipment as, in his or its judgment, shall be necessary to carry out the purpose of this act by providing voting machines for use in all of such election districts in such municipality at any municipal election to be held therein; provided, however, that all voting machines so rented shall conform substantially to the type of voting machines already installed for use in such municipality.

19:48-3.18. Agreements for rental of voting machines; terms and conditions
Such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, of the county in which such municipality is located, is hereby authorized and empowered, in behalf and in the name of the county in which the voting machines are to be used, to enter into an agreement with the board of chosen freeholders of the county owning such machines, which board is also hereby authorized and empowered to enter into such an agreement, for the rental of such machines and any pertinent equipment for use at any such municipal election, upon the following terms and upon such additional terms as may be mutually agreed upon, and any such agreement made pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be binding upon the respective counties:

a. The rental rate for each machine and any pertinent equipment accompanying the same shall not exceed five dollars ($5.00);

b. The machines and any pertinent equipment rented shall be transported entirely at the expense of the county in which the same are to be used;

c. The board of chosen freeholders of the county from which the machines are rented shall cause the counters within all machines rented to be set at zero (000) at least fifteen days before the date of the municipal election in which the machines are to be used;

d. The machines and any pertinent equipment rented, after delivery thereof to such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, shall, except when being transported and when actually at the polling places, be stored in a suitable place which shall be a fireproof building in the county in which such municipality is located;

e. The machines and any pertinent equipment rented shall be returned to their usual place of storage in the county from which they are rented not later than twenty days after the municipal election in which they are to be used, with the counter within each machine set at zero (000);

f. The machines and any pertinent equipment rented shall be duly returned to the place of storage thereof in the county from which they are rented in the same condition as when leaving such place; and any partial or total damage done to any machine or pertinent equipment from any cause whatever, between the time of leaving such place of storage and its return thereto, shall be repaired or replaced at the expense of the county in which the same are to be used.

19:48-3.19. Certification to municipal clerk of voting machines rented
In the event such an agreement is made, such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, shall, before the thirtieth day prior to the date of the municipal election for which the voting machines have been so rented, certify in writing to the municipal clerk of the municipality in which such election is to be held that at least one voting machine will be provided for each election district of such municipality for use at such election.

19:48-3.20. Municipal clerk’s duties on receipt of certification
Upon receipt of such certification, such municipal clerk shall proceed to prepare and furnish to such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, at least seven days before any such election, official ballots of the type and in the number required by law for use in voting machines, and shall make such other arrangements as are necessary to hold such municipal election by the use of voting machines in all election districts of such municipality, in accordance with the provisions of law relating to elections where voting machines are used, and such election shall in all respects be so held and conducted.

19:48-3.21. Expenditures for voting machines rented; reimbursement of county by municipality
Such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, is hereby authorized to expend for the purpose of this act a sum not to exceed forty dollars ($40.00) per each voting machine rented plus any sum expended for the repair or replacement of any machines or pertinent equipment partially or totally damaged, which expenditures shall be in addition to any amount authorized to be expended, under Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, by such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, and shall be paid, when certified to and approved by such superintendent of elections or such county board of elections, as the case may be, by the county treasurer of the county in which the machines are used; and the county making such payment shall be reimbursed therefor by the municipality holding such election, in the same manner as is now provided by law for the payment of other expenses in connection with any election held in and for a municipality only.

19:48-4. Custody and care of machines
Voting machines, heretofore or hereafter installed in any manner provided by law, in any county not having a superintendent of elections, shall be placed, and remain, in the custody of the county board of elections, and voting machines, heretofore or hereafter installed in any manner provided by law, in any county having a superintendent of elections, shall be placed, and remain, in the custody of the superintendent of elections; except that voting machines, heretofore or hereafter installed in any municipality by the governing body thereof, in any manner provided by law, shall be placed, and remain, in the custody of the municipal clerk unless taken over by the county according to law.

The county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall preserve and keep in repair all voting machines placed in its or his custody pursuant to the provisions of this section.

19:48-5. Payment for machines
Any voting machines owned and in use by a municipality at the time of a county-wide installation at county expense may be taken over by the county if mutually agreeable between the county and municipality. In no case shall the municipality be reimbursed to the extent of more than the original cost of the machines. Any county and the board of chosen freeholders thereof and any municipality and the governing body thereof on the adoption and rental or purchase of voting machines shall provide for the payment thereof in such manner as the governing body of such governmental unit deems best according to the financial condition of such unit, and the governing body may meet the necessary expenditure by budget appropriation, and for the purpose of purchasing shall have the power within this subtitle to borrow money and issue negotiable bonds to pay for same, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of article 1 of chapter 1 of the title Municipalities and Counties (s. 40:1-1 et seq.).

19:48-6. Duties of officials concerning machines
The county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, shall have the machine or machines and all necessary furniture and appliances at the proper polling place or places before the time fixed for opening the polls, and the counters set at zero (000), the emergency ballot boxes furnished with the appropriate number of emergency ballots, and otherwise in good and proper order for use at such election. For the purpose of placing ballots in the ballot frames of the machines; putting in order, setting, testing, adjusting and delivering the machines, such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, may employ or appoint one or more fully competent persons to be known as custodian or custodians of voting machines, who shall be thoroughly instructed in their duties by such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, and shall be sworn to perform their duties honestly and faithfully. Such custodians shall be employed or appointed and instructed at least thirty days before the election and shall be considered as officers of elections; provided, however, that for the purpose aforesaid in counties having a superintendent of elections, the superintendent of elections may employ or appoint, in addition to one or more custodian or custodians, other fully competent persons and may classify them, assign their duties, and fix their compensation according to the particular duties assigned them, which said persons shall also be employed or appointed, and thoroughly instructed and sworn to perform their duties honestly and faithfully, at least thirty days before the election and shall likewise be considered as officers of election.

Before preparing a voting machine for any election, written notice shall be mailed by such board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, to the chairman of the county committee of at least two of the principal political parties, stating the time and place where the machines will be prepared, at which time one representative of each such political party shall be afforded an opportunity to see that the machines, including the emergency ballot boxes, are in proper condition for use in the election; such representatives shall be sworn to faithfully perform their duties and shall be regarded as election officials, but shall not interfere with the custodian or custodians or other persons employed or appointed as aforesaid or assume any of his or their duties. When a machine and the affixed emergency ballot box have been so examined by such representatives, the emergency ballot box shall be sealed with a numbered green seal and the voting machine shall be locked against voting and sealed with a numbered seal. Such representatives shall certify, upon a form to be provided by such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, as to the numbers of the machines and emergency ballot boxes, that all of the counters are set at zero (000) and the ballot boxes are furnished with the emergency ballots, and as to the numbers registered on the protective counter, if one is provided, and on the seals. Such certificate shall be filed by them with such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be. After a voting machine and an emergency ballot box have been properly prepared for the election and the machine locked against voting and sealed, the keys for the voting machine shall be delivered to such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, together with a written report made by a custodian stating that the machine and the affixed emergency ballot box are in every way properly prepared for the election.

After the voting machines shall be delivered to the polling places, the governing body of the municipality, wherein such polling places are located, shall provide ample police protection against molestation, or tampering or damage to the machines. Every voting machine shall be furnished with a lantern, or an electric light fixture, which shall give sufficient light to enable voters while voting to read the ballots and be suitable for use by the district board in examining the counters. The lantern or electric light fixture shall be prepared in good order by such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, for use before the opening of the polls.

19:48-7 Voting machine out of order
If any voting machine being used in any election district shall, during the time the polls are open, become damaged so as to render it inoperative in whole or in part, the election officers shall immediately give notice thereof to the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, and such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall cause any person or persons employed or appointed pursuant to section 19:48-6 of this Title to substitute a machine in perfect working order for the damaged machine. At the close of the polls the records of both machines shall be taken and the votes shown on their counters shall be added together in ascertaining and determining the results of the election. During any period when a voting machine is inoperative, emergency ballots made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot shall be used in accordance with the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.), received by the election officers and placed by them in an emergency ballot box as provided in this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.), and shall be counted with the votes registered on the voting machines. The result shall be declared the same as though there had been no accident to the voting machine. The emergency ballots thus voted shall be preserved and returned with a statement setting forth how and why the same were voted. The original statement shall be filed with the county or municipal clerk, as the case may be; a copy of the statement shall be filed with the commissioner of registration; and an additional copy shall be placed in the emergency ballot box. The statement for use in all elections except primary elections shall be in the following form:

ELECTION STATEMENT FOR EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOTS VOTED

This statement must be completed by all election district board workers present when a voting machine malfunctions and emergency paper ballots are issued and voted. R.S.19:48-7.

This is to certify that voting machine no. ……. became inoperative at …….AM, ……. PM. We further certify that ……. emergency paper ballots were issued and voted during the time the voting machine assigned to Election District No. ……. in ……………….. (municipality) was inoperative. The last voting authority given out before the voting machine became inoperative was no. …….. This ……………….. day of ……………….. 2 ……..

TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF VOTING MACHINE IS REPLACED

Voting machine no. ……. was replaced by voting machine no…….. at ……. AM, …….PM.

The next voting authority given out after the voting machine was replaced was no. ……….

TO BE COMPLETED WHEN VOTING MACHINE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND IS READY TO RECEIVE VOTES

Voting machine no. ……. was repaired at ……. AM, …….PM.

The next voting authority given out after the voting machine was repaired was no. ……….

………………………….. ……………………………….

Signature of Judge Signature of Clerk

………………………….. ……………………………….

Signature of Inspector Signature of Clerk

………………………….. ……………………………….

Municipality Signature of Voting

Machine Technician

…………………………..

Ward

…………………………..

District

The statement for use in the primary election shall be in the following form:

PRIMARY ELECTION

STATEMENT FOR EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOTS VOTED

This statement must be completed by all election district board workers present when a voting machine malfunctions and emergency paper ballots are issued and voted. R.S.19:48-7.

This is to certify that voting machine no. ……. became inoperative at …….AM, ……. PM. We further certify that ……. emergency paper ballots were issued and voted during the time the voting machine assigned to Election District No. ……. in ……………….. (municipality) was inoperative. The last voting authorities given out before the voting machine became inoperative were REPUBLICAN NO. …….., DEMOCRATIC NO. ……..

this ……………….. day of ……………….. 2 …….

TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF VOTING MACHINE IS REPLACED

Voting machine no. ……. was replaced by voting machine no…….. at ……. AM, …….PM.

The next voting authorities given out after the voting machine was replaced were REPUBLICAN NO……, DEMOCRATIC NO…….

TO BE COMPLETED WHEN VOTING MACHINE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND IS READY TO RECEIVE VOTES

Voting machine no. ……. was repaired at ……. AM, …….PM.

The next voting authorities given out after the voting machine was repaired were REPUBLICAN NO. …….., DEMOCRATIC NO. ……..

………………………….. ……………………………….

Signature of Judge Signature of Clerk

………………………….. ……………………………….

Signature of Inspector Signature of Clerk

………………………….. ……………………………….

Municipality Signature of Voting

Machine Technician

…………………………..

Ward

…………………………..

District

If a voting machine fails to operate on multiple occasions during a single election, a STATEMENT FOR EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOTS VOTED shall be completed on each occasion when the machine fails to operate.

19:48-8. Rental of voting machines to associations, clubs, etc.; terms
The superintendent of elections of any county having a superintendent of elections or the county board of elections of any county not having a superintendent of elections may, upon application of any recognized association, club, fraternity, union or other group of persons whose constitution or by-laws requires the election of officers by secret ballot, rent to said association, club, fraternity, union or other group of persons, one or more voting machines owned by said county for the purpose of conducting said secret election, at a rental and upon such terms as may be determined upon by such superintendent of elections or county board of elections.

Chapter 49. Ballots

19:49-1. Official ballots furnished
Official ballots of the form and description set forth in this subtitle for use upon voting machines shall be prepared and furnished in the same manner as now provided by law.

19:49-2 Printing official ballots; ballots in counties where voting machines are used; position of candidates’ names on ballot
All official ballots shall be in black ink in type as large as space will reasonably permit; provided, however, that any public question which shall be placed on the ballot shall be in red and above any public question to be voted upon by the voters of the entire State there shall be, also in red, a description of the public question, which description shall not exceed six words and shall be in type as large as is practicable. Party nominations shall be arranged on each voting machine, either in columns or horizontal rows; the caption of the various ballots on the machines shall be so placed on the machines as to indicate to the voter what device is to be used or operated in order to vote for the candidates or candidate of his or her choice. The providing of the official ballots, the order of the precedence and arrangement of parties and of candidates, and the instructions for the use of a device to be used or operated in order to vote for candidates shall be as now required by law, except that in those counties where voting machines are used, the county clerk shall have the authority to determine the specifications for, and the final arrangement of, the official ballots.

For the primary election for the general election in all counties where voting machines are or shall be used, all candidates who shall file a joint petition with the county clerk of their respective county and who shall choose the same designation or slogan shall be drawn for position on the ballot as a unit and shall have their names placed on the same line of the voting machine; and provided further, that all candidates for municipal or party office in municipalities in counties where voting machines are or shall be used who shall file a petition with the clerk of their municipality bearing the same designation or slogan as that of the candidates filing a joint petition with the county clerk as aforesaid, may request that his or her name be placed on the same line of the voting machine with the candidates who have filed a joint petition with the county clerk as aforesaid by so notifying the county clerk of said county in writing within two days after the last day for filing nominating petitions and thereupon the county clerk shall forthwith notify the campaign manager of such candidates filing a joint petition as aforesaid of said request, and if the said campaign manager shall file his consent in writing with the said county clerk within two days after the receipt of said notification from said county clerk, the clerk of said county shall place the name of such candidate on the same line of the voting machine on which appears the names of the candidates who have filed the joint petition as aforesaid; provided, also, that any candidate filing a petition with the Attorney General may request that his or her name be placed on the same line of the voting machine with the candidates who have filed a joint petition with the county clerk as aforesaid by so notifying the county clerk of said county in writing within two days after the last day for filing nominating petitions, and thereupon the county clerk shall forthwith notify the campaign manager of such candidates filing a joint petition as aforesaid of said request, and if the said campaign manager shall file his consent in writing with the said county clerk within two days after the receipt of said notification from said county clerk, the clerk of said county shall place the name of such candidate on the same line of the voting machine on which appears the names of the candidates who have filed the joint petition as aforesaid.

19:49-2.1. Repeal
All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed insofar as they relate to counties of the first class where voting machines are or shall be used.

19:49-3. Number of official ballots to be furnished
At least one week prior to any primary, local, or general election two sets of official ballots shall be provided for each voting machine, for each polling place, for each election district, for use in and upon the voting machine. One set thereof shall be inserted or placed in or upon the voting machine and the other shall be retained in the custody and possession of the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, unless it shall become necessary during the course of the election to make use of the same upon or in the voting machine. At the close of the election all official ballots, except those actually in or upon the voting machine at the close of the election, whether the same shall have been used in the machine or not, shall be returned to the official providing the same in the manner by this Title provided.

19:49-4. Instruction ballots; sample ballots; preparation; mailing; posting
a. (1) The officer or officers whose duty it may be under this subtitle to provide and furnish official ballots for any polling place where a voting machine is to be used shall also provide 2 sample ballots or more, or instruction ballots, which sample or instruction ballot shall be arranged in the form of a diagram showing such portion of the face of the voting machine as it will appear after the official ballots are arranged thereon or therein for voting on election day. Such sample or instruction ballots shall be open to the inspection of all voters on election day, in all elections where voting machines are used.

(2) For election districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, the officer or officers whose duty it may be under this subtitle to provide and furnish official ballots for any polling place where a voting machine is to be used shall also provide 2 sample ballots or more, or instruction ballots, printed bilingually in English and Spanish. Such sample or instruction ballots shall be open to the inspection of all voters on election day, in appropriate election districts, in all elections where voting machines are used.

b. There shall be furnished a sufficient number of sample ballots printed entirely in black ink, a facsimile of the face of the machine, of a reduced size, one of which sample ballots shall be mailed to each registered voter, except that for election districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, sample ballots printed bilingually in English and Spanish shall be mailed to each registered voter. Any reference to sample ballot envelopes in any section of this Title to the contrary notwithstanding, in all counties where voting machines are used and wherein the commissioner of registration has the facilities to mail out sample ballots direct to the registrants of such county and has elected so to do, as otherwise in this Title provided, the commissioner of registration in any such county may request the county clerk of such county to have the sample ballots prepared in the manner following:

(1) The county clerk shall have said sample ballots for all general and special elections printed in such manner that, when folded, the words “Official General Election Sample Ballot” or as the case may be, shall appear on the reverse side thereof, together with the words “In cases where the sample ballot is to be sent to an addressee who does not receive his mail by delivery to his home or through rural free delivery “if not delivered within 5 days return to the commissioner of registration’ and in all other cases “if not delivered within 2 days return to the commissioner of registration.’ Do not Forward. Return Postage Guaranteed” over the return address of the commissioner of registration. Such portion of the ballot may contain such additional words that conform with United States Postal regulations that will prevent such envelope from being forwarded to the voter at any other address than that appearing on the envelope, and that will cause such envelope to be returned to the commissioner of registration, with information thereon from the post office showing the reason for nondelivery.

(2) The county clerk in drawing the specifications for the printing of the official primary ballots shall include the requirement that the municipal clerks shall have primary sample ballots printed in such manner that, when folded, the words “Official Primary Election Sample Ballot” shall appear on the reverse side thereof, together with the words “In cases where the sample ballot is to be sent to an addressee who does not receive his mail by delivery to his home or through rural free delivery “if not delivered within 5 days return to the commissioner of registration’ and in all other cases “if not delivered within 2 days return to the commissioner of registration.’ Do Not Forward. Return Postage Guaranteed” over the return address of the commissioner of registration. Such portion of the ballot may contain such additional words that conform with United States Postal regulations that will prevent such envelope from being forwarded to the voter at any other address than that appearing on the envelope, and that will cause such envelope to be returned to the commissioner of registration, with information thereon from the post office showing the reason for nondelivery.

(3) Five sample ballots shall be posted as now required by law.

c. For all general and special elections the county clerk, and for all primary and municipal elections the municipal clerks, shall, at least 30 days preceding any such election, make the arrangements necessary to be made with the postmaster or postmasters in their respective counties and municipalities to have the said sample ballots mailed under the postal laws and regulations, and forthwith notify the said commissioner of registration in writing to that effect.

19:49-5. Irregular ballots
Ballots voted for any person whose name does not appear on the machine as a nominated candidate for office are herein referred to as irregular ballots. Such irregular ballot shall be written or affixed in or upon the receptacle or device provided on the machine for that purpose. No irregular ballot shall be voted for any person for any office whose name appears on the machine as a nominated candidate for that office or for a delegate or alternate to a national party convention; any irregular ballot so voted shall not be counted. An irregular ballot must be cast in its appropriate place on the machine, or it shall be void and not counted.

Chapter 50. Instruction Concerning Voting Machine

19:50-1 Instruction of election officers; training manuals
a. Within 30 days before each election, the county board of elections shall cause new members of the district boards who are to serve in election districts to be instructed in the conduct of elections, and in their duties in connection therewith. All district board members shall be required to attend said instructional sessions for each election at least once every two years. The county board of elections shall cause to be given to each member of each district board who has received such instruction and is fully qualified to properly conduct the election, a certificate to that effect. For the purpose of giving such instruction the county board of elections shall call such meeting or meetings of the district boards as shall be necessary. The content of said meeting or meetings shall be limited solely to the instruction of district board members; lobbying or the advancement of political ends shall be prohibited. The members of the district board of each election district shall attend such meeting or meetings as shall be called for the purpose of receiving such instruction concerning their duties as shall be necessary for the proper conduct of the election. No member of any district board shall serve in any election unless he shall have received such instruction as herein provided and is fully qualified to perform the duties in connection with the election, and has received a certificate to that effect from the county board of elections; but this shall not prevent the appointment of a person as a member of the district board to fill a vacancy in an emergency, as now provided by law. In addition to the foregoing, the county board of elections shall design, prepare and distribute training manuals for district board members, pursuant to guidelines established by the Attorney General. The county board of elections shall also make the training manual available on its Internet site and on the Internet site of the Division of Elections in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

b. The Attorney General shall establish guidelines for the design of training manuals for members of district boards of election, and shall design, prepare and distribute training manuals for members of county boards of election, and county clerks. The Attorney General shall also make training manuals available on the Internet site of the Division of Elections.

19:50-2 Instructions on operation of voting machines; design and preparation; availability on official Internet sites
a. For the first four successive general elections after the adoption of a new type of voting machine in a county, the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, shall designate suitable and adequate times and places where voting machines containing sample ballots showing titles of offices to be filled, and, so far as practicable, the names of candidates to be voted for at the next election, shall be exhibited for the purpose of giving instructions in the use of voting machines. No voting machine to be assigned for use in an election shall be used for such instruction after having been prepared and sealed for the election. During public exhibition of any voting machine for the instruction of voters previous to an election, the counting mechanism thereof shall be concealed from view and the doors may be temporarily opened only when authorized by such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be.

b. The county board of elections shall design, prepare and make available to voters instructions on the proper operation of the voting machine used in the county. The instructions may be conveyed on cards, computer software, pamphlets, posters, video or such other media as the county board deems appropriate, subject to the guidelines set forth by the Attorney General. The instructions shall also be made available on the official Internet site of the Division of Elections in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the county board of elections shall provide a link to such instructions on its official Internet site. The Attorney General shall establish guidelines for the design of instructions for the proper operation of voting machines used in this State. The provisions of this subsection shall be in addition to any other provision for voter instruction required by law.

19:50-3. Instructing voters on election day; assisting blind, disabled or illiterate voters
For instructing the voters on any election day there shall, so far as practicable, be provided by the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, for each polling place a mechanically operated model of a portion of the face of the machine. Such model, if furnished, shall, during the election, be located on the district election officers’ table or in some other place which the voters must pass to reach the machine, and each voter shall, before entering the voting machine booth, be instructed regarding the operation of the machine and such instruction illustrated on the model, and the voter given opportunity to personally operate the modeL. The voter’s attention shall also be called to the diagram of the face of the machine so that the voter can become familiar with the location of the questions and the names of the officers and candidates. If any voter, before entering the voting machine booth, declares under oath, and establishes to the satisfaction of a majority of all the members of the district board that by reason of an inability to read or write, blindness or other physical disability he is unable to cast his vote without assistance, he shall have the assistance of two members of the board of opposite political faith, to be assigned by the board. Such members shall retire with such voter to the booth and assist him. The member acting as clerk of the district board shall make an entry on a disability certificate for assistance, which entry shall be on the form of an oath inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders at each election.

In every instance when such oath is administered to a voter as herein provided, it shall state briefly what facts were sworn to and the names of the members of the board who aided such voter shall be signed on the form. Any members of the district board shall be eligible to assist any such voter, but no other person except as hereinafter provided shall be allowed to assist him. No member of the board shall reveal the name of any person for whom such voter has voted or anything that took place while he was being assisted.

Such voter, if blind, disabled or unable to read or write, may, in lieu of the assistance of the board as above provided, have assistance of some person of his own selection. Such person shall retire with such voter to the booth and assist him in voting. The name and address of such person shall be recorded as above. In such case, no other person than the one so selected by the voter shall be allowed to assist such voter. No person so selected shall reveal the name of any person for whom such voter has voted or anything that took place while he was being assisted.

The disability certificates shall be numbered serially 1 to 20. The commissioner of registration shall furnish sufficient disability certificates for assistance for each election district in his county which shall be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders.

Chapter 51. Number of Registered Voters in a District [Repealed]

Chapter 52. Procedure at Polling Place

19:52-1. Opening of polls
The district boards of each election district shall meet at the polling place three-quarters of an hour before the time set for opening of the polls at each election and shall proceed to arrange the furniture, stationery and voting machine or machines for the conduct of the election. The district boards shall then and there have the voting machine, ballots and stationery required to be delivered to them for such election by the officials charged by law with that duty.

The keys to the voting machine shall be delivered to the district election officers in any manner that the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, may determine, at least three-quarters of an hour before the time set for opening the polls, in a sealed envelope, on which shall be written or printed the number and location of the voting machine, the number of the seal with which it is sealed, the number of the green seal with which the emergency ballot box is sealed, and the number registered on the protective counter or device, as reported by the custodian.

The envelope containing the keys shall not be opened until at least two members of the board who are not members of the same political party shall be present at the polling place and shall have examined the envelope to see that it has not been opened. Before opening the envelope all election officers present shall examine the number on the seal on the machine and the number registered on the protective counter, and shall ascertain if they are the same as the numbers written on the envelope; and if they are not the same, the machine must not be opened until such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, after due notice of such discrepancy, shall have caused such machine to be re-examined and properly arranged by any person or persons employed or appointed pursuant to R.S.19:48-6. If the numbers on the voting machine seal and the protective counter are found to agree with the numbers on the envelope, the district election officers shall proceed to open the doors concealing the counters, and each district election officer shall carefully examine every counter and ascertain whether or not it registers zero (000), and the same shall be subject to the inspection of official watchers.

In addition, each district election officer shall carefully examine the emergency ballot box to ascertain whether or not it is properly sealed with a numbered green seal and examine the number to ascertain if it is the same as the number written on the voting machine key envelope. If the numbers are not the same, the county board of elections, the superintendent of elections, or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall be notified of the discrepancy.

The machine shall remain locked against voting until the polls are formally opened and shall not be operated except by voters in voting. If any counter is found not to register zero (000) the district board shall immediately notify such county board of elections or such superintendent of elections or such municipal clerk, as the case may be, who shall, if practicable, cause such counter to be adjusted at zero (000) by any person or persons employed or appointed pursuant to R.S.19:48-6. If it shall be impracticable for such person or persons to arrive in time to so adjust such counter before the time set for opening the polls, the district election officers shall immediately make a written statement of the designating letter and number of such counter, together with the number registered thereon, and shall sign and post same upon the wall of the polling room, where it shall remain throughout election day, and in filling out the statement of canvass, they shall subtract such number from the number registered thereon at the close of the polls.

Each district election officer shall carefully examine the provisional ballot bag to ascertain that it is properly sealed with a numbered security seal and whether it has been subjected to tampering. If the elections officer discovers evidence of tampering, the county board of elections, the superintendent of elections, or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall be so notified immediately.

19:52-2. Location of voting machines
At all elections where voting machines may be used, the arrangement of the polling room shall be generally the same as is now provided for by law; the exterior of the voting machine and every part of the polling room shall be in plain view of the election officers; the voting machine shall be placed at least three feet from every wall or partition of the polling room and at least four feet from any table where any of the district election officers may be engaged or seated. The voting machine shall be so placed that the ballots on the face of the machine can be plainly seen by the election officers and the party watchers when not in use by voters. The election officers shall not themselves be, or permit any other person to be, in any position or near any position that will permit one to see or ascertain how a voter votes, or how he has voted. The district election officer attending the machine shall inspect the face of the machine after each voter has cast his vote, to see that the ballots on the face of the machine are in their proper places and have not been mutilated or defaced and that the machine has not been damaged. During elections the door or other covering of the counter compartment of the machine shall not be unlocked or open, or the counters exposed. No person shall be permitted in or about the polling room except as now permitted by law in elections where ballots and ballot boxes are used.

19:52-2.1 Voting authorities in certain counties; form; preservation
In all counties wherein voting machines are used the county board of elections shall furnish for use in each election district at any election, a sufficient number of voting authorities in substantially the following form:

City of City of

Ward District Ward District

Election Held Election Held

…… day of………… 20… …….. day of…………. 20….

Voting Authority Voting Authority

No……………. No………………

………………………….

Signature of Voter. ……………………………….

This certificate must be handed

to the election officer in charge

of the voting machines in order to

vote.

………………………………

County Board of Elections

Clerk.

The voting authorities shall be numbered consecutively, be bound together in pads and shall be printed in two parts and perforated so that one part may be given to the voter who shall return the same to the district election officials in charge of the operation of the voting machine in order that such official shall be able to place the same in consecutive order on a string or wire. The other part of the voting authority shall be signed by the voter in his own handwriting before he be permitted to vote and shall remain bound in the pad. All pads containing the portions of the voting authorities on which the names of the persons who have voted have been signed, together with that portion of the voting authority which has been placed on a wire or string shall be returned to the commissioner of registration of the county, who shall keep them for a period of at least six months.

At any primary election for the general election, each voting authority shall be marked to indicate the party primary in which the voter signing the same voted and the used voting authorities shall be strung in such a manner so that those used in one party primary shall remain separate from those used in the other party primary.

19:52-2.2. Effective date
This act shall take effect July first, one thousand nine hundred and forty-four.

19:52-3. Time allowed a voter
Where a voter presents himself for the purpose of voting, the election officer shall follow the procedure as now required by this title regarding the eligibility of a person to vote. If such eligibility is established, one of the district election officers shall announce the name of the voter and permit him to pass to the booth of the voting machine for the purpose of casting his vote. No voter shall remain in the voting machine booth longer than two minutes, and having cast his vote the voter shall at once emerge therefrom and leave the polling room; if he shall refuse to leave after the lapse of two minutes he shall be removed by the district election officers. Such election officers shall ascertain the name and address of each voter in the manner now provided by law before he enters the voting machine booth for the purpose of voting. No voter after having entered and emerged from the voting machine booth shall be permitted to reenter the same on any pretext whatever. Only one voter at a time shall be permitted in the voting machine booth to vote. However, a voter shall be permitted to be accompanied into the voting machine booth by a dependent child.

19:52-3.1. Public display of official count of cumulative number of voters at precinct; requirements
The district boards of election at each polling place shall create and publicly display a notice containing an official count of the cumulative number of voters who have voted at each precinct, indicating the number of voters who have voted using a voting machine and the number of voters who have voted using a provisional ballot. The first notice shall be produced two hours from the opening of the polls and updated every two hours thereafter until the time the polls close.

19:52-4. Blind or physically disabled voters
The provisions of this title relating to the assistance to be given to blind or physically disabled voters shall apply also where voting machines are used, and the word “booth” , when used in such provisions, shall include the voting machine inclosure or curtain.

19:52-5. Announcing the vote and locking the machine against voting
Immediately upon the close of the polls, the district election officers shall lock and seal the voting machine against further voting and open the counter compartment in the presence of persons who may be lawfully present at that time, giving full view of the counters. The judge of the district board, under the scrutiny of a member of such board who is not a member of the same political party as the judge, shall then in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on the machine, read and announce in distinct tones the result as shown by the counters, and shall then read the votes recorded for each office on the irregular ballots. He shall also, in the same manner, read and announce the vote on each constitutional amendment, proposition or other question. As each vote is read and announced, it shall be recorded in two statements of canvass by two other members of such district board who are not members of the same political party, and when completed the record thereof shall be compared with the numbers on the counters of the machine. If found to be correct, the result shall be announced by the judge of such board and the statement of canvass, after being duly certified, shall be filed as now provided by law for filing election returns. After the reading and announcing of the vote and before the doors of the counter compartment of the voting machine shall be closed, ample opportunity shall be given to any person or persons lawfully present to compare the results so announced with the counters of the machine and any necessary corrections shall then and there be made by such district board. No tally sheets nor return blanks as required by law for use in election districts where paper ballots are used shall be furnished or used in election districts where voting machines are used, but in lieu thereof there shall be furnished two copies of a statement of canvass to conform to the requirements of the make and type of voting machine or machines being used.

19:52-6. Locking machine; rechecking; cost; deposit; irregular ballots, disposition of
The district election officers shall, as soon as the count is completed and fully ascertained, as by this subtitle required, lock the counter compartment and it shall so remain for a period of 15 days, except it be opened by order of a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county. Within such period and upon written request of any defeated candidate, or in the case where a public question is involved upon petition of any 10 qualified voters of a county or municipality using machines who voted in the election in question, the judge shall, at a cost of $2.00 per district to the candidate or petitioners, order the machines in question opened and the registering counters rechecked against the election officers’ returns. Any candidate or petitioners requesting such recheck, shall deposit with the county clerk, the amount necessary for all the districts requested. The county clerk, if it appears that an error or errors have occurred as a result of which the election is changed or the difference between the negative and affirmative of any public question is altered so as to change the results of the election, shall upon the warrant of such judge of the Superior Court, pay to such candidate or petitioners the cost of such recheck. In the event it shall appear after such recheck that the results of the election remain unchanged, the county clerk shall, upon the warrant of such judge, pay the funds so deposited into the county treasury. Such recheck shall be made under the supervision of the county election officials and in co-operation with the parties at interest or their representatives. When irregular ballots of whatever description have been voted, the district election officers shall return all such ballots in a properly secured package indorsed “irregular ballots” and return and file such package with the municipal clerk at the same time the original statement of the results of the election made by them is filed. Such package shall be preserved for 6 months next succeeding such election, and it shall not be opened or its contents examined during that time except by the order of a judge of a court lawfully empowered to direct the same to be opened and examined. At the end of the 6 months, such packages may be opened and the ballots disposed of at the discretion of the official having charge thereof.

19:52-6.1. Manner of rechecking machines
Whenever a judge of the Superior Court assigned to a county enters an order for the recheck of any voting machines the county board of elections of such county shall conduct such recheck in co-operation with the county clerk, the commissioner of registration and in counties having a superintendent of election in co-operation with him, which recheck shall be commenced within 5 days of the entry of such order unless otherwise ordered by the judge and conducted in the following manner:

(1) The county board shall ascertain from the defeated candidate or from the petitioners, as the case may be, which districts shall be rechecked and the order in which they shall be rechecked, and upon receiving such information shall conduct the recheck in conformity thereto. If more than one candidate or set of petitioners has requested a recheck and are unable to agree upon the order in which the districts are to be rechecked, such order shall be determined by the judge.

(2) The superintendent of elections in counties having superintendents of election and the county board in all other counties shall remove the padded cover, remove the impounding seal, if any, and unlock the padlock on the metal cover and where necessary raise all voting machines which are to be rechecked before the recheck is actually commenced.

(3) The superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections and the county board in all other counties shall then proceed to open the counter compartment of each voting machine as the same is rechecked, but in no event shall the counter compartment of more than 1 voting machine be opened at the same time unless it shall be agreed to do so by the county board of elections and a majority of the candidates whose nomination or election may be affected by the outcome of the recheck, and who are present or represented at the recheck, or in the case that the votes cast for or against a public question are to be rechecked then, by agreement between the county board of elections and a representative of the proponents and opponents of the public question.

(4) The county board of elections shall then check the number of votes cast for each candidate, or in the event a public question is involved for or against such public question and announce the number of votes cast for each candidate named in the order or for or against a public question as found on the registering counters and record the same on tally sheets prepared for that purpose.

(5) Whenever a recheck is to be held, the county clerk or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall, upon demand by the county board of elections or any candidate whose interests may be affected by the recheck, produce at the time and place of the recheck the official statements containing the results of the election as certified by the various district boards and filed with such officers. The county board of elections shall then recheck the registering counters on the machines with the official statements as returned by the various district boards.

(6) After the recheck is completed the county board in co-operation with the county check or municipal clerk, as the case may be, shall make a comparison of the tally sheets of the county clerk or municipal clerk showing the results of his official canvass with the tally sheets prepared by the county board in making the recheck.

(7) Whenever any discrepancies shall appear as the same are set forth on such tally sheets such discrepancies shall be noted and upon completion of the comparison a report and certification shall be filed with the court wherein the order for the recheck originated, which report shall set forth in full just what discrepancies have been found in the county clerk’s or municipal clerk’s official canvass.

(8) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to mean that a defeated candidate or in the case of a public question the petitioners cannot abandon the recheck at any time during the progress thereof and receive back the deposit made with the county clerk for the districts which remain unchecked.

(9) In the event it should appear during the course of the recheck that there has been a sufficient change in the tally of votes cast which would affect the result of the election, any candidate who appears then to be defeated, or in the event of a public question the parties in interest whose interest may be affected adversely may, within 7 days, apply to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county and receive an order to continue the recheck in his behalf upon the same terms and conditions under which the original recheck was held.

19:52-7. Disposition of keys
The keys of each voting machine shall be inclosed in an envelope to be supplied by the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, on which shall be written the number of the machine and the district and ward where it has been used, which envelope shall be securely sealed and indorsed by the district election officers, and shall be returned to the source from which the keys were received. The number on the seal and the number registered on the protective counter shall be written on the envelope containing the keys. All keys for any voting machine shall be kept securely by the officials having them in charge. No unauthorized person shall have in his possession any key or keys of any voting machine and all district election officers or persons intrusted with such keys for election purposes, or in the preparation of the machine therefor, shall not retain them longer than necessary to use them for such legal purpose. All machines shall be stored by the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting machines, as soon after the close of the election as possible, and the machines shall at all times be stored in a suitable place, which place shall be a fireproof public building in such counties or municipalities, as the case may be, as have same.

Chapter 53. Penalties

19:53-1 Penalties
Any unauthorized person found in possession of any such voting machine in use or to be used in any election, or keys thereof, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Any person willfully tampering or attempting to tamper with, disarrange, deface or impair in any manner whatsoever, or destroy any such voting machine while the same is in use at any election, or who shall, after such machine is locked in order to preserve the registration or record of any election made by the same, tamper or attempt to tamper with any such voting machine, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Chapter 53A. Electronic Voting Systems

19:53A-1. Definitions
As used in this act, unless otherwise specified:

a. “Automatic tabulating equipment” includes apparatus which automatically examines and counts votes recorded on ballot cards, and tabulates the results.

b. “Ballot card” means a tabulating card on which votes may be recorded.

c. “Ballot labels” means the pages, cards, or other material containing the names of offices and candidates and the statements of measures to be voted on, which are placed on the voting device.

d. “Counting center” means one or more locations selected by each of the county boards of election for the automatic counting of ballots.

e. “Electronic voting system” means a system in which votes are recorded on ballot cards, and such votes are subsequently counted and tabulated by automatic tabulating equipment at one or more counting centers.

f. “Voting device” means an apparatus which the voter uses to record his votes on a tabulating card.

g. “County boards of elections” shall mean the county board of elections appointed in the various counties or the person or board in charge of elections in the various counties as provided in Title 19 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes.

19:53A-2 Use of electronic voting systems; prohibition of certain devices
a. The board of chosen freeholders of any county may adopt, acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, or abandon any electronic voting system or mechanical system authorized herein which has been approved for use in the State, in any election or primary or combination thereof, and may use such system in all or a part of the districts within its boundaries. The county authorities, on the adoption and acquisition of an electronic voting system, shall provide for the payment therefor in such manner as they deem for the best interest of the locality, in such manner as may be provided by law.

b. The provisions of this act shall be controlling with respect to elections where electronic voting systems are used, and shall be liberally construed so as to carry out the purpose and intent of this act. Any provisions of law relating to the conduct of elections which conflict with this act shall not apply to the conduct of elections with an approved electronic voting system.

c. Following the effective date of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-1 et al.), an electronic voting system that uses a voting device requiring the voter to punch out a hole in a ballot card or pull a mechanical lever as a means of recording the voter’s vote shall not be used in any election in any district within this State.

19:53A-3 Requirements for electronic voting systems; permanent paper record; waiver
Every electronic voting system, consisting of a voting device in combination with automatic tabulating equipment, acquired or used in accordance with this act, shall:

a. Provide for voting in secrecy, except in the case of voters who have received assistance as provided by law;

b. Permit each voter to vote at any election for all persons and offices for whom and for which he is lawfully entitled to vote; to vote for or against any question upon which he is entitled to vote; and the automatic tabulating equipment shall reject choices recorded on his ballot if the number of choices exceeds the number which he is entitled to vote for the office or on the measure;

c. Permit each voter, at presidential elections, by one mark to vote for the candidates of that party for president, vice president, and their presidential electors;

d. Permit each voter, at other than primary elections, to vote for the nominees of one or more parties and for independent candidates; and personal choice or write-in candidates;

e. Permit each voter in primary elections to vote for candidates in the party primary in which he is qualified to vote, and the automatic tabulating equipment shall reject any votes cast for candidates of another party;

f. Prevent the voter from voting for the same person more than once for the same office;

g. Be suitably designed for the purpose used, of durable construction, and may be used safely, efficiently, and accurately in the conduct of elections and counting ballots;

h. When properly operated, record correctly and count accurately every vote cast, including all overvotes or undervotes and all affirmative votes or negative votes on all public questions or referenda;

i. (1) By January 1, 2009, each voting machine shall produce an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast, which shall be made available for inspection and verification by the voter at the time the vote is cast, and preserved for later use in any manual audit. In the event of a recount of the results of an election, the voter-verified paper record shall be the official tally in that election. A waiver of the provisions of this subsection shall be granted by the Secretary of State if the technology to produce a permanent voter-verified paper record for each vote cast is not commercially available.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be suspended until: (i) the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer certify in writing that sufficient funds have been provided by the federal government and received by the State to offset the entire cost of ensuring that each voting machine used in this State produces an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast; or (ii) the annual appropriation act contains an appropriation of sufficient funds to ensure that each voting machine used in this State produces an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast and such appropriated funds have not been reserved by the Governor under a spending reduction plan; or (iii) the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer certify in writing that sufficient funds have been provided by the federal government and received by the State, and the annual appropriation act contains an appropriation of sufficient unreserved funds, to ensure, when such funds are combined, that each voting machine used in this State produces an individual paper record for each vote cast.

19:53A-3.1 Purchase or retrofit of voting machine to produce paper record; federal funding; reimbursement of county by state
Unless federal funding is made available to pay for the purchase or retrofit of a voting machine to produce a voter-verified paper record as required by P.L.2005, c.137 (C.19:53A-3.1 et al.), a county shall be reimbursed by the State for such costs upon application for reimbursement to the Attorney General and approval of the application by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution.

This provision shall be suspended until the conditions set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection b. of R.S.19:48-1 or paragraph (2) of subsection i. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.82 (C.19:53A-3) have been met.

19:53A-4. Approval
No voting device shall be used in an election in this State unless in combination with automatic tabulating equipment used to count and tabulate ballots it meets the requirements in section 3 of this act, and has been approved by the Secretary of State, or other person, agency or board charged with the examination and approval of voting machines. When such device has been approved, any improvement or change which does not impair its accuracy, efficiency, or ability to meet such requirements shall not require a reexamination or reapproval thereof.

19:53A-5 Ballots; labels, form; samples; write-ins
a. Ballot labels shall be in plain clear type in black, of such size and arrangement as to fit the construction of the voting device; they shall be on clear white material or on material of different colors to identify different ballots or parts of the ballot, and in primary elections to identify each political party.

b. The titles of offices and the names of candidates may be arranged in vertical columns or in a series of separate pages. The office title with a statement of the number of candidates to be voted for shall be printed above or at the side of the names of the candidates for that office. The names of candidates shall be in the order provided by law, and in general elections the party designation of each candidate, which may be abbreviated, and a slogan not to exceed six words may follow his or her name. In case there are more candidates for an office than can be arranged in one column or on one ballot page, the ballot label shall be clearly marked that the list of candidates is continued on the following column or page, and so far as possible, the same number of names shall be arranged on each column or page. Arrows may be used to indicate the place to vote for each candidate and on each measure.

c. The different parts of the ballot, such as partisan, nonpartisan, and measures, shall be prominently indicated on the ballot labels, and, if practicable, each part shall be placed on a separate page or pages. In the event that two or more elections are held on the same day, the ballot labels shall be clearly marked to indicate the ballot for each election, and, if practical, the ballot labels for each election shall be placed upon separate pages, and labels of a different color or tint may be used for each election.

d. Sample ballots, which shall be facsimile copies of the official ballot or ballot labels, shall be provided as required by law. At least three copies shall be posted in each polling place on election day. Sample ballots may be printed on a single sheet or on a number of pages stapled together.

e. In elections in which voters are authorized to vote for persons whose names do not appear on the ballot, at the discretion of the county board of elections either (1) a separate write-in ballot, which may be in the form of a paper ballot, card or envelope in which the voter places his or her ballot card after voting, shall be provided to permit voters to write in the title of the office and the name of the person or persons for whom he or she wishes to vote, or to attach a sticker of suitable size on which is printed the title of the office and the name of the person or persons for whom he or she wishes to vote; or (2) provisions shall be made for the voter to write the name of the person or persons for whom he or she wishes to vote on the ballot card in the location designated and to mark the ballot card in the location provided.

19:53A-6. Preparation for elections; ballot cards; secrecy while marking ballot
a. Prior to any election at which electronic voting devices are used the county board of elections shall have the voting devices prepared for the election and shall provide the district election officers with voting devices, voting booths, ballot boxes, ballot cards, “write-in” ballots and other records and supplies as required.

b. Ballot cards shall be of the size, design and stock suitable for processing by automatic data processing machines. Each ballot card shall have an attached numbered perforated stub, which shall be removed by an election officer before it is deposited in the ballot box. In primary elections the ballot cards of each political party shall be distinctly marked or shall be of a different color or tint so that the ballot cards of each political party are readily distinguishable.

c. Unless the voting device enables the voter to mark his choices in secret, the board of elections shall provide a sufficient number of voting booths for each voting district, which shall be of a size and design so as to enable the voter to mark his ballot in secret.

19:53A-7. Conduct of election
a. Thirty minutes before the opening of the polls the local district election officers shall arrive at the polling place, place the voting devices in position for voting, and examine them to see that they have the correct ballot labels by comparing them with the sample ballots, and are in proper working order. They shall open and check the ballot cards, supplies, records and forms, and post the sample ballots and instructions to voters.

b. Each voter requesting assistance shall be instructed how to operate the voting device before he enters the voting booth. If he needs additional instruction after entering the voting booth and requests assistance, two members of the district board who are not members of the same political party may if necessary enter the booth and give him additional instructions.

c. The district election official attending the voting machine shall inspect the face of the machine and the ballot at least once per hour to see that the face of the machine and the ballot are in their proper place and that neither has been mutilated, defaced, tampered with or changed and that the machine has not been changed.

d. After the voter has marked his ballot cards, he shall place the ballot card inside the envelope provided for this purpose and return it to the election officer, who shall remove the stub, place it on a file string, and deposit the envelope with the ballot card inside in the ballot box. No ballot card from which the stub has been detached shall be accepted by the election official in charge of the ballot box, but it shall be marked “Spoiled” and placed with the spoiled ballot cards.

e. Any voter who spoils his ballot card may return it enclosed in the envelope and secure another. The word “Spoiled” shall be written across the face of the envelope, which shall be placed on the same string with the stubs.

f. As soon as the polls have been closed and the last qualified voter has voted, all unused ballot cards shall be placed in a container and sealed for return to the board of elections. The ballot box shall be opened and any write-in votes counted, unless these votes are to be counted by duly appointed bipartisan tabulating teams at the counting center. Before write-in votes are counted they shall be compared with votes cast on the ballot card for the same office. If the voter has cast more votes for an office than he is entitled to vote for, the vote for that office shall be declared null and void and that vote shall not be counted for that office. Votes cast for duly nominated candidates on the ballot card will not be voided because of an invalid write-in vote, but if otherwise valid shall be counted. The voted ballot cards shall next be placed in the ballot card container for delivery to the counting center, and the voting devices shall be placed in their containers for returning to the county board of elections.

g. The district board election officers shall prepare a report of the number of voters who have voted, as indicated by the poll list, the number of write-in votes and any other votes counted by the district board and the number of spoiled ballots, and shall place the original copy of this report in the ballot card container for delivery to the counting center, which thereupon shall be sealed so that no additional ballot cards may be deposited or removed. Such container shall be durably constructed so as to be resistant to fire, water and tampering. The duplicate copy of said report shall be returned to the county election board with other records. Two district election board officers who are not members of the same political party shall forthwith deliver the ballot card container to the counting center or other place designated by the county board. The county board may, in its discretion, direct that ballots be delivered to one or more collection points from which points the ballots shall be transported collectively to the counting center by two duly appointed deputies who are not members of the same political party. The district board shall receive a receipt before releasing the ballots to said deputies.

19:53A-8. Count of ballots; test of automatic tabulating equipment; return; manual count

a. Prior to the start of the count of the ballots, each county board of elections shall have the automatic tabulating equipment tested to ascertain that it will accurately count the votes cast for all offices and on all measures. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given at least 48 hours prior thereto by publication once in three or more daily or weekly newspapers published in the county or jurisdiction where such equipment is used, if a newspaper is published therein, otherwise in a newspaper of general circulation therein; said newspapers shall be selected so as to give the widest possible notice to the voters of said county and one of said newspapers shall be the newspaper or one of the newspapers in which legal notices of the county are required to be published. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballot cards so punched as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each measure, and shall include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment to reject such votes. In such test a different number of valid votes shall be assigned to each candidate for an office, and for and against each measure. If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count shall be made and certified to by the county board of elections before the count is started. The tabulating equipment shall pass the same test at the conclusion of the count before the election returns are approved as official. On completion of the count, the programs, test materials, and ballot cards arranged by districts shall be sealed and retained as provided for paper ballots.

b. All proceedings at the counting center shall be under the direction of the county board of elections or persons designated by it; there shall always be two persons in charge who shall not be members of the same political party; and all proceedings shall be conducted under the observation of the public, but no persons except those authorized for the purpose shall touch any ballot card or return. All persons who are engaged in processing and counting of the ballots shall be deputized and take an oath that they will faithfully perform their assigned duties. If any ballot card is damaged or defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the automatic tabulating equipment, a true duplicate copy shall be made and substituted for the damaged ballot card. All duplicate ballot cards shall be clearly labeled “duplicate,” and shall bear a serial number which shall be recorded on the damaged or defective ballot card. The damaged or defective ballot card as well as the “duplicate” shall be preserved with the other ballot cards. During the count the election officer or board in charge may from time to time release unofficial returns. Upon completion of the count the official returns shall be open to the public.

c. The return of the automatic tabulating equipment, to which have been added the write-in and absentee votes, shall, after being duly certified by the county board of elections, constitute the official return of each election district.

d. If for any reason it becomes impracticable to count all or a part of the ballot cards with tabulating equipment, the county board of elections may direct that they be counted manually, following as far as practicable the provisions governing the counting of paper ballots contained in Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

19:53A-9 Absentee votes
Absentee votes may be cast on paper ballots or ballot cards, or both methods may be used, provided that, following the effective date of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-1 et al.), absentee votes shall not be cast in any election in this State by means of ballot cards that require the voter to punch out a hole in the card as a means of recording the voter’s vote.

Such ballots may be counted by automatic tabulating equipment or by special canvassing boards appointed by and under the direction of the county board of elections. A true copy of absentee paper ballots may be made on ballot cards, which after being duly verified, shall forthwith be counted in the same manner as other ballot cards, except that, following the effective date of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-1 et al.), ballot cards that require a hole to be punched out in the card to record a vote shall not be used in any election in this State. Such paper ballots and ballot cards shall be forthwith marked with corresponding numbers, which numbering shall be done in such manner as not to identify any voter and such marking shall not be considered to be a marked ballot. Such paper ballots and corresponding ballot cards shall both be preserved in the same manner as other ballot cards are required to be preserved hereunder.

19:53A-10. Effect of overvote or misvote
Any overvote or misvote for one or more offices shall not invalidate the entire ballot.

19:53A-11. Instruction of voters; model of device
For instructing the voters on any election day there shall, so far as practicable, be provided by the county board of elections or the superintendent of elections or the municipal clerk, as the case may be, having custody of voting devices, for each polling place a mechanically operated model of at least a portion of the face of the device. Such model, if furnished, shall, during the election, be located on the district election board’s table or in some other place which the voters must pass to reach the voting device, and each voter shall before entering the voting device booth or before voting, be instructed regarding the operation of the device and such instruction illustrated on the model, and the voter be given opportunity personally to operate the model. The voter’s attention shall also be directed to the fact of the device and he shall have the ballot explained as to the location of the public questions or referendum, the location of the officers and the names of all candidates to be voted for.

19:53A-12. Challengers
Challengers may be appointed in the same manner as provided in R.S. 19:7-1 et seq., for each counting center set up in each county and said challengers shall have the right to be present and represent the candidates or party appointing them during any time the counting center is open or operating whether for testing of equipment, programs, ballot cards or for counting the ballot cards or for any other purpose.

19:53A-13. Application of Title 19
The provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes except as herein modified shall be applicable to the use of electronic voting systems in elections as herein provided for.

19:53A-14. Recount
In case of a recount the ballot cards shall be recounted in the manner provided by section 8 of this act unless the court ordering the recount directs that they be counted manually.

19:53A-15 TTampering with or willfully injuring records or equipment or interference with conduct of election; penalty; application of penal and election laws
a. Any person who before, during or after an election tampers with or willfully injures any voting device, ballot cards, or other records or equipment used in the election, or interferes or attempts to interfere with the correct operation of such device or equipment or the secrecy of voting, is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

b. The penal laws and election laws relating to misconduct at elections apply to elections conducted with voting devices and automatic tabulating equipment.

Chapter 53B. Emergency Ballots

19:53B-1. Emergency ballot box; contents; form and number of ballots
a. The county clerk or the municipal clerk, in the case of a municipal election, shall prepare an emergency ballot box packet which shall include the appropriate number of emergency ballots, the appropriate number of pre-punched single-hole white envelopes, and two tally sheets, each with a carbon duplicate copy attached. The custodian of the voting machines shall prepare and place in each emergency ballot box an emergency ballot box packet and an envelope containing a numbered white seal and a numbered red seal. The envelope shall contain, on its face, the instructions for the use of the seals, the number and the election district location of the voting machine to which the ballot box is attached, and the identification numbers of the white and red seals that were placed in the envelope. The emergency ballot box shall be sealed with a numbered green security seal before being shipped to each election district as provided in R.S.19:48-6.

b. For the primary for the general election, the emergency ballots shall be printed on paper of a color that matches the color of the voting authority, which shall indicate the party primary of the voter. The emergency ballots shall be uniform in size, quality and type and of a thickness that the printing thereon cannot be distinguished from the back of the paper, and without any mark, device or figure on the front or back other than as provided in this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.).

The clerk of the county or municipality having custody of the emergency ballots shall prepare each emergency ballot package with a minimum of 30 emergency ballots for each political party. If the clerk determines, based upon the number of registered voters with party affiliations, that an election district shall require more than 30 emergency ballots per party primary, additional emergency ballots shall be delivered to that election district.

c. For the general election the emergency ballots shall be printed on paper of the color of the voting authority. The emergency ballots shall be uniform in size, quality and type and of a thickness that the printing thereon cannot be distinguished from the back of the paper, and without any mark, device or figure on the front or back other than as provided in this amendatory and supplementary act.

The clerk of the county or municipality shall prepare each emergency ballot package with a minimum of 30 emergency ballots. If the clerk determines that an election district shall require more than 30 emergency ballots based on the number of registered voters, additional emergency ballots shall be delivered to that election district.

19:53B-2. Distribution and use of emergency ballots; location; provision of pencils; instructions on use
a. The board shall not permit other emergency ballots to be used at an election except the emergency ballots which are provided for by this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.). It shall confine the distribution and use of the emergency ballots to the polling room and election district in the manner herein directed, and shall not distribute emergency ballots, other than official sample emergency ballots as herein provided, outside the polling place or election district.

b. The board shall not keep emergency ballots or pre-punched single-hole plain white envelopes to enclose emergency ballots cast during the election in a polling booth or, if a polling booth is unusable, in the area designated for voters to mark the emergency ballot.

c. The board shall cause each booth or voting area in a polling place to be kept provided with sufficient lead pencils to enable the voters to mark their emergency ballots.

d. The county board of elections shall prepare complete written instructions regarding the procedures for the use of the emergency ballot boxes for each district board member. The board members shall be orally instructed on the procedures for the use of emergency ballots at the training classes held for the board members.

19:53B-3. Failure of voting machine; use of emergency ballots; additional ballots
a. If for any cause a voting machine fails to operate, the district board shall use the supply of emergency ballots that are on hand at the opening of the polls. The mode and manner of voting the emergency ballots shall in all respects conform as nearly as possible to the mode and manner of voting herein described.

b. If for any reason emergency ballots shall not be ready or available for distribution at any polling place, or if the supply of emergency ballots shall be exhausted before the polls are closed, the district board member in charge shall notify the appropriate authority that additional ballots shall be required.

19:53B-4. Procedure for use of emergency ballot box
If it becomes necessary to use the emergency ballot box, and if the numbers on the green seal and the voting machine key envelope were identical when previously examined as provided in R.S.19:52-1, the judge of the district board shall remove the emergency ballots and the envelope containing the numbered white and red seals from the box; shall open the envelope, remove the seals, compare the numbers on the seals with those on the face of the envelope, and note on the envelope any discrepancies; shall place the red seal back in the envelope and return the envelope to the ballot box; and shall, in an open and public manner, exhibit the emergency ballot box so that those present may see that the box is now empty except for the envelope containing the numbered red seal. The judge shall close and re-seal the emergency ballot box with the numbered white seal removed from the envelope in the box, leaving open the aperture in the lid thereof.

If the numbers on the green seal and the voting machine key envelope were not identical when previously examined as provided in R.S.19:52-1 but the appropriate county board of elections, superintendent of elections, or municipal clerk, as the case may be, has authorized the use of the emergency ballot box, the emergency ballot box may be opened and handled in the manner prescribed above. If the appropriate county board, superintendent, or municipal clerk, as the case may be, has not yet authorized the use of the emergency ballot box, the appropriate county board, superintendent, or municipal clerk shall again be notified and the emergency ballot box shall not be opened until that county board, superintendent, or municipal clerk authorizes the use of the box.

19:53B-5. Voting procedure
After the district board ascertains that a voter is properly registered and qualified to vote, the member of the board charged with maintaining the signature copy register shall require the voter to sign the signature copy register and shall have the voter sign the part of the two-part perforated voting authority that shall remain bound in the pad. The member shall record the voting authority number in the proper column of the signature copy register, except that in a primary for the general election, the member shall also record the party primary in which the voter voted.

In the proper columns, the voter shall sign the reverse side of the signature copy register and the board member shall initial the signature of the voter.

After the voter signs the voting authority, the member of the board in charge of the signature copy register shall give the voter the unsigned portion of the two-part voting authority. The voter shall return that portion to the district election board member in charge of the operation of the voting machine at that time. The member shall place each authority in consecutive order on a string or wire prior to furnishing a voter with an emergency ballot and a plain white single-hole punched envelope.

No emergency ballot shall be handed to a voter until there is a polling booth ready for occupancy or, if a booth is unusable, the area designated for voters to mark the emergency ballot is ready. If a voting area is used, the voter shall be provided with a privacy screen at the same time that the emergency ballot is provided.

The inspector shall instruct the voter how to place the voted emergency ballot into the pre-punched single-hole plain white envelope.

19:53B-6 Preparation of emergency ballot by voter in private; violations
Every voter to whom an emergency ballot is given shall retire into the polling booth or to the designated voting area, as the case may be. Not more than one voter shall be permitted to enter or be in the same booth or voting area at one time. The voter shall prepare the emergency ballot in the booth or the voting area screened from the observation of others.

Any person or voter who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:53B-7. Marking of emergency ballot by voter
To vote for a candidate whose name is printed in any column, the voter shall mark a cross x, plus + or check / in the square provided for the name of each candidate in any column for whom the voter chooses to vote.

To vote upon the public questions printed on the emergency ballot, the voter shall indicate the choice of the voter by marking a cross x, plus + or check / in the square provided for either the word “Yes” or “No” of each public question.

19:53B-8. Write-in candidates
Nothing in this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.) shall prevent any voter from writing or pasting within the proper title of office in the column designated personal choice, the name or names of any person or persons for whom the voter desires to vote whose name or names are not printed upon the emergency ballot for the same office. The voter shall mark a cross x , plus + or check in the square provided for such name. The writing shall be in ink or pencil.

19:53B-9. Emergency ballots spoiled or unfit for use
If any voter to whom any official emergency ballot has been handed spoils or renders the same unfit for use, the voter shall return the emergency ballot and the pre-punched single-hole plain white envelope to a district board member. The voter shall be furnished with another emergency ballot and envelope. No more than two official emergency ballots shall be furnished to a voter, except at the discretion of the board members.

The district board members shall preserve each spoiled emergency ballot and place that ballot in the pre-punched single-hole plain white envelope and the district board member shall write “SPOILED” across both the front and back of the envelope. On the “SPOILED” white envelope each district board member shall sign and date the signature of the member. Immediately thereafter, the “SPOILED” white envelope shall be sealed and placed in the emergency ballot box.

19:53B-10. Placement of completed emergency ballot in sealed envelope; custody
After voting the emergency ballot and before leaving the polling booth or the designated voting area, as the case may be, the voter shall place the voted emergency ballot in the pre-punched single-hole plain white envelope. The voter shall seal the envelope and shall retain custody of the envelope until the member of the board having charge of the voting machine at that time is ready to accept the envelope.

19:53B-11. Deposit of emergency ballot in box
The voter shall hand the sealed envelope to the member of the election board having charge of the voting machine. The member shall keep the sealed white envelope in full view of the voter, the other district board members and all other persons present until it is deposited in the ballot box. The voter may also take hold of the envelope, with that member of the board, until the emergency ballot is deposited into the emergency ballot box.

19:53B-12 Right to challenge voter; duration
The right to challenge a voter who uses the emergency ballot shall exist until the emergency ballot is deposited in the emergency ballot box. If the right of a person to vote is challenged, the same procedures shall be used as prescribed when the right of a person to cast a vote on an electronic voting machine is challenged.

19:53B-13. Canvassing procedure
In canvassing the emergency ballots, the district board shall count the votes as follows:

a. If proper marks are made in the squares provided for the names of any candidates in any column and the total number voted for, for each office, does not exceed the number of candidates to be elected to each office, a vote shall be counted for each candidate so marked.

b. If proper marks are made in the squares provided for any names of any candidates in any column, a vote shall be counted for each candidate so marked; but if the district board canvassing the emergency ballots, or the county board, judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting a recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of the marks to the left and right of the names was intended to identify or distinguish the emergency ballot, then the emergency ballot shall not be counted and shall be declared null and void.

c. If no marks are made in the squares provided for the names of any candidates in any column, but are made to the right of the names, a vote shall not be counted for the candidates so marked, but shall be counted for the other candidates as are properly marked; but if the district board canvassing the emergency ballot, or the county board, judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting a recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of the marks to the right of the names was intended to identify or distinguish the emergency ballot, the emergency ballot shall be declared null and void.

d. Where the name of any person is written in the column designated personal choice, and a cross x, plus + or check / appears in the square provided for the name, it shall be counted as a vote for that person.

e. In the case of any public question printed on the emergency ballot where a proper mark is made in the square provided for the word “Yes,” it shall be counted as a vote in favor of that public question. If a proper mark is made in the square provided for the word “No,” it shall be counted as a vote against same. If no mark is made in the square provided for either the word “Yes” or “No,” it shall not be counted as a vote either in favor of or against the public question. If a mark is made in each of the squares provided for both the words “Yes” and “No,” it shall not be counted either as a vote in favor of or against the public question nor shall it invalidate the emergency ballot.

f. If a voter marks more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or writes the name of any person in the column designated personal choice, whose name is printed upon the emergency ballot as a candidate under the same title of office, or the choice of the voter cannot be determined, that emergency ballot shall not be counted for that office, but shall be counted for those other offices as are properly marked.

g. If the mark made for any candidate or public question is substantially a cross x, plus + or check / and is substantially within the square, it shall be counted for the candidate or for or against the public question, as the case may be. No vote shall be counted for any candidate in any column or for or against any public question unless the mark made is substantially a cross x, plus + or check / and is substantially within the square.

19:53B-14. Void or invalid emergency ballots
In counting the emergency ballots, the board shall deem void all emergency ballots which are wholly blank, or on which more names have been marked for every office than there are persons to be elected to the office, and on which both “Yes” and “No” have been marked upon every public question.

No emergency ballot which shall have, either on its face or back, any mark, sign, erasure, designation or device whatsoever, other than that which is permitted by this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.), by which the emergency ballot shall be distinguished from another emergency ballot shall be declared void unless the district board canvassing those emergency ballots, or the county board, judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting the recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of the mark, sign, erasure, designation or device upon the emergency ballot was intended to identify or distinguish the emergency ballot.

No emergency ballot shall be declared invalid by reason of the fact that the mark made with ink or the mark made with lead pencil appears other than black.

No emergency ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the fact that the name of that candidate may be misprinted, or the Christian name or the initials of the candidate may be omitted.

No emergency ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the use of any label permitted by this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-1 et al.) on which the title of office may be printed or the name of the candidate may be misprinted or part of the Christian name or surname or the initials of the candidate may be omitted, or because the voter in writing the name of the candidate may misspell the name or omit part of the Christian name or surname or the initials of the candidate.

No emergency ballot shall be declared void or invalid, by reason of having a cross x, plus + or check / appearing in a square provided for a blank space, or a space wherein no name is printed.

19:53B-15. Processing of void or invalid emergency ballots
In every case in which an emergency ballot shall be declared invalid, the same, which shall be enclosed in a pre-punched single-hole plain white envelope shall not be canvassed or counted, but shall be marked “VOID” on the outside thereof, and shall be numbered and placed in proper order on the string or wire with the valid ballots as provided in section 26 of this amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1992, c.3 (C.19:53B-17).

Emergency ballots which shall be declared invalid with respect to a part of the candidates to be voted for or public questions to be voted upon shall be canvassed, estimated and numbered with respect to the part which is not invalid and preserved as other emergency ballots and placed in their proper order on the string or wire with the valid ballots.

19:53B-16. Decisions of district board deemed final; dissents
The decision of a majority of the district board on any question shall be deemed the decision of the board and final. If any member of the board dissents from any decision and wishes to make the dissension known to avoid any of the consequences which may result from that decision, the member may record the dissent in the signature copy register. The member shall sign the signature copy register to record the dissent. If the member fails to sign the signature copy register, the member shall be deemed to have assented to the decision so made.

19:53B-17. Counting of emergency ballots
The district board members, in the actual procedure of counting the emergency ballots, shall break the seal and open the emergency ballot box. The emergency ballots shall be taken singly and separately therefrom by the judge of the election board. Ballot envelopes marked “SPOILED” shall be set aside and remain unopened, and at the conclusion of counting the emergency ballots shall be placed on the string or wire after all other ballots. The outside front of each envelope which contains a voted emergency ballot shall be numbered in consecutive order beginning with the number one. This number shall be circled. While each emergency ballot shall remain in the hands of the judge, the judge shall audibly and publicly read the ballot in full view of the other members of the district board, including the inspector of the district election board. The inspector shall verify that each emergency ballot is being correctly read by the judge. The remaining members of the district election board shall record the votes on the tally sheets, as provided. The district board members shall also record the number of void ballots on the tally sheets, as provided.

After the reading of an emergency ballot, including a ballot determined to be void, and before taking another emergency ballot from the box, the judge shall deliver the ballot to the inspector, who shall write on the back thereof the number of the emergency ballot in consecutive order beginning with the number one, in the order in which the same shall have been taken from the box; and shall string the envelope that contains the emergency ballot as one ticket in the order in which the envelope was taken from the box and numbered, on the string or wire to be provided for that purpose.

The outside front of each envelope that contains a voided emergency ballot shall have the word “VOID” written next to the circled number.

After all the envelopes which contain the emergency ballots cast in one election district have been tallied and strung, the envelopes shall be returned to the ballot box. All unused emergency ballots and pre-punched single-hole plain white envelopes shall also be placed in the emergency ballot box.

19:53B-18. Tallying of votes
a. The clerks of the board shall, upon the tally sheets provided for that purpose, make a list of the names of all persons for whom one or more votes shall have been given, designating the office which that person shall be voted for, and of any public questions voted upon; and as each emergency ballot shall be read, the members shall write the figure “1” opposite the name of each person whose name is contained thereon, as designated for any office, or in the proper column designating the vote upon the public question.

b. When all the votes which were cast have been read, examined, numbered and strung, as directed, the board shall tally the votes given for each person for any office to be filled at the election or any public question and note the same upon the tally sheets. The tally sheets shall be signed by all the members of the district board. One of the tally sheets shall be placed in the emergency ballot box and the emergency ballot box shall be sealed with the remaining numbered red seal. The other tally sheet shall be filed with the county clerk at the same time the statements of results are delivered.

19:53B-19. Recording of emergency ballot tally
When the machine tally is completed, the district board members shall record the results of the emergency ballot tally, if any ballots were voted, on the statement of canvass in the section provided and shall add the emergency ballot tally to the machine tally.

19:53B-20. Custody and preservation of emergency ballots
When district board members have processed both voted and non-voted emergency ballots, the ballots shall remain sealed within the box for a period of 15 calendar days, which shall begin on the first business day after the day of the election, except that if a judge of the Superior Court issues a court order to open the box within the 15-day period, the box shall be opened.

On the first business day after the 15-day period, the custodian of the voting machines shall break the numbered security seals and the emergency ballot boxes shall be opened. All voted emergency ballots located within an emergency ballot box shall be removed from the box and shall be placed in a container or an envelope and sealed. The front of each container or envelope shall contain the number of the voting machine, the name of the municipality and the ward or district number where the machine was located during the election. The commissioner of registration shall preserve the containers or envelopes and the contents of the containers or envelopes for a period of two years from the date that the election occurred.

19:53B-21 Post-election list of emergency ballots; government record
Within 15 calendar days after an election or three days after the certification of the results of that election, whichever occurs later, the county board of election in each county shall prepare a report which lists by election district, and includes a county wide total by category for, the number of emergency ballots, including any spoiled, void, or invalid emergency ballots, used in the election. The report shall be a government record that is available for public inspection and copying pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.).

Chapter 53C. Provisional Ballots

19:53C-1 Provisional ballot packet
a. (1) The county clerk or the municipal clerk, in the case of a municipal election, shall arrange for the preparation of a provisional ballot packet for each election district. It shall include the appropriate number of provisional ballots, the appropriate number of envelopes with an affirmation statement, the appropriate number of written notices to be distributed to voters who vote by provisional ballot and one provisional ballot inventory form affixed to the provisional ballot bag. The clerk shall arrange for the preparation of and placement in each provisional ballot bag of a provisional ballot packet and an envelope containing a numbered seal. The envelope shall contain, on its face, the instructions for the use of the seal, the number and the election district location of the provisional ballot bag, and the identification numbers of the seal placed in the envelope. Each provisional ballot bag shall be sealed with a numbered security seal before being forwarded to the appropriate election district.

(2) Each provisional ballot bag and the inventory of the contents of each such bag shall be delivered to the designated polling place no later than the opening of the polls on the day of an election.

b. The county clerk or the municipal clerk, in the case of a municipal election, shall arrange for the preparation of the envelope, affirmation statement, and written notice that is to accompany each provisional ballot. The envelope shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the provisional ballot, and the affirmation statement shall be affixed thereto in a manner that enables it to be detached once completed and verified by the county commissioner of registration. The statement shall require the voter to provide the voter’s name, and to indicate whether the voter is registered to vote in a county but has moved within that county since registering to vote; or is registered to vote in the election district in which that polling place is located but the voter’s registration information is missing or otherwise deficient; or indicate the voter has applied for a mail-in ballot and not received either the ballot or an explanation for not receiving such a ballot pursuant to notification by the county clerk or from the free-access system, or has applied for and received a mail-in ballot and has not transmitted it to the county board of elections or given it to a bearer for delivery to the county board before the time for the opening of the polls on the day of an election but wants, nevertheless, to vote in the election. The statement shall further require the voter to provide the voter’s most recent prior voter registration address and address on the day of the election and date of birth. The statement shall include the statement: “I swear or affirm, that the foregoing statements made by me are true and correct and that I understand that any fraudulent voting may subject me to a fine of up to $15,000, imprisonment up to five years or both, pursuant to R.S.19:34-11.” It shall be followed immediately by spaces for the voter’s signature and printed name, and in the case of a name change, the voter’s printed old and new name and a signature for each name, the date the statement was completed, political party affiliation, if used in a primary election, and the name of the person providing assistance to the voter, if applicable. Each statement shall also note the number of the election district, or ward, and name of the municipality at which the statement will be used. The Secretary of State shall prepare for inclusion in the affirmation statement language for the voter to submit the information required in the registration form described in section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4) in order to enable the county commissioner of registration to process the statement as a voter registration application, which shall be valid for future elections if the individual who submitted the provisional ballot is determined not to be a registered voter. The Secretary of State shall also prepare and shall provide language for any written instructions necessary to assure proper completion of the statement.

The written notice shall contain information to be distributed to each voter who votes by provisional ballot. The notice shall state that, if the voter is a mail-in registrant voting for the first time in his or her current county of residence following registration and was given a provisional ballot because he or she did not provide required personal identification information, the voter shall be given until the close of business on the second day after the election to provide identification to the applicable county commissioner of registration, and the notice shall contain a telephone number at which the commissioner may be contacted. The notice shall further state that failure to provide the required personal identification information within that time period shall result in the rejection of the ballot. The notice shall state that pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-4), any individual who casts a provisional ballot will be able to ascertain under a system established by the State whether the ballot was accepted for counting, and if the vote was not counted, the reason for the rejection of the ballot. The notice shall include instructions on how to access such information.

c. For the primary for the general election, the provisional ballots shall be printed in ink on paper of a color that matches the color of the voting authority, which shall indicate the party primary of the voter. The provisional ballots shall be uniform in size, quality and type and of a thickness that the printing thereon cannot be distinguished from the back of the paper, and without any mark, device or figure on the front or back other than as provided in P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et seq.). Each such ballot shall include near the top thereof and in large type the designation PROVISIONAL BALLOT. In all other respects, the provisional ballots shall conform generally to the other ballots to be used in the election district for the primary election.

The clerk of the county or municipality shall arrange for the preparation of each provisional ballot package with an appropriate number of provisional ballots for each political party, a corresponding number of envelopes with affirmation statements, and a corresponding number of written notices. Additional provisional ballots, envelopes, and notices shall be available for delivery to that election district on the day of the election, if necessary.

d. For the general election the provisional ballots shall be printed in ink. The provisional ballots shall be uniform in size, quality and type and of a thickness that the printing thereon cannot be distinguished from the back of the paper, and without any mark, device or figure on the front or back other than as provided in this act. Each such ballot shall include near the top thereof and in large type the designation PROVISIONAL BALLOT. In all other respects, the provisional ballots shall conform generally to the other ballots to be used in the election district for the general election.

The clerk of the county or municipality shall arrange for the preparation of each provisional ballot package with an appropriate number of provisional ballots, a corresponding number of envelopes with affirmation statements, and a corresponding number of written notices. Additional provisional ballots, envelopes, and notices shall be available for delivery to that election district on the day of the election, if necessary.

e. For a school election the provisional ballots shall be printed in ink. The provisional ballots shall be uniform in size, quality and type and of a thickness that the printing thereon cannot be distinguished from the back of the paper, and without any mark, device or figure on the front or back other than as provided in this act. Each such ballot shall include near the top thereof and in large type the designation PROVISIONAL BALLOT. In all other respects, the provisional ballots shall conform generally to the other ballots to be used in the election district for the school election.

The clerk of the county shall arrange for the preparation of each provisional ballot package with an appropriate number of provisional ballots, a corresponding number of envelopes with affirmation statements, and a corresponding number of written notices. Additional provisional ballots, envelopes, and notices shall be available for delivery to that election district on the day of the election, if necessary.

f. Following the effective date of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-1 et al.), a provisional ballot that requires the voter to punch out a hole in the ballot as a means of recording the voter’s vote shall not be used in any election in this State.

g. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2011, c.134).

19:53C-2. Certain provisional ballots to be used at elections
a. The district board shall not permit other provisional ballots to be used at an election except those provisional ballots provided for by P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.). It shall confine the distribution and use of the provisional ballots to the polling place and election district in the manner herein directed, and shall not distribute provisional ballots outside the polling place or election district.

b. The board shall not store provisional ballots or envelopes with affirmation statements in a polling booth or in any other area designated for voters to mark the provisional ballot and complete the affirmation statement.

c. The board shall cause each booth or voting area in a polling place to be kept provided with sufficient pens or lead pencils to enable the voters to mark their provisional ballots and complete the affirmation statement.

d. The county board of elections shall arrange for the preparation of complete written instructions regarding the procedures for the use of the provisional ballot bags for each district board member. The board members shall be orally instructed on the procedures for the use of provisional ballots and affirmation statements at the training classes held for the board members.

19:53C-3 Certain voters to be queried; circumstances
Whenever a voter enters a polling place to vote on the day of an election and the circumstance of that voter matches the circumstance of a voter described in subsection b. of R.S.19:31-11, the district board shall query the voter and follow the appropriate procedure herein described.

a. If, at any time, the voter has moved from one residence to another in the same election district, the board shall permit the voter to vote at that polling place in the same manner as other voters at the polling place upon written affirmation by the voter to the district board.

b. If the voter has moved within a municipality but currently resides in an election district different from that listed for the voter by the commissioner of registration, the district board shall direct the voter to the appropriate election district and polling place for the voter and inform that person that: (1) the person must go to that polling place to vote; and (2) the person will be permitted to vote thereat by provisional ballot after completing an affirmation statement.

c. If the voter has moved within the county but currently resides in a municipality different from that listed for the voter by the commissioner of registration, the district board shall determine the appropriate election district and polling place for the voter and inform that person that: (1) the person must go to that polling place to vote; and (2) the person will be permitted to vote thereat by provisional ballot after completing an affirmation statement.

d. If, on or before the 21st day prior to the day of the election, the voter has moved into the county from another county or state and has not registered to vote in that county, the board shall inform the voter that he is not eligible to vote in that county at that election.

e. If, after the 21st day prior to the day of an election, the voter has moved into the county from another county in this State, the board shall inform the voter that: (1) the voter is not eligible to vote in the county where he resides currently at that election; and (2) the voter may be eligible to vote in the election district where the voter resided prior to moving to the voter’s current residence.

f. If the voter’s registration information has been marked by the county commissioner of registration to indicate a problem therewith, or if the voter’s sample ballot has been returned as undeliverable to the county or municipal clerk, as the case may be, but the voter states that the voter has not moved prior to the day of an election, but instead continues to reside at the same address the voter resided at when voting previously, the voter shall be permitted to vote in such election district in the same manner as other voters at the polling place upon written affirmation to the district board of that election district.

g. If the voter’s registration information is missing, the voter shall be permitted to vote by provisional ballot after completing the affirmation statement attached to the envelope provided with the provisional ballot.

h. In accordance with the requirements of subsection (c) of section 302 of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C.s.15482), whenever a voter is voting as a result of a federal or State court order or any other order extending the time established for closing the polls in effect 10 days before the date of an election, the voter may vote only by provisional ballot. Any such ballot shall be separated by the county board from other provisional ballots cast at the election and the results shall be canvassed and recorded separately in the official canvas for the election.

i. Any person who, pursuant to subsection b. of R.S.19:15-17, votes by provisional ballot at the polling place because of his or her failure to provide required personal identification information shall be given until the close of business on the second day after the election to provide the applicable county commissioner of registration with the identification information. Failure to provide the required personal identification information within that time period shall result in the rejection of the ballot.

j. If the voter (1) has applied for a mail-in ballot and not received either the ballot or an explanation for not receiving such a ballot pursuant to notification by the county clerk or from the free-access system established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-5) to provide such information; or (2) has applied for and received a mail-in ballot and has not transmitted it to the county board of elections or given it to a bearer for delivery to the county board before the time for the opening of the polls on the day of an election, the voter shall be permitted to vote at that election by provisional ballot after completing the affirmation statement attached to the envelope provided with the provisional ballot.

19:53C-4. Area designated as voting booth
The district board shall designate an area within the polling place, which may be a voting booth, for the voter to mark the provisional ballot and affirmation statement. No provisional ballot and envelope with an affirmation statement shall be handed to a voter until the area designated for voters to mark the provisional ballot and affirmation statement is ready. If a voting booth is not used, the voter shall be provided with a security screen at the same time that the provisional ballot and envelope with affirmation statement is provided.

A district board member shall instruct the voter how to complete the affirmation statement and place the voted provisional ballot into the envelope.

If for any reason provisional ballots and envelopes with affirmation statements are not ready or available for distribution at any polling place, the district board member in charge shall notify the appropriate authority that additional ballots and affirmation statements are required.

19:53C-5 Entrance into designated voting area; violation and criminal penalty
Every voter to whom a provisional ballot and envelope with an affirmation statement is given shall retire into the designated voting area. Not more than one voter shall be permitted to enter or be in the same booth or voting area at one time, unless the voter is entitled to assistance, as provided for by law.

Any person or voter who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

19:53C-6. Completion of affirmation statement
Prior to voting the provisional ballot or immediately thereafter, the voter shall complete the affirmation statement attached to the provisional ballot envelope. The statement shall conform with the requirements for such a statement contained in paragraph b. of section 7 of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1).

At no time when in possession of the provisional ballot with attached affirmation statement shall the voter detach the statement from the ballot envelope.

19:53C-7 Voting; acceptable markings
To vote for a candidate whose name is printed in any column, or to vote in favor of or against any public question printed on the provisional ballot, the voter shall:

a. Mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square provided for the name of each candidate in any column for whom the voter chooses to vote, or for a public question, make the same marking in the square provided for either the word “Yes” or “No” of each public question, if the ballot requires such designation to be considered valid;

b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.88);

c. Complete the connecting line adjacent to the name of each candidate in any column for whom the voter chooses to vote, or for a public question, complete the connecting line adjacent to either the word “Yes” or “No” of each public question, if the ballot requires such designation to be considered valid; or

d. Fill in the designated space adjacent to the name of the candidate for whom the voter chooses to vote, or for a public question, fill in the designated space adjacent to either the word “Yes” or “No” of each public question, if the ballot requires such a designation to be considered valid.

19:53C-8. Writing or pasting; requirements
Nothing in P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.) shall prevent any voter from writing or pasting within the proper title of office in the column designated personal choice, the name or names of any person or persons for whom the voter desires to vote whose name or names are not printed upon the provisional ballot for the same office. The writing shall be in ink or lead pencil, as may be required.

19:53C-9. Spoiled ballots
If any voter to whom a provisional ballot and envelope with an affirmation statement has been handed spoils or renders any of the same unfit for use, the voter shall return the ballot and the envelope with affirmation statement to a district board member. The voter shall be furnished with another provisional ballot and envelope with affirmation statement. No more than two provisional ballots and envelopes with affirmation statements shall be furnished to a voter, except at the discretion of the board members.

The district board shall preserve each spoiled provisional ballot and envelope with an affirmation statement and shall write “SPOILED” across the envelope and initial the same. Immediately thereafter, the “SPOILED” envelope shall be sealed and placed in the provisional ballot bag.

19:53C-10 Placement of ballot and statement in envelope
a. After voting the provisional ballot and completing the affirmation statement, and before leaving the polling booth or the designated voting area, as the case may be, the voter shall place the voted provisional ballot in the envelope. The voter shall seal the envelope and shall retain custody of the envelope until a member of the board is ready to accept the envelope.

b. The voter shall hand the sealed envelope to the member of the district board. The member shall keep the sealed envelope in full view of the voter, the other district board members and all other persons present until it is placed in the provisional ballot bag. The voter may also take hold of the envelope, with that member of the board, until the envelope is placed in the provisional ballot bag. The security of the provisional ballot bag and its contents while any election occurs shall be the responsibility of the members of the district board. After placing the envelope in the provisional ballot bag, the member of the district board shall hand to the voter the written notice of instructions on how the voter may access information regarding whether the ballot of the individual is accepted for counting, and if the vote is not counted, the reason for the rejection of the ballot, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-4).

19:53C-11. Inventory of ballots
Immediately following the closing of the polls on the day of an election, the members of the district board shall inventory the provisional ballots. All invalid provisional ballots placed in envelopes and marked “SPOILED” shall be counted and the number of those envelopes shall be recorded on the provisional ballot inventory form provided with the provisional ballot bag. All provisional ballots that have been voted, not used or found to be missing shall next be recorded on the provisional ballot inventory form. Upon the completion of the inventory of all provisional ballots, and if the members of the district board agree on that inventory, the provisional ballot inventory form shall be signed by those members. Any member not in agreement shall give the reason therefor on the form and so certify with the member’s signature. All envelopes marked “SPOILED”, and all voted and not voted provisional ballots, shall be placed in the provisional ballot bag and sealed with the numbered seal taken from the envelope provided with that bag.

19:53C-12. Transport of sealed ballots
Immediately following the sealing of the provisional ballot bag at a polling place on the day of any election, a member of the district board shall transport the ballot bag and all other election materials to a location designated by the commissioner of registration.

19:53C-13 Opening of ballot bag; verification process; count and canvass of votes
When the office of the commissioner of registration receives a provisional ballot bag that has been found to be in good order, the commissioner thereof shall first break the seal and open the bag. In any county where the superintendent of elections is the commissioner of registration, the county board of elections may sort the provisional ballots if so agreed to in advance by both the superintendent and the board. Envelopes marked “SPOILED” shall be set aside and remain unopened. The name, signature and other information contained on the form as supplied by a voter shall be compared with the name, signature and other information that the commissioner of registration has in the Statewide voter registration system for that voter. No affirmation statement shall be separated from a provisional ballot envelope until all affirmation statements have been reviewed by the commissioner of registration. After a comparison of the voter’s address is completed by the commissioner of registration and prior to separating the affirmation statement from the envelope and counting the ballot, the letter “p” shall be placed adjacent to the voter’s name in the Statewide voter registration system and on the signature copy register together with the name of the municipality in which the voter voted the provisional ballot. If two provisional ballots from the same voter are received, both such ballots shall not be counted, the affirmation statements shall not be separated from the envelopes, and the ballots shall be put aside for further investigation.

Whenever the address supplied by the voter on the affirmation statement does not match the address for such a person contained in the Statewide voter registration system, but it is clear that the circumstance of a voter matches the circumstance of a voter described in subsection b. of R.S.19:31-11, the updated information on the affirmation statement shall be recorded and shall constitute a transfer by the voter to a new address for any subsequent election.

After the examination of the affirmation statement by the commissioner of registration, the county board of elections shall determine if a provisional ballot voter is legally entitled to have voted and if a provisional ballot conforms to the requirements established by law.

The members of the county board shall then proceed to count and canvass the votes cast on each provisional ballot only after all of the provisional ballots cast in the county have been subjected to the verification process by the county commissioner of registration. Immediately after the canvass is complete, the county board of elections shall certify the results of the canvass to the county clerk or municipal clerk or other appropriate officials, as the case may be, showing the results of the canvass by municipality.

The outside front of each envelope that contains a voided provisional ballot shall have the word “VOID” written next to the circled number.

Unless provided otherwise by this section, all provisional ballot materials shall be processed by the county board of elections in accordance with the procedures established for absentee ballots pursuant to section 31 of P.L.1953, c.211 (C.19:57-31).

19:53C-14. Counting of votes
In canvassing the provisional ballots, the county board shall count the votes as follows:

a. If proper marks are made in the squares provided for the names of any candidates in any column and the total number voted for, for each office, does not exceed the number of candidates to be elected to each office, a vote shall be counted for each candidate so marked.

b. If proper marks are made in the squares provided for any names of any candidates in any column, a vote shall be counted for each candidate so marked; but if the county board canvassing the provisional ballots or the judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting a recount thereof, shall be satisfied that the placing of the marks to the left or right of the names was intended to identify or distinguish the provisional ballot, then that ballot shall not be counted and shall be declared null and void.

c. If no marks are made in the squares provided for the names of any candidates in any column, but are made to the right of the names, a vote shall not be counted for the candidates so marked, but shall be counted for the other candidates as are properly marked; but if the county board canvassing the provisional ballot or the judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting a recount thereof shall be satisfied that the placing of the marks to the right of the names was intended to identify or distinguish the provisional ballot, then that ballot shall be declared null and void.

d. Where the name of any person is written in the column designated personal choice, and the proper mark or designation appears in the space provided for the name, it shall be counted as a vote for that person.

e. In the case of any public question printed on the provisional ballot where a proper mark or designation is made in the space provided for the word “Yes,” it shall be counted as a vote in favor of that public question. If a proper mark or designation is made in the space provided for the word “No,” it shall be counted as a vote against same. If no mark or designation is made in the space provided for either the word “Yes” or “No,” it shall not be counted as a vote either in favor of or against the public question. If a mark or designation is made in each of the spaces provided for both the words “Yes” and “No,” it shall not be counted either as a vote in favor of or against the public question nor shall it invalidate the provisional ballot.

f. If a voter marks or designates more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or writes the name of any person in the column designated personal choice, whose name is printed upon the provisional ballot as a candidate under the same title of office, or the choice of the voter cannot be determined, that provisional ballot shall not be counted for that office, but shall be counted for those other offices as are properly marked.

g. If the mark made for any candidate or public question is substantially a cross x, plus + or check and is substantially within the square, it shall be counted for the candidate or for or against the public question, as the case may be. No vote shall be counted for any candidate in any column or for or against any public question unless the mark or designation made is substantially a cross x, plus + or check or other required designation and is substantially within the space.

19:53C-15. Void ballots
In counting the provisional ballots, the board shall deem void all provisional ballots which are wholly blank, or on which more names have been marked or designated for every office than there are persons to be elected to the office, and on which both “Yes” and “No” have been marked or designated upon every public question.

No provisional ballot which shall have, either on its face or back, any mark, sign, erasure, designation or device whatsoever, other than that which is permitted by P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.), by which the provisional ballot shall be distinguished from another provisional ballot shall be declared void unless the county board canvassing those provisional ballots or the judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting the recount thereof shall be satisfied that the placing of the mark, sign, erasure, designation or device upon the provisional ballot was not intended to identify or distinguish that ballot.

No provisional ballot shall be declared invalid by reason of the fact that the mark made with ink or the mark made with lead pencil appears other than black.

No provisional ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the fact that the name of that candidate may be misprinted, or the given name or the initials of the candidate may be omitted.

No provisional ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the use of any label permitted by P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.) on which the title of office may be printed or the name of the candidate may be misprinted or part of the given name or surname or the initials of the candidate may be omitted, or because the voter in writing the name of the candidate may misspell the name or omit part of the given name or surname or the initials of the candidate.

No provisional ballot shall be declared “REJECTED” or invalid by reason of having a cross x, plus + or check appearing in a square provided for a blank space or a space wherein no name is printed.

19:53C-16. Invalid ballots
In every case in which a provisional ballot shall be declared invalid, the ballot, which shall be enclosed in a envelope, shall not be canvassed or counted, but shall be marked “REJECTED” on the outside thereof.

Provisional ballots which shall be declared invalid with respect to a part of the candidates to be voted for or public questions to be voted upon shall be canvassed, estimated and numbered with respect to the part which is not invalid and preserved by the county board for a period of not less than six months.

19:53C-17. Vote by voter from another district
If, for any reason, a provisional ballot voter votes a ballot other than the ballot for the district in which the voter is qualified to vote, the votes for those offices and questions for which the voter would be otherwise qualified to vote shall be counted. All other votes shall be void.

19:53C-18. Decision of a majority of the county board to be final
The decision of a majority of the county board on any question concerning a provisional ballot matter shall be deemed the decision of the board and final. If any member of the board dissents from any decision and wishes to make the dissension known to avoid any of the consequences which may result from that decision, the member may record the dissent in the signature copy register, if it is available, or in a note signed and dated. If the dissent is in the form of a note, it shall be appended to or recorded on the signature copy register afterwards by the superintendent of elections or the commissioner of registration, as shall be appropriate.

19:53C-19. Tally sheets
a. The clerk of the board shall, upon the tally sheets provided for that purpose, make a list of the names of all persons for whom one or more votes shall have been given, designating the office which that person shall be voted for, and of any public questions voted upon; and as each provisional ballot shall be read, the clerk shall write the figure “1” opposite the name of each person whose name is contained thereon, as designated for any office, or in the proper column designating the vote upon the public question. Provisional ballots may be counted by electronic ballot scanning equipment under the direction of the county board of elections.

b. When all the votes which were cast have been read, examined and numbered, as directed, the board shall tally the votes given for each person for any office to be filled at the election or any public question and note the same upon the tally sheets. The tally sheets shall be signed by all the members of the county board and the results thereof shall be certified.

19:53C-20. Receipt of tally sheet by county clerk
Upon the receipt of a certified tally sheet from the county board, the county clerk shall add the votes contained thereon to the total vote for all candidates and in favor of or against all public questions cast at the polling place from which the tally sheet originated. The clerk shall report to the municipal clerks the results of the tally sheets by municipality, ward and election district.

19:53C-21 Post-election list of provisional ballots; government record
Within 15 calendar days after an election or three days after the certification of the results of that election, whichever occurs later, the county board of election in each county shall prepare a report which lists by election district, and includes a county wide total by category for, the number of provisional ballots, including any spoiled, void, or invalid provisional ballots, used in the election. The report shall be a government record that is available for public inspection and copying pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.).

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Subtitle 16 – Absentee Voting–Military Service

Chapter 54. Voting by Persons in Military Forces During National Emergencies [Repealed]

Chapter 55. In Time of War [Repealed]

Chapter 56. Military Service Voting [Repealed]

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Subtitle 17 – Absentee Voting

Chapter 57. Absentee Civilian and Military Service Voting

19:57-27 Absentee ballots valid though not naming all candidates and though names or answers are written thereon; withdrawal of candidate
a. No absentee ballot shall be rejected or declared invalid because it does not contain all of the names of the candidates or all of the public questions to be voted for or upon in the election district in the election in which it is to be counted, and any absentee ballot shall be counted in determining the result of said election as to any office or public question, if the designation of the office and the name of the candidate for election to said office or the answer to such public question are written thereon so as to indicate the voter’s choice, and notwithstanding that such designation, name or question may be or should have been printed or such choice indicated upon such military service ballot in the regular manner.

b. No absentee ballot received from an absentee voter for any election shall be rejected or declared invalid and replaced because of the withdrawal of any candidate occurring after the ballot is received from the voter prior to the date of the election in which the ballot is to be counted.

Chapter 58. Presidential Ballot Law

19:58-1. Short title; Presidential Ballot Law
This act shall be known as and may be cited as the “Presidential Ballot Law (1964).”

19:58-2. Definitions
As used in this act unless the context otherwise indicates the following terms shall have the following meaning:

“Removed resident” means a person, who was formerly a resident of one of the counties of this State but who has, or shall have, removed to another state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands or to another county within this State, who has registered as a voter in the county of his former residence in this State at the time of his removal therefrom, and who by reason of an insufficient period of residence in the state or the county, to which he has or shall have removed, will not be able to qualify to vote at a Presidential Election to be held in such state or county or elsewhere, except as he may be qualified to vote in this State, or in such other county of this State, for the election of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, pursuant to this act.

“Presidential Election” means an election to be held for the election of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States.

“Presidential ballot” means a ballot to be cast at a Presidential Election pursuant to this act.

19:58-3. Persons entitled to qualify and vote for presidential electors
Any removed resident shall be entitled to qualify and vote for electors for President and Vice-President of the United States in any Presidential Election to be held in this State in the manner provided in this act.

19:58-4. Certificate of disqualification of removed resident; authority for determination
Any certificate filed by an applicant for a Presidential ballot as to the disqualification of a removed resident, who does not reside in this State, to vote for electors for President and Vice-President of the United States in the election district in which he resides shall be sufficient authority for said clerks and boards to make any determination in connection with the subject matter of such certificate.

19:58-5. Obtaining application form for presidential ballot
An application form for a Presidential ballot may be obtained from the clerk of the municipality, or the county clerk of the county, in which such applicant was last registered to vote in this State prior to the date of such election.

19:58-6. Preparation of application forms for presidential ballots and forms of affidavits of residence; color of paper
Application forms for Presidential ballots to be made by removed residents and forms of affidavits of residence shall be prepared by the county clerk and shall be printed on paper of a different color from that used for applications for military service and civilian absentee ballots and sufficient quantities thereof shall be furnished by the county clerk to each municipal clerk in his county not later than August 1 preceding such election.

19:58-8. Application for presidential ballot by removed resident; form and contents
An application for a Presidential ballot to be made by a removed resident shall be in substantially the following form:

APPLICATION FOR PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT– REMOVED RESIDENT

I, the undersigned, do hereby apply for a Presidential ballot to be voted at the election to be held on and do hereby certify that: (date of election)

1. I am a citizen of the United States;

2. I was born on ; (date of birth)

3. I reside at (street and number or R.D. route) in in county in the (name of city or municipality) (name of county) State of and I have resided (name of state or, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia) at this address since my removal from my former address in New Jersey and expect to continue to reside there until and on the date of said election;

4. I formerly resided and was registered as a voter at (street and number or R.D. route) in in county in New (name of city or municipality) (name of county) Jersey and I continued to reside there until my removal to my present address;

5. I am unable to vote in said election at any place other than that of my former residence in New Jersey, where I believe that I am eligible to vote for electors for President and Vice-President of the United States by a Presidential ballot.

Applicant (signature)

Applicant (print name here)

19:58-9. Time and manner of application; certificate of registration officer in election district in which removed resident resides
Applications for Presidential ballots shall be made, as prescribed by this act, to the clerk of the county, in which the ballot is to be voted, in person or by mail not later than 7 days preceding the date upon which the election, in which such ballots are to be voted, is to be held.

Each application for a Presidential ballot by a removed resident, who does not reside in this State shall be accompanied by a certificate of the commissioner of registration or other officer in charge of registration of voters in the election district in which the applicant resides, certifying that the applicant will not be entitled to vote for the electors for President and Vice-President of the United States in such election district, at the election at which such ballot is to be voted, by reason of an insufficient period of residence in the state to which he has so removed.

19:58-10. Form of presidential ballot
The county clerk shall prescribe the form of the Presidential ballots, which shall in all respects conform with the provisions of this act and shall be of such character that they can be voted only for the election of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States nominated in this State and shall be plainly marked “Presidential Ballot.”

19:58-11. Duty of county clerk to furnish presidential ballots, inner and outer envelopes, and directions; payment of expenses
Each county clerk shall cause to be printed a sufficient number of Presidential ballots for each Presidential election to be held in this State and along with all such ballots there shall also be furnished by the county clerk inner and outer envelopes which shall be of different color than those used to enclose military service and civilian absentee ballots, and also printed directions for the preparation and transmitting of such ballots and all expenses of printing and mailing such ballots shall be paid in the same manner as other expenses of such election are paid.

19:58-12. List of applicants; inspection
Each county clerk, upon receipt of applications for Presidential ballots for removed residents shall make a list of them according to the municipalities of the addresses, or former addresses, in this State of the voters making such applications, which list shall be open to examination at all times by the county board of elections, the commissioner of registration, and the superintendent of elections in counties in which there is a superintendent of elections, of the county.

19:58-13. Examination and approval of qualifications of applicant; investigations
Upon receipt of any application for a Presidential ballot, the county clerk shall make an examination, from any available information, to determine whether or not such applicant is qualified to vote a Presidential ballot as applied for and in the case of an application by a removed resident, he shall, with the co-operation of the commissioner of registration of the county, cause the signature of the applicant appearing upon the application to be compared with the signature of said person appearing upon his permanent registration forms.

If, after such examination, the county clerk is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to such a Presidential ballot, he shall mark on the application “Approved,” but otherwise he shall mark on the application “Disapproved” and shall so notify the applicant stating the reason therefor but no application for a Presidential ballot shall be disapproved because the name of the applicant is not printed thereon, if the signature is legible.

The commissioner of registration and the superintendent of elections in counties having superintendents of elections may investigate any application for any Presidential ballot.

19:58-14. Transfer of permanent registration forms of removed residents
The county clerk, upon receipt of an application for a Presidential ballot, based upon the applicant’s removal from this State to another state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, or from one county of this State to another county of this State, shall notify the commissioner of registration thereof and the commissioner of registration shall thereupon transfer the applicant’s permanent registration forms to a Presidential ballot file until after the election and then to the inactive file.

19:58-15. Delivery of ballots; deadline for applications
Each county clerk shall deliver a Presidential ballot for use under this act, to each applicant, whose application therefor has been so approved, in person, or by forwarding the same by first-class mail, in a sealed envelope, to the applicant’s present address as given in the application, if said application is received not less than 8 days prior to the day fixed for the holding of the election in which such ballot is to be voted.

Such ballots shall be forwarded as soon as practicable after the receipt and approval of the applications therefor, and if to be forwarded to persons at an address located without the limits of the 50 States and the District of Columbia by mail, they shall be forwarded by air mail.

19:58-16. Forwarding applications and accompanying certificates to county board of elections; list of applications
Each county clerk, after processing the applications for Presidential ballots, in the manner prescribed by this act, shall forward such applications, including those disapproved, together with any certificates accompanying the same, to the county board of elections and he shall keep a list of such applications showing the disposition thereof, which shall be made available to the public and all election officers charged with the duty of administering this act.

19:58-17. Directions to be sent with ballots; envelopes
Each county clerk shall send, with each Presidential ballot, appropriate printed directions for the preparation and transmission of such ballot, together with an inner and outer envelope of the character described in the act hereby supplemented in the case of civilian absentee ballots, except that there shall be printed on each inner envelope a legend which shall read “Removed Resident–Presidential Ballot” .

19:58-19. Certificate to be printed on margin of flap on envelopes; removed residents
Upon the said margin of said flap on the inner envelope to be sent to a removed resident there shall be printed a certificate in affidavit form substantially as follows:

State of ……………………

County of ………………….., or (if applicable)

Country of ………………….

I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that:

1. I am a citizen of the United States;

2. I was born on ………………….

(date of birth)

3. I reside at ……………………………………… in

(street and number or R.D. route)

………………………… in ………………………….

(name of city or municipality) (name of county)

County in the State of …………………………… and I have

(name of state, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia)

resided at this address since my removal from my former address in New Jersey and expect to continue to reside there until and on the date of said election;

4. I formerly resided at ……………………………….

(street and number or R.D. route)

in ………………………… in ………………………

(name of city or municipality) (name of county)

county in New Jersey and I was registered as a voter, and continued to reside at said address until my removal to my present address;

5. Because of the insufficient period of my residence at my present address, ………………………………………….

I am unable to vote at the election to be held on …………….

(date of election)

but I believe that I am eligible to vote at my former residence in the State of New Jersey for electors for President and Vice-President of the United States at such election.

………………………. Applicant

(SIGNATURE)

………………………. Applicant

(PRINT name here)

19:58-20. Certification of names and addresses of recipients of ballots
Each county clerk shall, from time to time, prior to each Presidential election, certify in writing, under oath, to the commissioner of registration of the county, the names and home addresses of the persons to whom Presidential ballots to be voted at such election have been delivered or forwarded pursuant to this act.

19:58-21. Marking and handling of presidential ballots by voters
Any voter shall be entitled to mark any Presidential ballot, so forwarded to him, for voting at any election by indicating his choice of candidates for the offices named. When so marked, such ballot shall be placed in said inner envelope, which shall then be sealed, and the voter shall then fill in the form of certificate attached to said inner envelope, at the end of which he shall sign and print his name in his own handwriting. The inner envelope with the certificate shall then be placed in said outer envelope, which shall then be sealed.

19:58-22. Mailing of ballots to county board of elections
Said sealed outer envelope with the inner envelope and the ballot enclosed therein, shall then be mailed with sufficient postage to the county board of elections to which it is addressed, or shall be presented in person to the county board of elections at the office of said board.

19:58-23. Duties of county board of elections after receiving ballots
The county board of elections shall, promptly after receiving each Presidential ballot, remove the inner envelope, containing the ballot, from the outer envelope and shall compare the signature and the information contained on the flap of the inner envelope with the signature and information contained in the application for the ballot together with the affidavit of residence, if any, accompanying the same. The county board shall reject any such ballot unless the board is satisfied as a result of such comparison and any other source of information available that the voter is legally entitled to vote such a ballot and that the ballot conforms with the requirements of this act. Disputes as to the qualifications of voters to vote Presidential ballots or as to whether or not or how such Presidential ballots shall be counted in such election shall be referred to the Superior Court of the county for determination.

After such investigation the county board of elections shall detach or separate the certificate from the inner envelope containing the Presidential ballots, unless it has been rejected by it or by the Superior Court, marking the envelope so as to identify the election district in which the ballot contained therein is to be voted as indicated by the voter’s present or former address in this State on the certificate attached to or accompanying said inner envelope.

19:58-25. Ballots received prior to closing of polls counted; validity of ballots notwithstanding absence of voter’s name on certificate
All valid Presidential ballots received by the county boards prior to the time designated for the closing of the polls for each election shall be counted and no Presidential ballot shall be rejected or declared invalid because the voter’s name is not printed on the certificate upon the flap of the inner envelope enclosing the same, if such certificate is properly and legibly signed and it otherwise conforms with the provisions of this act.

19:58-26. Person receiving presidential ballot not to vote in person
No person who has applied for a Presidential ballot and to whom such a ballot has been either delivered in person or forwarded by mail by a county clerk, shall be permitted to vote in person at the polling place in his election district on the day of the election, but a Presidential ballot properly authenticated in the manner provided by this act may be voted and counted notwithstanding that the voter is in the State on the day of the election.

19:58-27. Death of voter
Whenever it shall be made to appear by due proof to the county board that a voter who has marked and forwarded a Presidential ballot as provided in this act has died, prior to the opening of the polls on the day of the election, such ballot shall be rejected by the county board and retained by the county board in the same manner as provided herein in cases of other rejected ballots.

19:58-28. Canvass of presidential ballots
The inner envelopes containing the Presidential ballots shall be opened and the Presidential ballots shall be removed therefrom and counted, and the votes so cast canvassed, and the results thereof certified, by the county board of elections and the votes so counted and canvassed shall be counted, in determining the result of the election of such electors, at the same time and in the same manner as is required by the act hereby supplemented in the case of absentee ballots, except that it shall only be necessary to count or canvass such votes on a county wide basis and not on a ward and district basis.

19:58-29 Marking duplicate voting records to show delivery or forwarding of Presidential ballot
As soon as practicable after each election, the commissioner of registration shall cause to be marked the Statewide voter registration system and all duplicate voting records to show that a Presidential ballot was delivered or forwarded to the respective registered voters. For each such ballot that has been voted, received and counted, the commissioner of registration shall also, by reference to the certificates removed from the inner envelopes of such ballots, cause to be noted the words “Voted by Presidential Ballot” in the space provided in the Statewide voter registration system and duplicate voting record for recording the ballot number of the voter’s ballot in such election. The record of voting forms in the Presidential ballot file shall be conformed to the foregoing entries in the duplicate forms.

19:58-30. Affidavits of residence, applications, ballots and certificates to be kept one year; impounding
The county board of elections shall keep, for a period of one year, all of the affidavits of residence and applications for Presidential ballots, together with all certificates accompanying the same, all voted Presidential ballots, and all of the certificates which have been detached or separated by said board from said inner envelopes, and all inner envelopes together with their certificates, and together with their contents, which have not been opened because the county board or the Superior Court rejected them. Specific power is hereby granted to the superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections and the prosecutor in all other counties to impound all such ballots whenever he shall deem such action to be necessary.

19:58-31. Powers of county board, clerk, superintendent and commissioner over voting by presidential ballot
The county board of elections, the county clerk, the superintendent of elections and the commissioner of registration shall exercise the same powers over voting by Presidential ballots as over other voting in elections except as otherwise provided in this act.

19:58-32. Validity of election not affected by irregularities
No election shall be held to be invalid by reason of any irregularity or failure in the preparation or forwarding of any Presidential ballots pursuant to the provisions of this act.

19:58-33 Violations; penalties.
Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of this act, or who, not being entitled to vote under this act, fraudulently votes, or attempts to vote thereunder or enables, or attempts to enable another person, not entitled to vote thereunder, to vote thereunder, or who prevents or attempts to prevent by fraud the voting of any person legally entitled to vote under this act, or who knowingly certifies falsely in any paper required to be executed under this act, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree and upon conviction thereof shall be subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement while serving a sentence of incarceration unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage.

Chapter 59. Overseas Residents Absentee Voting

19:59-1 Short title; Overseas Residents Absentee Voting Law
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Overseas Residents Absentee Voting Law.”

19:59-2 Definitions.
As used in this act:
a. “United States” means each of the several states, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the United States Virgin Islands; the term does not mean or include the Canal Zone or any other territory or possession of the United States.

b. “Residing abroad” means residing outside the United States.

c. “Federal election” means any general, special or primary held for the purpose of nominating or electing any candidate for the office of President or Vice President of the United States, Presidential elector, United States Senator or member of the United States House of Representatives.

d. “Election” shall have the same meaning as defined in R.S.19:1-1, and include any federal, State, or local election, and any public question placed before the voters.

e. “Overseas voter” means any person in military service, or that person’s spouse, partner in civil union, domestic partner, or dependent, who, by reason of the person’s active duty or service, is, in the case of the person, absent on the date of an election from the place of residence in New Jersey where the person is or would be qualified to vote, or in the case of the person’s spouse, partner in civil union, domestic partner, or dependent, absent on the date of an election from the place of residence in New Jersey where that spouse, partner in civil union, domestic partner, or dependent, is or would be qualified to vote.

The term also means any citizen of the United States temporarily residing abroad who (1) immediately prior to departure from the United States was domiciled in New Jersey and (a) was last registered to vote, or last eligible to register and vote, in New Jersey; or (b) would have been eligible to register and vote in New Jersey except that the citizen had not attained 18 years of age the requirement of which has since been met; or (c) would have been eligible to register and vote in New Jersey except that the citizen had not met the residency requirement; (2) is not registered or qualified to vote elsewhere in the United States; and (3) holds a valid passport or passport card or other proof of citizenship issued under authority of the Secretary of State of the United States.

f. “Overseas federal election voter” means any citizen of the United States residing abroad who does not intend to return or whose intent to return is uncertain and who (1) immediately prior to departure from the United States was domiciled in New Jersey and (a) was last registered to vote, or last eligible to register and vote, in New Jersey; or (b) would have been eligible to register and vote in New Jersey except that the citizen had not attained 18 years of age the requirement of which has since been met; or (c) would have been eligible to register and vote in New Jersey except that the citizen had not met the residency requirement; (2) is not registered or qualified to vote elsewhere in the United States; and (3) holds a valid passport or passport card or other proof of citizenship issued under authority of the Secretary of State of the United States.

The term also means any citizen of the United States who was born outside of the United States, is not described above, and, except for the residency requirement of New Jersey, otherwise satisfies the State’s voter eligibility requirements, if the last place where a parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner of the voter was, or under P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.) would have been, eligible to register and vote before departure from the United States is within New Jersey and the voter has not previously registered to vote elsewhere in the United States.

g. “Electronic means” means any transmission made by an electronic telefacsimile machine or a similar device or by any other form of electronic transmission including, but not exclusive to electronic mail, that transports an authentic copy of a document from one user to another.

h. “Dependent” means an individual recognized as a dependent by a military service.

i. “Federal postcard application” means the application prescribed under section 101 of Pub.L.99-410 (42 U.S.C. s.1973ff(b)(2)).

j. “Federal write-in absentee ballot” means the ballot described under section 103 of Pub.L.99-410 (42 U.S.C. s.1973ff-2).

k. “Military service” means the active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States; the Merchant Marine; the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States; or the National Guard or State militia.

19:59-3 Overseas voters and overseas federal election voters; application for and vote by mail-in ballot
Upon compliance with the provisions of this act, P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.), as amended by P.L.2017, c.39: a. any person meeting the qualifications of an overseas voter may register to vote and may apply for and vote by mail-in ballot in any election held in the election district of this State in which the voter was formerly domiciled; and b. any person meeting the qualifications of an overseas federal election voter may register to vote and may apply for and vote by mail-in ballot in any federal election held in the election district of this State in which the voter, or in the case of an overseas federal election voter who was born outside of the United States described in subsection f. of section 2 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-2), in which the voter’s parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner was formerly domiciled.

19:59-4 Request for application; place; time
a. Requests for an application to vote in an election as an overseas voter or a federal election as an overseas federal election voter may be made by or on behalf of an applicant to the county clerk of the county in which the applicant, or in the case of an overseas federal election voter who was born outside of the United States described in subsection f. of section 2 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-2), in which the voter’s parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner, was formerly domiciled, or to the Secretary of State of New Jersey if the applicant does not know the county of former domicile. All such applications shall be forwarded to such voters by air mail or electronic means, if so requested by the voter. Any overseas voter or overseas federal election voter requesting that an application for a ballot be sent to that voter by electronic means shall supply in the request to the Secretary of State or the county clerk, as appropriate, the telephone number and location to which the application is to be sent or the electronic address of the voter, as may be appropriate, and, if known, the address where the voter, or the voter’s parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner, as appropriate, was domiciled before departure from the United States. To qualify for a ballot to be sent by air mail, the applicant’s completed application shall be received by the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State on or before the thirtieth day preceding the election. To qualify for a ballot to be distributed by electronic means, the applicant’s completed application shall be received by the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State on or before the fourth day preceding the election.

b. An overseas voter or overseas federal election voter may use the federal postcard application form to register to vote or to apply for an overseas ballot for any election in which the voter is eligible to vote. The voter may send the form by air mail or electronic means to either the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State and, in the case of the use of a federal postcard application for a ballot, may request that the ballot be sent by air mail or electronic means. Any voter sending the form by electronic means shall also mail simultaneously the federal postcard application form to the appropriate county clerk or the Secretary of State. Any federal postcard application for a ballot sent by an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter and received by a county clerk or the Secretary of State shall also be considered a request for registration if that voter is not already registered.

19:59-5 Application; contents; information for applicant
a. Other than a federal postcard application, an application for a ballot by an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter shall be in substantially the following form:

I, the undersigned, certify the following as a basis for an application as citizen of the United States residing outside the United States to receive a ballot to be voted at the election to be held on …….. (date of election) for ………. (fill in elected office or public question, or both):

1. I am a citizen of the United States;

2. I presently reside at ……………….. (if mail should be addressed other than to my residence, also provide address for mail);

3. I was born on ………………… (month, day, year)

4. I hold a:

a. valid U.S. Passport # …………, dated ………., or

b. valid U.S. Passport Card # ………., dated ………., or

c. valid Certificate of Citizenship, dated ………., or

d. other valid form of identification recognized as such under federal or state law: ………. (form of identification), dated ………..

5. a. Immediately prior to taking up residence abroad I was domiciled in New Jersey and resided at ………… (street address), ………….. (municipality), ………….. (county) (If formerly registered to vote from that address check here ( ) ), or

b. I was born outside of the United States and my parent, legal guardian, spouse, partner in civil union, or domestic partner, before leaving the United States, was last domiciled in New Jersey, residing at ………. (street address), ………. (municipality), ……….(county).

6. I am not registered, entitled or applying to vote in any state other than New Jersey.

7. I understand that any false statement knowingly made in this application subjects me to the penalties provided by law for fraudulent voting.

……………….. ………………… Applicant

(Signature)

Dated:………………….. …………………….Applicant

(Print or type name)

b. There shall also be sent to the applicant by air mail or electronic means such instructions and portions of the law or regulations as the Secretary of State shall direct.

c. Any overseas voter or overseas federal election voter requesting that a ballot be sent to that voter by electronic means shall indicate on the application for the ballot the telephone number and location to which the ballot is to be sent or the electronic address of the voter, as may be appropriate.

19:59-6 Approval; lists; inspection; delivery to county board.
Each county clerk, upon receipt of an application for a ballot by an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter, including a federal postcard application, shall determine whether or not the applicant is qualified to vote such a ballot, make a list of those applications approved and disapproved, which list shall be open to inspection by election officials and the public, and shall forward an overseas ballot to each person whose application is approved. For each voter whose application is approved, the county clerk shall deliver to the county board of elections the completed application form for retention by the board for signature comparison with that on the certificate on the inner envelope containing the ballot upon its receipt.

19:59-7 Ballot for overseas voters and overseas federal election voters; form
The county clerk shall prescribe the form of the ballot for overseas voters and overseas federal election voters.

19:59-8 Instructions and notice; delivery
a. Each county clerk shall send by air mail, with each ballot for an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter transmitted by such means, appropriate printed instructions for its completion and return, together with an inner and outer envelope similar to that required as to civilian vote by mail ballots with a legend on the inner envelope stating “Ballot for Overseas Voter” or “Ballot for Overseas Federal Election Voter,” as appropriate.
b. Each county clerk shall send to each overseas voter or overseas federal election voter requesting that a ballot be sent to that voter by electronic means all appropriate printed instructions for its completion and return. The printed instructions sent to each such voter shall include a certificate substantially the same as provided for in section 9 of P.L.1976, c. 23 (C.19:59-9).
c. The printed instructions sent with each ballot to an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter, including instructions sent by electronic means, shall include a copy of the following notice:

PENALTY FOR FRAUDULENT VOTING

Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of the Overseas Residents Absentee Voting Law, or who, not being entitled to vote thereunder, fraudulently votes or attempts to vote thereunder or enables or attempts to enable another person, not entitled to vote thereunder, to vote fraudulently thereunder or who prevents or attempts to prevent by fraud the voting of any person legally entitled to vote under this act, shall be guilty of an indictable offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement while serving a sentence of incarceration unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage.

19:59-8.1 Request by electronic means for application for an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter ballot; procedure
Whenever a county clerk receives a request by electronic means from an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter that a ballot be sent to that person by electronic means, the county clerk shall verify the voter’s eligibility to vote as an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter in the State and the county desired. If the overseas voter or overseas federal election voter is eligible to vote therein, the county clerk shall send the appropriate ballot to the voter at least 45 days before the day of the election and thereafter by electronic means using the telephone number or electronic address supplied by the voter for that purpose. If the overseas voter or overseas federal election voter is not eligible to vote in the State or the county desired, notice of noneligibility shall be provided to the voter by electronic means as soon as practicable after the receipt of the request.

19:59-9 Certificate on ballot; form
Upon the margin of the flap of the inner envelope to be sent to an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter shall be printed a certificate substantially as follows:

I, the undersigned, residing at ……………………………. am the person who applied for, received and voted the enclosed Ballot.

Dated:……………….

…………………………Voter (SIGNATURE)

…………………………Voter (PRINT or type name)

19:59-10 Instructions for completion of ballot
a. For ballots sent to overseas voters or overseas federal election voters, other than such ballots sent to the voter by electronic means, the procedure for completing the ballot shall be as follows:

Upon completion of the ballot by indicating the voter’s choice of candidates for the offices named or the voter’s choice regarding a public question, or both, the ballot shall be placed in the inner envelope and sealed. Upon completion and signing in the voter’s handwriting the certificate attached to the inner envelope, the inner envelope shall be placed in the outer envelope, which when sealed shall be mailed postage prepaid to the county board of elections whose address is printed thereon.

b. For ballots sent to overseas voters or overseas federal election voters by electronic means, the procedure for completing the ballot shall be as follows:

After the ballot is received and completed by the voter by indicating that person’s choice of candidates for the offices named or that person’s choice regarding a public question, or both, the ballot shall be placed in a secure envelope. Upon completion and signing in the voter’s handwriting of the certificate sent to the voter pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-8), it shall be placed in the same envelope as the voted ballot. The envelope shall then be sealed securely and sent immediately by air mail to the appropriate county board of elections in this State.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. and b. of this section, a copy of an overseas voter’s or overseas federal election voter’s ballot may be transmitted by electronic means to the appropriate county board of elections in this State. Such a ballot shall be subject to the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of P.L.1995, c.195 (C.19:59-14 and C.19:59-15).

19:59-11 Counting ballots
Upon receipt of each ballot from an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter, other than a ballot which had been sent by electronic means to an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter, the signature on the certificate on the inner envelope shall be compared to that on the person’s application. All ballots, whether originally sent to an overseas voter or overseas federal election voter by air mail or electronic means, shall be approved, disapproved, processed, counted and disputes in connection therewith shall be handled in the same manner as is applicable to other vote by mail ballots. No ballot received after the time designated for the closing of the polls shall be counted.

19:59-12 Application for overseas voter or overseas federal election voter ballot for all elections held during calendar year
An overseas voter or overseas federal election voter may request, on any application form used, a ballot for all elections held during the calendar year in which the request is made and in which the voter is eligible to vote. Any instructions sent to an applicant pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-5) shall inform the applicant that such a request may be made. If such a request is made, a ballot shall be sent in a timely manner to the voter for all such elections in which the voter is eligible to vote and by the transmission method first requested by the voter unless the voter instructs otherwise.

19:59-13 Rules and regulations.
To effectuate the purposes of this act, P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.), and its administration, the Secretary of State is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as he deems necessary and desirable.

19:59-14 Voting by electronic means
Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a copy of an overseas voter’s or overseas federal election voter’s voted ballot, or a voted federal write-in absentee ballot, which is transmitted by electronic means to the appropriate county board of elections in this State shall be considered valid and counted if it:

a. is from a qualified voter;

b. has been transmitted to the appropriate county board of elections no later than the time designated by law for the closing of the polls on that day; and

c. is accompanied by the following statement, which shall be certified by the voter’s signature: “I understand that by transmitting by electronic means a copy of my voted ballot I am voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot. At the same time, I pledge to place the original voted ballot in a secure envelope, together with any other required certification, and send the documents immediately by air mail to the appropriate county board of elections.”

19:59-15 Original ballot of person voting by electronic means to be sent by air mail to county board of elections; duties of board regarding ballots transmitted by electronic means
a. Immediately after a copy of an overseas voter’s or overseas federal election voter’s voted ballot, or a voted federal write-in absentee ballot, has been transmitted by electronic means to the appropriate county board of elections, as permitted pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.195 (C.19:59-14), the overseas voter or overseas federal election voter shall place the original voted ballot in a secure envelope, together with a certificate substantially the same as provided for in section 9 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-9), and send the documents by air mail to the appropriate county board of elections.

b. All copies of voted ballots received by electronic means shall be approved, disapproved, processed and counted, and disputes in connection therewith shall be handled, in the same manner as is applicable to other vote by mail ballots. No ballot received after the time designated for the closing of the polls shall be counted.

c. The county board of elections shall take all necessary precautions to preserve the security of the ballot materials and specifically shall ensure that the vote cast by a voter using a ballot transmitted by electronic means is not revealed, except to the extent necessary by law or judicial determination. Upon the completion of all inspections of a ballot transmitted by electronic means required by law, the board or any employee thereof acting under its direction shall promptly separate the waiver certification from the ballot transmitted by electronic means. Any person handling such a ballot shall not identify the votes cast by any voter, except upon judicial determination.

d. Prior to certification of the results of the election, the county board shall:

(1) compare the information on the copy transmitted by electronic means of each voted ballot with the same on the original voted ballot sent by air mail by the voter who transmitted to the county board a copy of the voted ballot by electronic means, and the signature on the statement received by electronic means with the signature on the certificate received by air mail; and

(2) ascertain whether an original voted ballot has been received for each copy of a voted ballot received by electronic means and counted.

Whenever the particulars of the copy of a voted ballot transmitted by electronic means do not conform exactly with the particulars of the original voted ballot sent by air mail to the county board afterwards by that voter and whenever an original voted ballot has not been received which corresponds to a copy of a voted ballot transmitted by electronic means which has been received and counted by the county board, those ballots and all other pertinent documents and information relative to those ballots shall be turned over to the superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent and the prosecutor in all other counties for further investigation and action.

e. Within 30 days after the election, the county board shall gather and keep together the copy of the voted ballot transmitted by electronic means, the certified statement and the original voted ballot sent by air mail of each voter who transmitted a copy of a voted ballot by electronic means. Those ballots needed for an investigation conducted by the superintendent of elections or the county prosecutor, as the case may be, or by any other law enforcement official shall be returned to the county board as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the investigation. All ballots and documents relative to a copy of a voted ballot transmitted by electronic means and received by the county board shall be retained by it for a period of one year following the day of the election. The superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent and the prosecutor in all other counties shall have the authority to impound all such documents whenever the superintendent or prosecutor shall deem such action necessary.

19:59-16 Designation of single state office responsible for providing information to all overseas voters and overseas federal election voters; duties
For the purpose of complying with the federal “Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act,” 42 U.S.C. s.1973ff-1 et seq., the office of the Secretary of State shall:

a. be designated as the single State office responsible for providing information to all overseas voters and overseas federal election voters who wish to register to vote or vote in any jurisdiction in the State with respect to voter registration procedures and vote by mail procedures to be used by overseas voters and overseas federal election voters for all elections in which the voter is eligible to vote;

b. work with the federal Election Assistance Commission and the federal Department of Defense to develop standards to report data on the number of ballots transmitted and received by mail or electronic means by overseas voters or overseas federal election voters pursuant to the “Overseas Residents Absentee Voting Law,” P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.) and section 7 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-7); and

c. provide such additional information relating to voting by overseas voters and overseas federal election voters from this State as the Department of Defense determines is necessary.

Chapter 60. School Elections, Generally

19:60-1 Annual school elections
a. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an annual school election shall be held in a type II district on the third Tuesday in April. However, in any school year, the Commissioner of Education shall make any adjustments to the school budget and election calendar which may be necessary to change the annual school election date or any other school budget and election calendar date if that date coincides with a period of religious observance that limits significantly the usual activities of the followers of a particular religion or that would result in significant religious consequences for such followers. The commissioner shall inform local school boards, county clerks and boards of elections of these adjustments no later than the first working day in January of the year in which the adjustments are to occur.

As used in this subsection “a period of religious observance” means any day or portion thereof on which a religious observance imposes a substantial burden on an individual’s ability to vote.

An annual school election shall be held simultaneously with the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in school districts in which the annual school election has been moved to that date pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1) or pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2012, c.78 (C.19:60-1.2). The annual school election in November shall be for the purpose of submitting a proposal to the voters for the approval of additional funds in a type II district without a board of school estimate pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5), for the purpose of electing members of the board of education, and for any other purpose authorized by law.

b. All school elections shall be by ballot and, except as otherwise provided by P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-1 et al.), shall be conducted in the manner provided for general elections pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. No grouping of candidates or party designation shall appear on any ballot to be used in a school election.

19:60-1.1 Simultaneous annual school elections with general election; voter authorization to change date; date change without voter approval; return to April annual elections after change
a. (1) The question of moving the date of a school district’s annual school election to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, to be held simultaneously with the general election, shall be submitted to the legal voters of a local or regional school district, other than a Type II district with a board of school estimate, whenever a petition signed by not less than 15% of the number of legally qualified voters who voted in the district at the last preceding general election held for the election of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States is filed with the board of education. The question shall be submitted to the voters of the district at the next general election, provided that at least 60 days have lapsed since the date of the filing of the petition. In the event that the question is not approved by the voters, no petition may be filed to submit the question to the voters within one year after an election shall have been held pursuant to any petition filed pursuant to this subsection.

The date of the annual school election may be moved to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November without voter approval, upon the adoption of a resolution by the board of education of a local or regional school district, other than a Type II district with a board of school estimate, or the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities constituting the district. Prior to holding a meeting for the adoption of the resolution to move the date of the annual school election, the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities constituting the district shall provide adequate notice of the meeting to the affected board or boards of education.

(2) In the event that the date of a school district’s annual school election is moved to the day of the general election, the annual school election in November shall be held for the purpose of submitting a proposal to the voters for approval of additional funds pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5), for the purpose of electing members of the board of education, and for any other purpose authorized by law. A vote shall not be required on the district’s general fund tax levy for the budget year, other than the general fund tax levy required to support a proposal for additional funds.

(3) In addition to the process set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, in the event that all the constituent districts of a limited purpose regional school district approve moving the date of their annual school elections to November, by any of the procedures established pursuant to this subsection, then the annual school election for the limited purpose regional school district shall also be conducted simultaneously with the general election.

(4) In the event that the date of a school district’s annual school election is moved to the day of the general election pursuant to this subsection, the board of education and the county board of elections shall enter into an agreement, pursuant to guidelines established by the Secretary of State, under which the board of education shall pay any agreed upon increase in the costs, charges, and expenses that may be associated with holding the school election simultaneously with the general election.

b. (1) In the case of a school district that has moved the date of its annual school election to November pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the question of moving the date of the school district’s annual school election to the third Tuesday in April shall be submitted to the legal voters of a local or regional school district, other than a Type II district with a board of school estimate, whenever a petition signed by not less than 15% of the number of legally qualified voters who voted in the district at the last preceding general election held for the election of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States is filed with the board of education. The question shall be submitted to the voters of the district at the next general election, provided that at least 60 days have lapsed since the date of the filing of the petition.

The date of the annual school election may be moved to the third Tuesday in April without voter approval, upon the adoption of a resolution by the board of education of a local or regional school district, other than a Type II district with a board of school estimate, or the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities constituting the district. Prior to holding a meeting for the adoption of the resolution to move the date of the annual school election, the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities constituting the district shall provide adequate notice of the meeting to the affected board or boards of education.

No resolution may be adopted and no petition may be filed pursuant to this subsection until at least four annual school elections have been held in November.

(2) In the event that the date of the annual school election is moved to the third Tuesday in April, a vote shall be held on the district’s general fund tax levy for the budget year including any proposal for additional funds pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5), the election of members of the board of education, and for any other purpose authorized by law.

(3) In addition to the process set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, in the event that all the constituent districts of a limited purpose regional school district approve moving the date of their annual school elections to the third Tuesday in April, by any of the procedures established pursuant to this subsection, then the annual school election for the limited purpose regional school district shall also be conducted on the third Tuesday in April.

c. Notice, in writing, to change the date of a school election from the third Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in November shall be given to the county clerk no less than 60 days prior to the third Tuesday in April to take effect for that year’s election. For a change from the first Tuesday in November to the third Tuesday in April, notice must be given to the county clerk no less than 85 days prior to the third Tuesday in April to take effect for that year’s election. Timely notice shall also be given by the board of education or municipal governing body adopting such resolution to any other affected boards of education and municipal governing bodies.

19:60-1.2 Annual school election for a Type II district with a board of school estimate; authority to move election date; return to April annual elections; additional matters for voters
a. Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, a Type II district with a board of school estimate may move the date of the school district’s annual school election pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1).

b. Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, in the event that the date of the annual school election is moved to the day of the general election in a Type II district with a board of school estimate, the election shall be held for the purpose of electing members of the board of education and for any other purpose authorized by law. The board of school estimate shall not determine the district’s general fund tax levy for the budget year, other than the general fund tax levy required to support a proposal for additional funds pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5).

c. Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, in a Type II district with a board of school estimate that has moved the date of its annual school election to November and subsequently moves the annual school election to the third Tuesday in April, a vote shall be held for the purpose of electing members of the board of education and for any other purpose authorized by law. The board of school estimate shall determine the district’s general fund tax levy for the budget year, including any proposal for additional funds pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5).

19:60-2 Special elections
a. Except as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the board of education of a type II district may call a special election of the legal voters of the district on only the fourth Tuesday in January, the second Tuesday in March, the last Tuesday in September, or the second Tuesday in December when in its judgment the interests of the schools require such an election. The board of education shall give the municipal clerk or clerks, as the case may be, and the county board of elections no less than 60 days’ notice, in writing, of its intention to hold a special election.

b. No business shall be transacted at any special election except such as shall have been set forth in the notices by which the election was called.

c. The Commissioner of Education may change in any school year any date authorized for a special school election pursuant to subsection a. of this section if that date coincides with a period of religious observance that limits significantly the usual activities of the followers of a particular religion or that would result in significant religious consequences for such followers. The commissioner shall inform local school boards, county clerks, and boards of election of the adjustment no later than the first working day in January of the year in which the adjustments are to occur.

As used in this section “a period of religious observance” means any day or portion thereof on which a religious observance imposes a substantial burden on an individual’s ability to vote.

19:60-3 Election duties to be performed by members of district board of education
a. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.19:6-1, for school elections held at times other than at the time of the general election the county board of the county in which the election district is located shall designate two members of the district board of election to perform all the duties of the district board for that election, except that where electronic voting systems are in use in any election district in which there are more than 900 registered voters, the county board shall designate four members of the district board to perform all the duties of the district board for that election. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.19:6-10, the county board shall appoint one of the persons so designated to serve as judge and the other or another, as the case may be, of those persons so designated to serve as inspector for school elections.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. or any other law to the contrary:

(1) Upon the request of a board of education or the clerk of a municipality in the county or upon its own initiative, the county board may designate the polling place and voting equipment of one election district to serve as the polling place and voting equipment for the voters of one or more other election districts for school elections held at times other than at the time of the general election. Such a designation shall be based on the casting of no more than 500 ballots during each of the two preceding annual April school elections by the voters of the election districts for which that polling place is designated. If, at two consecutive annual April school elections thereafter, the number of ballots cast by the voters in those election districts is more than 500, the county board shall effect an appropriate revision of the election districts using that polling place. If a request is from a municipal clerk, the request shall apply only to the election districts in that municipality.

(2) If one polling place is designated for two or more election districts, the county board shall designate at least two members from among the members of the district boards of election of those election districts to perform all the duties of the district board for the school election held at times other than at the time of the general election. The county board shall also appoint one of the persons so designated to serve as judge and another of those persons to serve as inspector for school elections.

19:60-4 Designation and submission of public questions
The secretary of each board of education shall, not later than 10 o’clock a.m. of the 18th day preceding the annual April school election or a special school election, make and certify and forward to the clerk of the county in which the school district is located a statement designating the public question to be voted upon by the voters of the district which may be required pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-1 et al.) or Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

The secretary of each board of education of a school district in which the annual school election has been moved to November pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1), not later than 10 o’clock a.m. of the 60th day preceding the November school election, shall make and certify and forward to the clerk of the county in which the school district is located a statement designating any public question to be voted upon by the voters of the district which may be required pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-1 et al.) or Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

19:60-5 Nominating petitions; contents
Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.19:13-4, each nominating petition for a candidate to be voted upon at a school election shall be addressed to the secretary of the board of education and therein shall be set forth:

a. A statement that the signers of the petition are all qualified voters of the school district or, in the case of a regional school district, qualified voters of the constituent district which the candidate shall represent on the board of education of the regional district;

b. The name, residence and post office address of the person endorsed and the office for which he is endorsed;

c. That the signers of the petition endorse the candidate named in the petition for that office and request that the person’s name be printed upon the official ballot to be used at the ensuing election; and

d. That the person so endorsed is legally qualified to be elected to the office.

A candidate shall be permitted to sign or circulate, or both sign and circulate, the petition required to nominate that candidate for membership on the board.

Any form of a petition of nomination hereunder which is provided to candidates in a school election shall contain the following notice: “Notice: All candidates are required by law to comply with the provisions of ‘The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.’ For further information, please call (insert phone number of the Election Law Enforcement Commission).”

19:60-6 Certificate to accompany nominating petition; contents
Accompanying the nominating petition and to be filed therewith, there shall be a certificate signed by the person endorsed in the petition stating that:

a. The person is qualified to be elected to the office for which the person is nominated, including a specific affirmation that the person is not disqualified as a voter pursuant to R.S.19:4-1 and that the person has not been convicted of a disqualifying crime pursuant to N.J.S.18A:12-1;

b. The person consents to stand as a candidate for election; and

c. If elected, the person agrees to accept and qualify into that office.

19:60-7 Nominating procedures; withdrawal of candidate; filling vacancy; written objection to nomination
Each candidate to be voted upon at a school election shall be nominated directly by petition, and the procedures for such nomination shall, to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-1 et al.), conform to the procedure for nominating candidates by direct petition under chapter 13 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.19:13-5, however, a petition of nomination for such office shall be signed by at least 10 persons, one of whom may be the candidate, and filed with the secretary of the board of education on or before four p.m. of the 50th day preceding the date of the April school election or with the county clerk on or before four p.m. of the last Monday in July preceding the November school election, as applicable. The signatures need not all appear upon a single petition and any number of petitions may be filed on behalf of any candidate but no petition shall contain the endorsement of more than one candidate.

Any candidate may withdraw as a candidate in a school election by filing a notice in writing, signed by the candidate, of such withdrawal with the secretary of the board of education before the 44th day before the date of the April election or with the county clerk on the 60th day before the date of the November election, as applicable, and thereupon the name of that candidate shall be withdrawn by the secretary of the board of education and shall not be printed on the ballot.

A vacancy created by a declination of nomination or withdrawal by, or death of, a nominee, or in any other manner, shall be filled under the provisions of R.S.19:13-19.

Whenever written objection to a petition of nomination hereunder shall have been made and timely filed with the secretary of the board of education or with the county clerk, as may be appropriate, the board of education shall file its determination of the objection on or before the 44th day preceding the April school election or the county clerk shall file the clerk’s determination of the objection on or before the 10th day after the last day for the filing of petitions for candidates seeking election as a member of a board of education at the November school election, as applicable. The last day upon which a candidate may file with the Superior Court a verified complaint setting forth any invasion or threatened invasion of the candidate’s rights under the candidate’s petition of nomination shall be the 46th day before the April election or the 12th day after the last day for the filing of petitions for candidates seeking election as a member of a board of education at the November election, as applicable. The last day upon which a candidate whose petition of nomination or any affidavit thereto is defective may amend such petition or affidavit shall be the 44th day before the April election or the 10th day after the last day for the filing of petitions for candidates seeking election as a member of a board of education at the November election, as applicable.

In each school district in which candidates for the office of member of a board of education will seek election at the November school election, the school business administrator thereof shall certify to the county clerk no later than the day of the holding of the primary election for the general election next occurring a statement designating the public offices to be filled at such election, and the number of such offices to be filled.

19:60-8 Drawings to determine position of names on ballot
The county clerk shall conduct the ballot draw for candidates for school board member in those school districts that hold November elections, in accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S.19:14-12. In those school districts that elect school board members at the annual April school election, the ballot draw shall be conducted as follows:

a. The drawing shall be done by the secretary of the board of education seven working days following the last day for filing a petition for the nomination of such a candidate. The person making the drawing shall make public announcement at the drawing of each name, the order in which the name is drawn and the term of office for which the drawing is made.

b. A separate drawing shall be made for each full term and for each unexpired term, respectively. The names of the several candidates for whom petitions have been filed for each of the terms shall be written upon paper slips which shall be placed in capsules of the same size, shape, color and substance and then placed in a covered box with an aperture in the top large enough to admit a person’s hand and to allow the capsules to be drawn therefrom. The box shall be turned and shaken thoroughly to mix the capsules and the capsules shall be withdrawn one at a time.

c. Where there is more than one person to be elected for a given term of office, the position of the names on the ballots for each term of office shall be determined as above described. The name of the candidate for each term of office first drawn from the box shall be printed directly below the proper term for which the person was nominated and the name of the candidate next drawn shall be printed next in order, and so on, until the last name shall be drawn from the box.

The secretary of the board of education shall, within two days following the drawing, certify to the county clerk the results of the drawing.

19:60-9 School election ballots; form and contents
The ballot for a school election shall be a single or blanket form of ballot, upon which shall be printed in bold-faced type the words “OFFICIAL SCHOOL ELECTION BALLOT” or “OFFICIAL SPECIAL SCHOOL ELECTION BALLOT,” as appropriate.

Any public question which is to be submitted to the voters at a school election shall be printed in a separate space below or to the right of, as the county clerk shall determine, the listing of candidates in the election.

In the columns in which are listed the titles of the offices to be filled at a school election and the names of candidates for those offices, the title of and the names of candidates for the office of member of the regional board of education shall appear above the title of and the names of candidates for the office of member of the local board of education. With respect to either office, in the event that one or more persons are to be elected to membership thereon for a full term and one or more persons are to be elected to membership thereon to fill an unexpired term, the ballots shall designate which of the candidates to be voted for is to be elected for a full term and which for an unexpired term. In all cases in which one or more persons are to be elected for an unexpired term, the ballots shall indicate the duration of that unexpired term.

All public questions to be voted upon at a school election by the voters of more than one municipality shall be placed first before any question to be voted upon at that election by the voters of a single municipality. When the public question to be voted upon by the voters of a regional school district is the amount of money to be raised for the use of the regional schools of the district, the amount of money determined to be the constituent municipality’s share thereof may be identified on the ballot pursuant to N.J.S.18A:13-17.

Every county clerk shall have ready for the printer a copy of the contents of official ballots required by law to be printed for use at a school election, as follows: in the case of the annual April school election, not later than the 17th day preceding that election; in the case of any special school election, not later than two business days following receipt by the clerk of official notice of the complete content of the ballot to be voted upon at that election; and in the case of the annual November school election, in accordance with the provisions of R.S.19:14-1.

The ballots for an annual school election to be held simultaneously with the general election shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 14 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

At an annual school election held simultaneously with the general election, the names of the candidates for the office of member of the board of education shall appear on the ballot separately from the names of candidates for other offices whenever possible. Any proposals for additional funds pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5) shall appear on the ballot near the names of the candidates for the office of member of the board of education whenever possible.

19:60-10. Sample ballots; delivery and mailing
The county clerk shall cause samples of the official school election ballot to be printed in the same manner as prescribed for the printing of sample ballots for the general election by R.S.19:14-21. In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, the delivery of such sample ballots for mailing, issuance of a receipt for such delivery, and the mailing of sample ballots shall be effected in the same manner as prescribed for the sample ballot for the general election under subsection a. of R.S.19:14-21; and in counties having a superintendent of elections and in other counties where the county board of elections may have such equipment or facilities, the delivery of ballots for mailing, issuance of a receipt for such delivery, and the mailing of sample ballots shall be effected in the same manner as prescribed for the sample ballot for the general election under subsection b. of R.S.19:14-21 , subject to the condition that the latest time at which the county clerk may furnish sample ballots for mailing shall be the eighth day preceding the school election.

19:60-10.1 Notice of availability of sample ballot in lieu of delivery
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a voter who registers after the 29th day prior to a school election and who is eligible to participate in that election may be sent, instead of a sample ballot, notice of the voter’s polling place, information on where to obtain a sample ballot prior to the election, a statement indicating that a sample ballot will be available at the polling place on the day of the election, and, if applicable, information on a county website where a sample ballot may be viewed.

19:60-11 Use of poll list; form and contents
The district board of election shall, for any school election held at a time other than the time of the general election, utilize a poll list instead of the signature copy register. The poll list shall be arranged in a column or columns appropriately headed so as to indicate the election, the date thereof, and the school district and election district in which the same is used, in such a manner that each voter voting in the polling place at the election may sign the voter’s name and state the voter’s address therein and the number of the voter’s official ballot may be indicated opposite the signature. The district board shall compare the signature in the poll lists with that in the signature copy registers before accepting the ballot.

If one polling place is designated for two or more election districts pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-3), the provisions of this section shall apply to the members of the district boards of election designated to serve as the election officers at the polling place for those election districts. The signature copy registers for those election districts shall be provided to those election officers.

19:60-12 Costs, charges and expenses for school election
All costs, charges and expenses, including the compensation of the members of the district boards and the compensation and expenses of the county board of elections, the county superintendent of elections, the clerk of the county, and the municipal clerks for any school election held at a time other than the time of the general election shall be paid by the board of education of the school district. All costs, charges and expenses submitted to the board of education for payment shall be itemized and shall include the separate identification of costs to prepare, print and distribute sample ballots. Amounts expended by a county or a municipality in the conduct of school elections for which the board of education shall make payment shall be considered mandated expenditures exempt from the limitations on the county tax levy and from the limitations on final municipal appropriations imposed pursuant to P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.1 et seq.), and any costs to the board of education which exceed the amount of the costs to that board for the annual school election immediately preceding the enactment of P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-1 et seq.) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating a school district’s tax levy growth limitation pursuant to P.L.2007, c.62 (C.18A:7F-37 et al.).

Chapter 61. Voter Opportunity and Technology Enhancement

19:61-1 Legislative findings and declarations
The Legislature finds and declares:

a. The “Help America Vote Act of 2002,” Pub.L.107-252, was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Bush on October 29, 2002.

b. The new federal law, based upon recommendations by several national study commissions including the National Commission on Federal Election Reform, resulted from a consensus that the nation’s electoral system needs improvements to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to vote, that every vote will be counted that should be counted, and that no legal vote will be canceled by a fraudulent vote.

c. Accordingly, the “Help America Vote Act of 2002” authorizes substantial amounts of federal aid to the states to fund the purchase of more reliable voting systems, and mandates changes in the conduct of federal elections in all states to ensure greater access to the polls by individuals with disabilities, to provide more information for individuals who wish to vote and better training of poll workers, and to reduce the possibility of fraud.

d. The “Help America Vote Act of 2002” also clearly defines the rights and privileges of those eligible individuals who seek to vote, including all overseas and military service voters, and seeks to prevent disenfranchisement due to mistaken determinations of ineligibility to vote, the use of outdated voting systems that are unreliable or insufficiently accessible for disabled voters, or unnecessary administrative obstacles.

e. The purpose of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-1 et al.) is to begin the process of implementing the changes in New Jersey’s election law required by the “Help America Vote Act of 2002” to accomplish the purposes described above, providing a fair, deliberative and consensus-oriented process for enacting election reform required by the federal law, and ensure the timely fulfillment by this State of all requirements for eligibility to receive appropriated federal funds.

19:61-2 Short title; The Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Act
This act shall be known and may be cited as “The Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Act.”

19:61-3 Federal Elections Assistance Fund.
There is hereby established in the Department of the Treasury a special, nonlapsing fund to be known as the Federal Elections Assistance Fund.

The fund is established in accordance with paragraph (b) of section 254 of Pub.L.107-252, (42 U.S.C.15404) for the purpose of receiving:

a. all moneys appropriated or otherwise made available by the State for the purpose of carrying out the activities required by Pub.L.107-252;

b. all payments which will be received from the federal government pursuant to Pub.L.107-252;

c. interest earned on deposits made in the fund; and

d. such other additional amounts as may be appropriated under federal or State law.

The State Treasurer is authorized to transfer into the fund in a timely manner such State moneys as will be necessary to insure that the State qualifies for the maximum amount of federal funds appropriated to implement Pub.L.107-252.

19:61-4 Provisional ballot free-access system
The Attorney General shall establish a free-access system, such as a toll-free telephone number, an Internet website or any combination thereof, that any individual who casts a provisional ballot may access to ascertain whether the ballot of that individual was accepted for counting and, if the vote was not counted, the reason for the rejection of the ballot. The system shall at all times preserve the confidentiality of each voter, and shall ensure that no person, other than the individual who cast the ballot, may discover whether or not that individual’s ballot was accepted, unless so informed by the voter.

19:61-5 Absentee ballot free-access system
The Secretary of State shall establish a free-access system, such as a toll-free telephone number, an Internet website or any combination thereof, that any individual who casts a mail-in ballot or an overseas ballot in a federal election may access to ascertain: (1) whether an application for a mail-in ballot or an overseas ballot has been approved and if not, the reason for its rejection; and (2) whether the mail-in ballot or overseas ballot was received and accepted for counting and, if the ballot was not counted, the reason for the rejection of the ballot. The system shall at all times preserve the confidentiality of each person who has requested an application to vote by mail-in ballot or overseas ballot, or who has voted by mail-in ballot or overseas ballot, and shall ensure that no person, other than the individual who requested or cast the ballot, may discover whether or not that individual’s application or ballot was received and accepted, unless so informed by the voter. This system may be the same one used for provisional ballots, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-4).

19:61-6 Procedures for filing written complaint; administrative inquiry
a. After January 1, 2004, any individual who believes that there is, has been, or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) may, pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section established in compliance with the provisions of section 402 of P.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15512), file a complaint with the Division of Elections in the Department of Law and Public Safety seeking appropriate relief with respect to the violation.

b Each such complaint shall be in writing, and shall be notarized, signed, and sworn by the individual filing the complaint. The Attorney General may consolidate all such complaints if the Attorney General deems it appropriate.

c. (1) If, upon administrative inquiry, the Attorney General determines that there is, has been, or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall order appropriate relief. The complainant may request a hearing on the record, to be conducted in the manner provided for contested cases pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.); otherwise, the order of the Attorney General shall constitute final agency action on the matter and shall be subject to judicial review as provided in the Rules of Court.

(2) If, upon administrative inquiry, the Attorney General determines that there has been, is or will be no violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C.15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall reject the claim of the violation and shall so notify the complainant. In that case, the complainant shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the record in the manner provided for contested cases pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). Intervention in this hearing by any other person shall be as provided in the “Administrative Procedure Act.” After review of the record of the hearing and the recommendation of the administrative law judge, the Attorney General shall affirm, reject or modify the decision. If, after a hearing, the Attorney General determines that there has been, is or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall order appropriate relief. If the complainant does not request a hearing following a determination of no violation based upon administrative inquiry or if the Attorney General determines after a hearing that there has been, is or will be no violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall dismiss the complaint and publish the results of the procedures. The decision of the Attorney General shall constitute final agency action on the matter, and shall be subject to judicial review as provided in the Rules of Court.

d. All complaints filed under this section shall be resolved finally by the Attorney General prior to the 90th day after the date that the complaint was filed, unless the complainant consents to a longer period for making such a determination.

e. If the Attorney General fails to meet the 90-day deadline provided in subsection d. of this section, the complaint shall be resolved within 60 days of that deadline under alternative dispute resolution procedures established by the Attorney General for the purpose of this section. The record and other materials from any proceedings conducted under the complaint procedures established under this section shall be made available for use under the alternative dispute resolution procedures.

f. All of the procedures provided for by this section shall be applied uniformly and not in a manner that discriminates in any way against an individual based on that individual’s gender, race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

g. An individual who believes that there is, or has been, or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) may, as an alternative to the procedures prescribed in subsections a. through f. of this section, file a complaint in the appropriate Superior Court seeking appropriate relief with respect to the violation. The complaint shall be resolved in an expedited manner.

19:61-7 Report to Secretary of State
No later than the 90th day following the day of each regularly scheduled general election of candidates for federal office, each county board of elections shall submit to the Secretary of State for transmittal to the Election Assistance Commission, established pursuant to section 201 of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15321), a report on the combined number of absentee ballots transmitted to military service voters and overseas voters and the combined number of such ballots which were returned by such voters, judged to be valid, cast and canvassed. The report shall be in the format developed by the commission. The Secretary of State shall make copies of each such report available to the general public.

19:61-8 Progress report
The Attorney General shall issue a report on the progress of the implementation of the federal “Help America Vote Act of 2002,” Pub.L.107-252 (116 Stat 1666) in the State to the Governor, the Senate President, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the General Assembly, and Assembly Minority Leader. The report shall be issued quarterly in the first year, with the first report due on July 1, 2004, and shall be issued biennially thereafter.

19:61-9 Independent professional audit team; appointment by the Attorney General; scope of audit; team membership; procedural requirements
a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the Attorney General shall appoint each year an independent, professional audit team. It shall oversee, in each county, random hand-to-eye counts of the voter-verifiable paper records that are to be conducted by appropriate county election officials. Audits shall be conducted for each election held for federal or State office, including the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and member of the Legislature, and for county and municipal offices selected by the Attorney General. In each county, the audit shall be conducted in at least two percent of the election districts in which each audited election appears on the ballot. County and municipal elections held in fewer than 100 election districts are exempt from this requirement. Election districts that are randomly selected for auditing for either the Congressional or State legislative elections in alternating years may be used to audit any other election that appears on the ballot in such districts. Ballot batches, as provided for in subsection c. of this section, shall also be audited subject to the provisions of this section.

b. The membership and composition of the audit team shall be at the discretion of the Attorney General but shall be not less than four, and at least one member shall have verifiable expertise in the field of statistics and another member shall have verifiable expertise in the field of auditing. No member of the audit team shall include any person who:

(1) is serving in any position on any political campaign committee of any candidate for political office in the elections that are subject to the manual audit;

(2) is an employee of, or reports to, the Attorney General; or

(3) is serving as an officer or an employee of any entity that designs, manufactures, or services a voting system used in the State.

c. The independent audit team shall oversee, supervise, and require county election officials to conduct an audit of the results of an election in accordance with the following procedures:

(1) Any procedure designed, adopted, and implemented by the audit team shall be implemented to ensure with at least 99% statistical power that for each federal, gubernatorial or other Statewide election held in the State, a 100% manual recount of the voter-verifiable paper records would not alter the electoral outcome reported by the audit. For each election held for State office, other than Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and for county and municipal elections held in 100 or more election districts, any procedure designed, adopted, and implemented by the audit team shall be implemented to ensure with at least 90% statistical power that a 100% manual recount of the voter-verifiable paper records would not alter the electoral outcome reported by the audit. Such procedures designed, adopted, and implemented by the audit team to achieve statistical power shall be based upon scientifically reasonable assumptions, with respect to each audited election, including but not limited to: the possibility that within any election district up to 20% of the total votes cast may have been counted for a candidate or ballot position other than the one intended by the voters; and that the number of votes cast per election district will vary. Such procedures and assumptions shall be published prior to any given election, and the public shall have the opportunity to comment thereon.

(2) Any procedure designed, adopted, and implemented by the audit team for each county and municipal election held in fewer than 100 election districts, but more than a single election district, shall be conducted in at least two election districts.

(3) Within a reasonable period of time after the final vote count after an election, the Attorney General, with the audit team, shall determine and then announce publicly the election districts in the State in which audits shall be conducted, and within 24 hours of that announcement, the audit shall be commenced.

(4) With respect to votes cast at the election district on the date of an election other than by emergency or provisional ballot, the independent audit team shall oversee and supervise a hand-to-eye count of the voter-verifiable paper records and compare those records with the count of such votes announced by the county boards of elections.

(5) With respect to the votes cast other than at the election district on the date of the election, or any other votes counted electronically by the county board of elections on or after the date of the election, including votes cast by military service voters and overseas federal election voters, the independent audit team shall oversee and supervise a count by hand of the voter-verifiable paper records as follows. To maintain voter privacy, prior to each election, the audit team shall direct the appropriate county election official to divide the ballots into batches, hereinafter referred to as audit units. Each audit unit shall contain approximately the average number of ballots cast in the election districts within the county, or fewer, but shall not be associated with any particular election district. As the ballots comprising each audit unit are counted electronically, each audit unit shall be assigned a unique identification number. Immediately after counting the ballots comprising each audit unit, a cumulative summary vote tally report bearing the audit unit’s unique identification number and containing the sum of the vote totals of the audit unit and all previously counted audit units in the election shall be printed and affixed to the audit unit. The reports shall be subject to the same secure chain of custody as the ballots comprising the audit units and shall be used by the audit team to determine the electronic vote tally for each audit unit. The audit team shall first compare the vote tallies in the final cumulative report to the official results announced by the county and resolve any discrepancies, and then include all the audit units from each county in the random selection process and if selected, cause them to be audited in the same manner provided herein for election districts, except that the hand-to-eye count shall be compared to the electronic vote tally derived from the cumulative reports.

(6) The selection of the election districts, audit units, and county and municipal elections to be audited shall be made by the Attorney General on a random basis by lot, at a public meeting, using a uniform distribution in which all election districts in which an election is held, and county and municipal elections have an equal chance of being selected, in accordance with such procedures as the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of a majority of the audit team, deems appropriate. Selection of election districts or audit units for county and municipal elections held in less than 100 election districts may be made randomly using a non-uniform distribution to be determined by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of a majority of the audit team. Such procedures shall be published prior to use in any given election, and the public shall have the opportunity to comment thereon. Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in this paragraph, the audit team shall have the authority to cause audits to be conducted of any election district or audit unit which has not been randomly selected for auditing in which a majority of the audit team determines from the un-audited election results, past election results, or other data that the votes are likely to have been miscounted. The Attorney General shall allow members of the public, including but not limited to those permitted to observe recounts, to observe the audits.

(7) As soon as practicable after the completion of an audit conducted pursuant to this section, the Attorney General shall announce publicly and publish the results of the audit and shall include in the announcement a comparison of the results of the election in the districts, as determined by the independent audit team performing the audit, and the final vote count in the districts as announced by the county boards of elections, including a list, by election district and audit unit, of any discrepancies between the initial vote count and any subsequent manual counts of the voter-verifiable paper record; explanations for such discrepancies, if any; and tallies of all overvotes, undervotes or their equivalents, blank ballots, spoiled ballots, and cancellations recorded on the voter-verifiable paper record. If the audit under this section results in a change in the number of votes counted for any candidate, the revised vote totals shall be incorporated in the official result from the relevant election districts or audit units.

(8) No county shall certify the results of any election that is subject to an audit performed pursuant to this section prior to the completion of the audit and the announcement and publication of the results thereof as required by paragraph (7) of this subsection. The audit and publication of the results thereof shall be completed prior to the time the State shall make a final determination with respect to any controversy or contest concerning the appointment of its electors for President or Vice President of the United States prior to the deadline established in section 6 of Pub.L.80-644 (3 U.S.C.s.6).

(9) If the Attorney General, based on a recommendation of a majority of the professional audit team, determines that any of the hand-to-eye counts conducted under this section show cause for concern about the accuracy of the results of any election in the State, or in a county or a municipality, or with respect to a particular election, the independent audit team shall oversee, supervise, and cause to be conducted hand-to-eye counts under this section in such additional election districts or audit units as the Attorney General considers appropriate to resolve any such concerns. The Attorney General shall issue previous to any election the criteria to be employed to determine whether the hand-to-eye counts show concern about the accuracy of the election results in order to trigger further hand-to-eye counts. Such criteria shall be published prior to use in any given election, and the public shall have the opportunity to comment thereon. Notwithstanding the requirements previously set forth in this paragraph, additional hand-to-eye counts shall be conducted if in the initial audit conducted pursuant to the procedures set forth in this subsection, any discrepancy or discrepancies attributable to the electronic counting system would alter the vote share of any candidate or ballot position by one tenth of one percent or more of the hand counted votes in the sample. Under such circumstances, the audit of the election shall be expanded using the same number of election districts and when possible, audit units, as the initial audit and shall be conducted under the same procedures used to conduct the initial audit, provided, however, that if the initial audit comprises more than one half the total number of election districts and audit units in the election, the expanded audit shall be a full hand-to-eye count of the remaining un-audited election districts and audit units. Further hand-to-eye counts shall be conducted if any discrepancy or discrepancies attributable to the electronic counting system detected by the initial or subsequent expanded audit indicates a substantial possibility that a complete hand-to-eye recount would alter the outcome of the audited election.

(10) If the voter-verifiable paper records in any machine are found to be unusable for an audit for any reason whatsoever, another machine used in the same election shall be selected at random by the audit team to replace the original machine in the audit sample. All such selections shall be made randomly in the presence of those observing the audit using a method approved by the Attorney General. An investigation to determine the reason the voter-verifiable paper records were compromised and unusable shall begin immediately, and the results of the investigation shall be made public upon completion.

d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a candidate or other applicant from requesting a recount pursuant to R.S.19:28-1 et seq. or any other law. In the event that such a recount is held in any election district that has been audited pursuant to this section, the official result from such election district shall be applied to the recount in lieu of conducting a subsequent hand count of the audited election district unless a court, at the request of a candidate or other applicant who requested the recount, so orders.

Chapter 62. Election Conducted by Mail

19:62-1 Eligible municipalities; conduct of elections
Notwithstanding any other law, regulation or rule to the contrary, a municipality with a population of 500 or fewer persons, according to the latest federal decennial census, may conduct all elections by mail, provided there is an affirmative vote to do so by the governing body of the municipality and by the governing body of the county in which the municipality is located. An election conducted by mail shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-1 et seq.).

19:62-2 County clerk; duties
If an election by mail is authorized pursuant to section 1 of this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-1), the county clerk shall:

a. publish, in advance of the election and pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State, official notice that the election shall be conducted by mail together with such other information regarding the conduct of the election as shall be deemed necessary by the Secretary of State;

b. mail a ballot, including an outer envelope and an inner envelope substantially similar to the envelopes provided for mail-in ballots pursuant to sections 12 and 13 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-12 and C.19:63-13), not sooner than the 20th day prior to the day of the election nor later than the 14th day prior to the day of the election, to each person registered to vote in the municipality at that election;

c. designate the county clerk’s office or the municipal clerk’s office as the places to obtain a replacement ballot pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-5);

d. designate, after consultation with the county board of elections and pursuant to criteria established by the Secretary of State, places within the county or municipality that shall be available for the deposit of voted ballots for the election;

e. make a provisional ballot available at the office of the county clerk and the office of the municipal clerk so that each person who has been a resident of the county or municipality in which the person seeks to register and vote at least 21 days prior to the day of the election and has moved to a location within the municipality after that 21st day and prior to the day of the election may vote;

f. suspend distribution to each registered voter in the municipality of samples of the official ballot of any election, but distribute to each registered voter in the municipality with each ballot a copy of the voter information notice provided for in section 1 of P.L.2005, c.149 (C.19:12-7.1) as modified and supplemented by the Secretary of State as deemed appropriate for use in municipalities conducting elections by mail, and such instruction about the completion of the ballot as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State;

g. make certain that all qualified voters in the municipality requesting a mail-in ballot between the 45th day and the 21st day prior to the day of an election receive such ballot after the 20th day prior to the day of an election and voters requesting a ballot on or before the seventh day prior to the date of the election shall receive a ballot authorized pursuant to this section; and

h. establish, after consultation with the county board of elections and in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Secretary of State, the time by which all ballots must be received by the board on the day of an election to be considered valid and counted.

19:62-3 County board of elections; duties
If an election by mail is authorized pursuant to section 1 of this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-1), the county board of elections shall:

a. consult with the county clerk and the municipal clerk with respect to the conduct of the election, as provided for in subsections d. and h. of section 2 of P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-2);

b. receive all ballots for the election returned by United States mail and collect all ballots for the election which were deposited in designated places of deposit prior to the time established for the closing of the polls;

c. verify the signature of the voter on the outer envelope of each ballot returned by comparing it with the signature on that person’s voter registration form, in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Attorney General, and if it is determined that the voter to whom a ballot or a replacement ballot has been issued has voted more than once, not count any ballot by that voter;

d. remove the inner envelope from the outer envelope of each ballot on the day of the election and proceed with the canvass of such ballots; and

e. conduct the canvass of the ballots and the certification of the results of the election in accordance with the procedures provided for such actions in this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-1 et seq.) and in Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

19:62-4 Voting machine for individuals with disabilities
If an election by mail is authorized pursuant to section 1 of this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C. 19:62-1), the superintendent of elections or the commissioner of registration, as may be appropriate, shall make certain that at least one voting machine that is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities shall be located in the office of the municipal clerk and available for use by such individuals. Other than as provided for in section 9 of P.L. 2005, c.148 (C.19:62-9), all the provisions of this Title concerning polling places shall apply to the office of a municipal clerk used for this purpose, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General.

19:62-5 Replacement ballot.
A registered voter may obtain a replacement ballot if a ballot has not been received by that person, or if it has been destroyed, spoiled or lost. A registered voter seeking a replacement ballot shall proceed to the office of the county clerk or municipal clerk to obtain such a ballot and sign a sworn statement that the ballot was destroyed, spoiled, lost or not received and present the statement to the county clerk or the municipal clerk prior to the time designated by law for the closing of the polls for that election. The county clerk and municipal clerk shall each keep a record of each replacement ballot provided.

Nothing in this section shall prevent a voter seeking a replacement ballot from obtaining such a ballot from the county clerk or municipal clerk anytime after ballots have been mailed to registered voters pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-2) and before the day of the election or from mailing a replacement ballot to the county board of elections prior to the day of the election.

19:62-6 Ballot statement concerning election crimes
Each ballot obtained from the county clerk or the municipal clerk shall have printed or stamped on it the following statement:

ANY PERSON WHO, BY USE OF FORCE OR ANY OTHER MEANS, UNDULY INFLUENCES A VOTER TO VOTE IN ANY PARTICULAR MANNER OR TO REFRAIN FROM VOTING IS GUILTY OF A CRIME.

19:62-7 Ballots for primary election for general election
For a primary election for the general election:

a. the county clerk shall mail the ballot of a political party to each voter in the municipality who is registered as being affiliated with the political party as of the 21st day before the day of the primary election; and

b. a voter who is not affiliated with any political party who wishes to vote in the primary of a political party shall apply to the county clerk or municipal clerk in writing for the ballot of the political party in whose primary the voter wishes to vote, or designate a political party affiliation for the first time by whatever means permitted by law, and the application or designation shall be presented to the clerk through the day of the election.

19:62-8 Marking ballots; signature and certification; return
Prior to transmitting a ballot to the county board of elections, a registered voter shall mark it and place it in the inner envelope. The inner envelope shall then be placed in the outer envelope and that envelope shall be signed and certified by the voter pursuant to instructions provided with the ballot. The voter may return the envelopes containing the marked ballot to the county board by United States mail or by depositing it at the office of the county board or any other place of deposit designated for that purpose. If the voter returns the ballot by United States mail, the voter shall provide the postage.

19:62-9 Office hours of municipal clerk on election days; staffing
The office of the municipal clerk shall be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the day of an election to provide replacement ballots or provisional ballots to voters, receive voted ballots being deposited in person by voters and permit individuals with disabilities to vote using a voting machine that is fully accessible to such individuals. During this time, such appropriate staff shall be available for election purposes at the office of the municipal clerk as may be required by the county board of elections to ensure the proper administration of the election process.

19:62-10 Receipt of ballots; counting; ballot cast on voting machine by individual with disability
a. For a ballot to be counted, it shall be received by the county board of elections no later than the time established for the closing of the polls for that election, pursuant to subsection h. of section 2 of this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-2).

Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the board from starting to count the ballots it has received for an election prior to the time designated for the closing of the polls for that election.

b. A vote that is cast on a voting machine that is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities shall be counted and canvassed in the same manner as all other votes cast by voting machine pursuant to the provisions of this Title.

19:62-11 Counting of ballots; requirements
If received in a timely manner, a ballot shall be counted only if:

a. the ballot is returned in the inner envelope and the inner envelope is enclosed in the outer envelope;

b. the envelopes in which it is returned manifest no signs of tampering or improper handling;

c. the outer envelope is signed by the registered voter to whom the ballot has been issued; and

d. the signature is verified as provided in subsection c. of section 3 of this act, P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-3).

19:62-12 Ballot challenges
Any ballot and any voter casting a ballot in an election held by mail may be challenged pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Attorney General.

19:62-13 Rules and regulations
The Attorney General shall promulgate, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

Chapter 63. Vote by Mail

19:63-1 Short title; The Vote By Mail Law
This act shall be known as and may be cited as “The Vote By Mail Law.”

19:63-2 Definitions
As used in this act, unless otherwise indicated by the context:

“Election,” “general election,” “primary election for the general election,” “municipal election,” “school election,” and “special election” mean, respectively, such elections as defined in R.S.19:1-1 et seq.

“Family member” means an adult who is a spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of a voter, whether by adoption or natural relationship. It shall also include any adult occupant regularly living with a voter in any residential building or part of a building intended for the use of no more than one family.

“Mail-in ballot” means any ballot used by a mail-in voter to vote by mail in any election.

“Mail-in voter” means any qualified and registered voter of this State who wants to vote in any election using a mail-in ballot under the provisions of this act.

19:63-3 Qualified voters; time to request mail-in ballot; request for future general and current calendar-year elections
a. A qualified voter shall be entitled to vote using a mail-in ballot:

(1) in all future elections, including general elections, held in this State, in which the voter is eligible to vote; or
(2) in any single election held in this State.
The qualified voter who chooses the option to vote using a mail-in ballot in all future elections shall be furnished with such a ballot by the county clerk without further request on the part of the voter and until the voter requests in writing that the voter no longer be sent a mail-in ballot.
The mail-in ballot application form prepared by the Secretary of State shall present the two options in the order provided above.
The additional direct expenditures required for the implementation of the provisions of this subsection as amended by section 1 of P.L.2018, c. 72 shall be offset pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 459 (C.19:63-29).

b. Not less than seven days before an election in which a voter wants to vote by mail, the voter may apply to the person designated in section 5 of P.L.2009, c. 79 (C.19:63-5), for a mail-in ballot. The application shall be in writing, shall be signed by the applicant and shall state the applicant’s place of voting residence and the address to which the ballot shall be sent. The Secretary of State shall prepare a mail-in application form and shall have the authority to promulgate any rules and regulations the secretary deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subsection.

c. Any voter wanting to vote by mail in any election may apply to the person designated in section 5 of P.L.2009, c. 79 (C.19:63-5) for a mail-in ballot to be sent to the voter. A voter who is a member of the armed forces of the United States may use a federal postcard application form to apply for a mail-in ballot.

d. Any voter who fails to apply for a mail-in ballot before the seven-day period prescribed in subsection b. of this section may apply in person to the county clerk for a mail-in ballot up to 3 p.m. of the day before the election.

e. A person voting by mail-in ballot who registered by mail after January 1, 2003, who did not provide personal identification information when registering pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1974, c. 30 (C.19:31-6.4) and is voting for the first time in his or her current county of residence following registration shall include copies of the required identification information with the mail-in ballot. Failure to include such information with the mail-in ballot shall result in its rejection.

f. The county clerk shall not transmit a mail-in ballot for any election to any person who: is deemed by a county commissioner of registration to be an inactive voter; or notifies the clerk in writing that the person no longer wishes to receive such a ballot for any election; or is no longer eligible to vote and whose registration file has been transferred to the deleted file pursuant to R.S.19:31-19.

g. Any mail-in ballot that is sent to a qualified voter and that is returned to the county clerk for any reason shall be forwarded to the commissioner of registration, who shall so note the return in the voter record of that voter.

19:63-3.1. Additions to list of mail-in ballot voters; notice of future ballot
a. The clerk of each county shall add to the list of registered voters receiving a mail-in ballot for all future elections without further request each voter in the county who requested and received a mail-in ballot for the 2016 general election, and each voter who requested and received a mail-in ballot for any election in 2017 and 2018 by filing a mail-in ballot application following the deadline for applying for a 2016 general election mail-in ballot. Each voter so added to the list shall have the option to inform the clerk in writing that the voter does not wish to receive a mail-in ballot automatically for all future elections.

b. The county clerks shall transmit to each voter who will automatically receive such a ballot for all future elections pursuant to subsection a. of this section a notice informing the voter that he or she will automatically receive a mail-in ballot for all future elections unless the voter informs the clerk in writing that he or she does not wish to receive a mail-in ballot for all future elections.

c. The additional direct expenditures required for the implementation of this section shall be offset pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c. 459 (C.19:63-29).

19:63-4 Requests by authorized messengers; disqualification from representation
a. A qualified voter is entitled to apply for and obtain a mail-in ballot by authorized messenger, who shall be so designated over the signature of the voter and whose printed name and address shall appear on the application in the space provided. The authorized messenger shall be a family member or a registered voter of the county in which the application is made and shall place his or her signature on the application in the space so provided in the presence of the county clerk or the designee thereof. No person shall serve as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election. No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot shall be permitted to serve as an authorized messenger or bearer. The authorized messenger shall show a photo identification card to the county clerk, or the designee thereof, at the time the messenger submits the application form. The county clerk or the designee thereof shall authenticate the signature of the authorized messenger in the event such a person is other than a family member, by comparing it with the signature of the person appearing on a State of New Jersey driver’s license, or other identification issued or recognized as official by the federal government, the State, or any of its political subdivisions, providing the identification carries the full address and signature of the person. After the authentication of the signature on the application, the county clerk or the designee thereof is authorized to deliver to the authorized messenger a ballot to be delivered to the qualified voter.

b. The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared a standard authorized messenger application form, which may be included with the mail-in ballot application forms. The authorized messenger section of the application shall contain the following language above the signature of the authorized messenger: “I do hereby certify that I will deliver the mail-in ballot directly to the voter and no other person, under penalty of law.”

19:63-5 County clerk to receive and date-stamp application
In the case of any election, the application for a mail-in ballot shall be made to the county clerk. The county clerk shall stamp thereon the date on which the application was received in the clerk’s office.

In the case of applications for overseas federal election voter ballots, as provided for in P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.), no application shall be refused on the grounds that it was submitted too early.

19:63-6 Notice of availability of mail-in ballots; form of notice; overseas federal election voter ballots; notice by Secretary of State
a. The county clerk, in the case of any Statewide election, countywide election, or school election in a regional or other school district comprising more than one municipality; the municipal clerk, in the case of any municipal election or school election in a school district comprising a single municipality; and the commissioners or other governing or administrative body of the district, in the case of any election to be held in any fire district or other special district, other than a municipality, created for specified public purposes within one or more municipalities, shall publish the following notice in substantially the following form:

NOTICE TO PERSONS WANTING MAIL-IN BALLOTS

If you are a qualified and registered voter of the State who wants to vote by mail in the……………………. (school, municipal, primary, general, or other) election to be held on…………….. (date of election) complete the application form below and send to the undersigned, or write or apply in person to the undersigned at once requesting that a mail-in ballot be forwarded to you. The request must state your home address and the address to which the ballot should be sent. The request must be dated and signed with your signature.

If any person has assisted you to complete the mail-in ballot application, the name, address and signature of the assistor must be provided on the application, and you must sign and date the application for it to be valid and processed. No person shall serve as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election. No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot may provide any assistance in the completion of the ballot or may serve as an authorized messenger or bearer.

No mail-in ballot will be provided to any applicant who submits a request therefor by mail unless the request is received at least seven days before the election and contains the requested information. A voter may, however, request an application in person from the county clerk up to 3 p.m. of the day before the election.

Voters who want to vote only by mail in all future general elections in which they are eligible to vote, and who state that on their application shall, after their initial request and without further action on their part, be provided a mail-in ballot by the county clerk until the voter requests that the voter no longer be sent such a ballot. A voter’s failure to vote in the fourth general election following the general election at which the voter last voted may result in the suspension of that voter’s ability to receive a mail-in ballot for all future general elections unless a new application is completed and filed with the county clerk.

Voters also have the option of indicating on their mail-in ballot applications that they would prefer to receive mail-in ballots for each election that takes place during the remainder of this calendar year. Voters who exercise this option will be furnished with mail-in ballots for each election that takes place during the remainder of this calendar year, without further action on their part.

Application forms may be obtained by applying to the undersigned either in writing or by telephone, or the application form provided below may be completed and forwarded to the undersigned.

Dated……………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………….

(signature and title of county clerk)

………………………………

(address of county clerk)

………………………………

(telephone no. of county clerk)

b. (1) The Secretary of State shall be responsible for providing all information regarding overseas ballots to each overseas voter eligible for such a ballot pursuant to P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.). The secretary shall also make available valid overseas voter registration and ballot applications to any voter who is a member of the armed forces of the United States and who is a permanent resident of this State, or who is an overseas voter who wishes to register to vote or to vote in any jurisdiction in this State. The secretary shall provide such public notice as may be deemed necessary to inform members of the armed forces of the United States and overseas voters how to obtain valid overseas voter registration and ballot applications.

(2) The Secretary of State shall undertake a program to inform voters in this State about their eligibility to vote by mail pursuant to this act. Dissemination of this information shall be included in the standard notices required by this section and other provisions of current law, including but not limited to the notice requirements of R.S.19:12-7, and shall be effectuated by such means as the secretary deems appropriate and to the extent that funds for such dissemination are appropriated including, but not limited to, by means of Statewide or local electronic media, public service announcements broadcast by such media, notices on the Internet site of the Department of State or any other department or agency of the Executive Branch of State government or its political subdivisions deemed appropriate by the secretary, and special mailings or notices in newspapers or other publications circulating in the counties or municipalities of this State.

c. The mail-in ballot materials shall contain a notice that any person voting by mail-in ballot who has registered by mail after January 1, 2003, who did not provide personal identification information when registering and is voting for the first time in his or her current county of residence following registration shall include copies of the required identification information with the mail-in ballot, and that failure to include such information shall result in the rejection of the ballot.

d. The notice provided for in subsection a. of this section shall be published before the 55th day immediately preceding the holding of any election.

Notices relating to any Statewide or countywide election shall be published in at least two newspapers published in each county. All officials charged with the duty of publishing such notices shall publish the same in at least one newspaper published in each municipality or district in which the election is to be held, or if no newspaper is published in the municipality or district, then in a newspaper published in the county and circulating in the municipality or district. All such notices shall be display advertisements.

19:63-7 Printing of mail-in ballots; envelopes and instructions
a. Each county clerk shall have printed sufficient mail-in ballots for each primary election for the general election, and for the general election. Along with such ballots the clerk shall also furnish inner and outer envelopes and printed directions for the preparation and transmitting of such ballots used in the election in the county.

b. The mail-in ballots shall be printed on paper of a different color from that used for any primary or general election ballot, but in all other respects, shall be as nearly as possible facsimiles of the election ballot to be voted at the election.

19:63-7.1 New legislative districts and certain office holder vacancies; impact upon mail-in ballots and voters; Secretary of State responsibilities
a. If in the year in which the Apportionment Commission establishes new legislative districts the production and transmission of mail-in ballots for the primary or general election cannot be accomplished starting on or before the 45th day before the day of either election pursuant to section 9 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-9), the Secretary of State shall undertake such actions as the secretary deems necessary to ensure that the ballots are produced and transmitted to mail-in voters as soon as possible after the 45th day before the election.

b. If a member of the Senate or General Assembly who is a member of a political party vacates the office prior to the expiration of the term thereof and a vacancy is created after the 70th day before the day of a general election, and due to the timing of the vacancy the production and transmission of mail-in ballots for the general election cannot be accomplished starting on or before the 45th day before the day of the election pursuant to section 9 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-9), the Secretary of State shall undertake such actions as the secretary deems necessary to ensure that the ballots are produced and transmitted to mail-in voters as soon as possible after the 45th day before the election.

19:63-8 Comparison of signature block against voter registration system; approval
Upon receipt of a request for a mail-in ballot, the county clerk shall, with the cooperation of the commissioner of registration, cause the signature of the applicant to be compared with the signature of the person appearing on the permanent registration form, or the digitalized image of the voter’s signature stored in the Statewide voter registration system, to determine from such examination, and any other available information, if the applicant is a voter qualified to cast a ballot in the election in which the voter wants to vote, and determine in case of a primary election the political party primary in which the voter is entitled to vote. The commissioner of registration, or the superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections may, at the request of the county clerk, investigate any application or request for a mail-in ballot.

If, after such examination, the county clerk is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to a ballot, the clerk shall mark on the application “Approved.” If, after such examination the county clerk determines that the applicant is not entitled to a ballot, the clerk shall mark on the application “Disapproved” and shall so notify the applicant, stating the reason therefor, as required by section 5 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-5).

19:63-9 Delivery of mail-in ballots to voters; timeliness and manner of delivery
a. Starting on or before the 45th day before the day an election is held, each county clerk shall forward mail-in ballots by first-class postage or hand delivery to each mail-in voter whose request therefor has been approved. Mail-in ballots that have been approved before the 45th day before an election shall be forwarded or delivered at least 45 days before the day of the election. Hand delivery of a mail-in ballot shall be made by the county clerk or the clerk’s designee only to the voter, or the voter’s authorized messenger, who must appear in person. No person shall serve as an authorized messenger for more than three qualified voters in an election. Ballots that have not been hand delivered shall be addressed to the voter at the forwarding address given in the application.

b. (1) Whenever the clerk forwards a mail-in ballot by mail to a mail-in voter between the 45th day and the 13th day before the day of an election, the ballot shall be transmitted within three business days of the receipt of the application.

(2) Whenever the clerk forwards a mail-in ballot by mail to a mail-in voter between the 12th day and the seventh day before the day of an election, the ballot shall be transmitted within two business days of the receipt of the application.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to: (a) annual school elections and special school elections in those school districts holding such elections, pursuant to P.L.1995, c.278 (C.19:60-1 et seq.); (b) any municipality in which elections are conducted by mail, pursuant to P.L.2005, c.148 (C.19:62-1 et seq.); (c) annual elections for members of the boards of fire district commissions, pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-72, when such elections are held at a time other than the time of the general election; and (d) the vote on any public question submitted to the voters of a local unit to increase the amount to be raised by taxation by more than the allowable adjusted tax levy, pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2007, c.62 (C.40A:4-45.46).

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2011, c.37).

19:63-10 List of applicants and approved voters; distribution of list; public access to information
a. Each county clerk, after processing the applications for mail-in ballots requiring approval under section 8 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-8) and furnishing the applicants with a mail-in ballot pursuant to that act, shall forward such requests, including those disapproved, to the county board of elections. Each clerk shall also keep one list of the requests received by the clerk and another list of the applicants whose applications were approved and sent mail-in ballots. Each list shall include the name and street address of each person requesting or receiving a mail-in ballot. The clerk shall update the lists each business day and they shall be made available to the public and transmitted to all election officials charged with the duty of administering this act.

b. Each county board of elections shall keep a list of the name and street address of each person who returns a voted mail-in ballot and the name and street address of each person who delivers the ballot personally to the board. The board shall update the list each business day and it shall be accessible to the public and transmitted to all elections officials charged with the duty of administering this act.

The county clerk and the county board of elections shall keep the lists required by this section starting no later than the 14th day before the day of the election and continue to do so until the day of the election.

19:63-11 Form of ballot for “Official Mail-In Ballot”; marking vote; primary election ballots
a. Each mail-in ballot to be used at any election shall conform generally to the ballot to be used at the election in the voter’s district but the ballots shall be clearly marked “Official Mail-In Ballot.”

At the top of every mail-in ballot there shall be printed or stamped in a prominent size the following:

To protect your vote:

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE EXCEPT YOU THE VOTER TO MARK OR INSPECT THIS BALLOT.

However, a family member may assist you in doing so.

b. Each mail-in ballot to be used pursuant to this act shall be printed entirely in black ink. In addition to conforming generally to the ballot used in the election, the mail-in ballot shall be so prepared that the voter may indicate on it the voter’s choice of the candidates for the offices to be filled, and the public questions to be voted on at the election by the voters of the entire State, county or municipality in which the voter is a resident, as known on the 48th day preceding the election. Sufficient space shall be provided on the ballot for the voter to write in the name of and vote for any candidate for, or the voter’s personal choice for, any public office to be voted for at the election in the voter’s election district. A list of the candidates for the offices to be filled in each election district in the county, whose names are known on the day on which the ballot is forwarded but do not appear on the ballot, with a statement of the office for which each is a candidate, shall be forwarded with such ballot.

When mail-in ballots are prepared, the name of any candidate who has been nominated for any office shall be placed on the ballot to be used in the general election to be held in the year in each election district in which he is a candidate, whether or not such candidate has accepted nomination prior to when the ballot was prepared, provided that the candidate has not declined the nomination before the ballot was prepared.

c. Each mail-in ballot to be used at any primary election for the general election shall, except as otherwise provided, conform to the ballot to be used at the election in the voter’s election district and to the form herein prescribed for mail-in ballots to be used in such general elections. It shall be prepared so that the voter may indicate the voter’s choice of the candidates of one political party for each of the officers to be voted on at the election by the voters of the election district and shall be separated into party ballots, which shall be printed upon one sheet when the voting system so allows.

Each such mail-in ballot shall be plainly marked to indicate that only one party ballot is to be voted by each voter and that the party ballot voted by the voter must conform to the name of the political party indicated by the county clerk.

If the county clerk has determined by investigating a voter’s registration record that the voter is qualified to vote only in the primary of a particular party, the clerk shall so note on the primary ballot the party primary in which the voter is entitled to vote.

In the case where the county clerk has ascertained through investigating the voter’s registration record that such applicant is requesting a ballot to vote in the first primary for which the voter is eligible after registration, the clerk shall note on the primary ballot that the voter can vote in the primary of any political party.

d. Any county may adopt a system of electronic scanning, or other mechanical or electronic device if the system has been approved previously by the Secretary of State to count or canvass mail-in ballots. The county clerk in any county adopting such a system may prepare and use mail-in ballots that do not conform generally to the ballot to be used at the election to the extent that such nonconformance is necessary in the operation of the electronic or mechanical canvassing system.

19:63-12 Printed voting instructions; voting return envelopes
Each county clerk shall send, with each mail-in ballot, printed directions for the preparation and transmitting of the ballots as required by this act. The directions shall be printed in such manner and form as the Secretary of State shall require, together with two envelopes of such sizes that one will contain the other.

The outer envelope shall be addressed to the county board of elections of the county in which is located the home address of the person to whom the mail-in ballot is sent, as certified by the county clerk. At the discretion of the county clerk, the outer envelope may be a postage paid return envelope. On the outside and front of each outer envelope, there shall be printed or stamped the following:

To protect your vote:

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE EXCEPT YOU THE VOTER TO MAIL OR TRANSPORT THIS BALLOT UNLESS THE ENVELOPE IS SEALED AND THE FOLLOWING IS COMPLETED:

Ballot mailed or transported by

(signature of bearer)

(print name of bearer)

(address of bearer)

The reserve side of the outer envelope shall contain the following:

REMINDER

For your vote to count, you must:

1) Vote your ballot and place it in the inner envelope with the attached certificate.

2) Seal the envelope.

3) Place the envelope into the larger envelope addressed to the board of elections and seal that envelope.

4) If another person will be mailing your ballot or bringing it to the board of elections, MAKE CERTAIN THAT PERSON COMPLETES THE “BEARER PORTION” ON THE ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BEFORE THE BALLOT IS TAKEN FROM YOU. NO PERSON WHO IS A CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTION FOR WHICH THE VOTER REQUESTS THIS BALLOT IS PERMITTED TO SERVE AS A BEARER. NO PERSON IS PERMITTED TO SERVE AS A BEARER FOR MORE THAN THREE QUALIFIED VOTERS IN AN ELECTION.

The Secretary of State is authorized to make such changes to the instructions for mail-in ballot materials as the Secretary of State deems necessary or as is mandated by federal or State law.

The inner envelope shall be so designed that it can be sealed after the mail-in ballot has been placed therein and the flap thereof shall be of such length and size as to leave sufficient margin, after sealing, for the printing thereon of the certificate hereinafter described. The flap shall be so arranged that, after the inner envelope has been sealed, the certificate can be contained, with the inner envelope, in the outer envelope, and that the margin containing the certificate can be detached without unsealing the inner envelope.

On the outside of each envelope in which a mail-in ballot is sent to a mail-in voter by the clerk, there shall be printed or stamped the words “Official Mail-In Ballot.” In addition, there shall be printed or stamped the following:

To protect your vote:

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE EXCEPT YOU THE VOTER TO OPEN, MARK, INSPECT OR SEAL THIS BALLOT.

However, a family member may assist you in doing so.

The reverse side of each inner envelope shall contain the following statement:

A PERSON MAY BE FINED AND IMPRISONED AND MAY ALSO LOSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNTIL RESTORED BY LAW if that person attempts to vote fraudulently by mail-in ballot, prevents the voting of a legal voter, certifies falsely any information, interferes with a person’s secrecy of voting, tampers with ballots or election documents or helps another person to do so.

19:63-13 Certification by mail-in voter
a. On the margin of the flap on the inner envelopes to be sent to mail-in voters there shall be printed a certificate in the following form:

CERTIFICATE OF MAIL-IN VOTER

I, ……………………., whose home address is …………..

(print your name clearly) (street

……………………………………….., DO HEREBY CERTIFY,

address or R.D. number) (municipality)

Subject to the penalties for fraudulent voting, that I am the person who applied for the enclosed ballot. I MARKED AND SEALED THIS BALLOT AND CERTIFICATE IN SECRET. However, a family member may assist me in doing so.

………………………….

(signature of voter)

Any person providing assistance shall complete the following:

I do hereby certify that I am the person who provided assistance to this voter and declare that I will maintain the secrecy of this ballot.

………………………….

(signature of person providing

assistance)

………………………….

(printed name of person providing

assistance)

………………………….

………………………….

(address of person providing

assistance)

b. On the margin of the flap on the inner envelope forwarded with any mail-in ballot intended to be voted in any primary election for the general election, as the case may be, there shall be printed a certificate in the following form:

CERTIFICATE OF MAIL-IN VOTER

I,……………………., whose home address is…………..

(print your name clearly) (street address or R.D. number) (municipality)

……………………………………….., DO HEREBY CERTIFY,

subject to the penalties for fraudulent voting, that I am the person who applied for the enclosed ballot for the primary election. I MARKED AND SEALED THIS BALLOT AND CERTIFICATE IN SECRET. However, a family member may assist me in doing so.

…………………………
(signature of voter)

Any person providing assistance shall complete the following:

I do hereby certify that I am the person who provided assistance to this voter and declare that I will maintain the secrecy of this ballot.

…………………………
(signature of person providing
assistance)

…………………………
(printed name of person
providing assistance)

…………………………

…………………………

(address of person providing

assistance)

19:63-14 Certification by county clerk.
Each county clerk shall, from time to time and prior to each election, certify in writing under oath to the commissioner of registration of the county, the names and addresses of the persons to whom mail-in ballots to be voted at such election have been delivered or forwarded pursuant to this act.

19:63-15 Commissioner duties upon receipt of notice from county clerk; provisional ballots
The commissioner of registration upon receipt of the information from the county clerk required by section 14 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-14) shall mark the applicant’s record in the Statewide voter registration system and duplicate voting record appearing on the signature copy registers as follows.

Whenever the commissioner of registration receives from the county clerk notice that a mail-in ballot has been forwarded to a voter during the time when the signature copy registers are in the custody of other election officials pursuant to current law, or are in transit to or from such officials, the commissioner shall, prior to the opening of the polls on election day, forward to each polling place a list of all such voters to whom ballots have been sent but whose duplicate voting record has not been marked in the manner herein prescribed. Such lists may be prepared in the same manner as a challenge sheet and may be included therein together with other causes for challenge. Any person whose name appears on any list or notice furnished by the commissioner of registration to the effect that such voter has received a mail-in ballot, but who wishes nevertheless to vote at the polls on the day of an election, shall be permitted to vote by provisional ballot after completing the affirmation statement attached to the envelope provided with the provisional ballot pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1).

Whenever a mail-in ballot has been delivered to a voter less than seven days before an election and up to 3 p.m. of the day before the election, and the signature copy registers are in the custody of other election officials, or in transit to or from such officials, the county clerk shall prepare a master list of all such ballots, and the list shall be transmitted to the commissioner of registration in sufficient time to permit the commissioner to notify the appropriate municipal clerk. The clerk shall notify the judge of the polling place to mark the voter’s record accordingly.

19:63-16 Marking voter’s choice on ballot; sealing and return of ballot by voter; assistance with voting process; proof of identity
a. A mail-in voter shall be entitled to mark any mail-in ballot forwarded to the voter for voting at any election by indicating the voter’s choice of candidates for the offices named, and as to public questions, if any, stated thereon, in accordance with current law. In the case of ballots to be voted for any primary election for the general election, as the case may be, the voter’s choice shall be limited to the candidates of the voter’s political party or to any person or persons whose names are written thereon by the voter. When so marked, such ballot shall be placed in the inner envelope, which shall then be sealed, and the voter shall then fill in the form of certificate attached to the inner envelope, at the end of which the voter shall sign and print the voter’s name. The inner envelope with the certificate shall then be placed in the outer envelope, which shall then be sealed.

b. No mail-in voter shall permit any person in any way, except as provided by this act, to unseal, mark or inspect the voter’s ballot, interfere with the secrecy of the voter’s vote, complete or sign the certificate, or seal the inner or outer envelope, nor shall any person do so.

c. A mail-in voter shall be entitled to assistance from a family member in performing any of the actions provided for in this section. The family member or other person providing such assistance shall certify that he or she assisted the voter and will maintain the secrecy of the vote by both printing and signing his or her name in the space provided on the certificate. In no event may a candidate for election provide such assistance, nor may any person, at the time of providing such assistance, campaign or electioneer on behalf of any candidate.

d. (1) The sealed outer envelope with the inner envelope and the ballot enclosed therein shall then either be mailed to the county board of elections to which it is addressed or delivered personally by the voter or a bearer designated by the voter to the board. To be counted, the ballot must be received by the board or its designee before the time designated by R.S.19:15-2 or R.S.19:23-40 for the closing of the polls, as may be appropriate, on the day of an election.

(2) Whenever a person delivers a ballot to the county board, that person shall provide proof of the person’s identity in the form of a New Jersey driver’s license, or another form of identification issued or recognized as official by the federal government, the State, or any of its subdivisions, providing the identification carries the full address and signature of the person. The person shall sign a record maintained by the county of all mail-in ballots personally delivered to it.

(3) No person shall serve as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election. No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot shall be permitted to serve as an authorized messenger or bearer. The bearer, by signing the certification provided for in section 12 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-12), certifies that he or she received a mail-in ballot directly from the voter, and no other person, and is authorized to deliver the ballot to the appropriate board of election or designee on behalf of the voter.

19:63-17 Responsibilities of county board of elections; rejection of ballot; disputes over voter qualifications
The county board of elections shall, promptly after receiving each mail-in ballot, remove the inner envelope containing the ballot from the outer envelope and shall compare the signature and the information contained on the flap of the inner envelope with the signature and information contained in the respective requests for mail-in ballots. In addition, as to mail-in ballots issued less than seven days prior to an election, the county board of elections shall also check to establish that the mail-in voter did not vote in person. The county board shall reject such a ballot if it is not satisfied, pursuant to a comparison with the Statewide voter registration system, that the voter is legally entitled to vote and that the ballot conforms with the requirements of this act.

In the case of a mail-in ballot to be voted at a primary election for the general election, the ballot shall be rejected if the mail-in voter has indicated in the certificate the voter’s intention to vote in a primary election of any political party in which the voter is not entitled to vote according to the Statewide voter registration system, and if it shall appear from the record that the voter is not entitled to vote in a primary election of the political party which has been so indicated.

Any mail-in ballot which is received by a county board of elections shall be rejected if both the inner and outer envelopes are unsealed or if either envelope has a seal that has been tampered with.

Disputes about the qualifications of a mail-in voter to vote or about whether or not or how any mail-in ballot shall be counted in such election shall be referred to the Superior Court for determination.

After such investigation, the county board of elections shall detach or separate the certificate from the inner envelope containing the mail-in ballot, unless it has been rejected by it or by the Superior Court, marking the envelope so as to identify the election district in which the ballot contained therein is to be voted as indicated by the voter’s home address appearing on the certificate attached to or accompanying the inner envelope and, in the case of ballots to be voted at a primary election for a general election, so as to identify the political party in the primary election of which it is to be voted.

The location at which a county board of elections determines whether a mail-in ballot shall be accepted or rejected shall be considered an election district for the purposes of appointment of challengers.

19:63-18 Ballot count prior to closing of the polls
The county board of elections shall count all valid mail-in ballots received thereby prior to the time designated by current law for the closing of the polls for each election.

19:63-19 Validity of ballots that do not contain all candidates or public questions put to voters
No mail-in ballot shall be rejected or declared invalid because it does not contain all of the names of the candidates or all of the public questions to be voted for in the election district in the election in which it is to be counted. A mail-in ballot shall be counted in determining the result of the election as to any office or public question, if the designation of the office and the name of the candidate for election to the office or the answer to such public question are indicated thereon to demonstrate the voter’s choice.

19:63-20 Election day personal appearance; prohibitions; provisional ballot
a. Any person who has applied for a mail-in ballot and has had the mail-in ballot either delivered in person or forwarded by mail, and voted and returned the voted ballot to the county board, shall not be permitted to vote in person at the polling place in the voter’s election district on the day of the election.

b. Any person who: (1) has applied for a mail-in ballot and not received either the ballot or an explanation for not receiving such a ballot pursuant to notification by the county clerk or from the free-access system established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-5) to provide such information; or (2) has applied for and received a mail-in ballot and has not transmitted it to the county board of elections or given it to a bearer for delivery to the county board before the time for the opening of the polls on the day of an election, shall be permitted to vote in person by provisional ballot at the polling place in the voter’s election district on the day of the election.

19:63-21 Voter death subsequent to mailing vote; rejection of ballot
Whenever the county board receives evidence that a mail-in voter who has marked and forwarded a mail-in ballot has died before the opening of the polls on the day of the election, the ballot shall be rejected by the board and retained by it in the same manner as provided by this act for other rejected ballots.

19:63-22 Election day ballot count; canvass and certification of votes
On the day of each election each county board of elections shall open in the presence of the commissioner of registration, or the designee thereof, the inner envelopes that contain the mail-in ballots with the votes cast for the election. The inner envelopes containing the ballots that the board or the Superior Court has rejected shall not be so opened, but shall be retained as provided for by this act. The board shall then proceed to canvass the votes cast on the mail-in ballots, but no such ballot shall be counted in any primary election for the general election if the ballot of the political party marked for voting thereon differs from the designation of the political party in the primary election of which such ballot is intended to be voted as marked on the envelope by the county board of elections.

Immediately after the canvass is completed, the respective county boards of election shall certify the result of the canvass to the county clerk or the municipal or district clerk or other appropriate officer, as the case may be, showing the result of the canvass by municipality and ward. The votes thus canvassed shall be counted in determining the result of the election.

The county board of elections shall, immediately after the canvass is completed for any primary election, certify the results of the votes cast for members of the county committees to the respective municipal clerks, and those votes shall be counted in determining the result of the election.

19:63-23 Recordation of mail-in ballots in Statewide voter registration system and duplicate voting record
As soon as practicable after each election, the board of elections shall mark in the Statewide voter registration system and all duplicate voting records to show that mail-in ballots were delivered or forwarded to the respective registered voters. For each mail-in ballot that has been voted, received and counted, the board of elections shall also, by reference to the certificates removed from the inner envelopes of such ballots, place the word “Voted” in the space provided in the Statewide voter registration system and duplicate voting record for recording the ballot number of the voter’s ballot in the election. In the case of the primary election for the general election, the board shall also cause to be noted in the proper space of the Statewide voter registration system or other record of voting form the first three letters of the name of the political party primary in which such ballot was voted. The record contained in the Statewide voter registration system and of voting forms in the original permanent registration binders shall be conformed to the foregoing entries in the duplicate forms.

19:63-24 Two year record retention of all requests, applications and returned mail-in ballot documents
The county board of elections shall keep, for two years, all of the requests and applications for mail-in ballots, all voted mail-in ballots, and all of the certificates that have been detached or separated by them from the inner envelopes. All inner envelopes together with their certificates, and the contents of those envelopes not opened by order of the county board or Superior Court, shall also be retained for the same period by the board. The superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections and the prosecutor in all other counties shall have the authority to impound all mail-in ballots whenever the superintendent or prosecutor, as may be appropriate, shall deem such action to be necessary.

19:63-25 Exercise of power over mail-in voting
The county board of elections, the county clerk, the superintendent of elections and the commissioner of registration shall exercise the same powers over mail-in voting as over other voting in elections, except as otherwise provided by law.

19:63-26 Validity of election due to irregularity or failure in mail-in ballot processing
No election shall be held to be invalid due to any irregularity or failure in the preparation or forwarding of any mail-in ballots prepared or forwarded pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-1 et al.).

19:63-27 Delivery to county board of elections by other than voter; restrictions
No person shall take a mail-in ballot from a voter or other person having custody of it for the purpose of delivering it to the county board of elections or to a postal box or post office, nor shall any voter permit any person to do so, unless the ballot is sealed in the outer envelope and the person who transports or delivers it first signs and prints his or her name on the outer envelope. No other person shall attempt to do any of the foregoing.

19:63-28 Fraud in casting mail-in vote; conspirators; criminal penalties and disenfranchisement
a. Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of P.L.2009, c. 79 (C.19:63-1 et al.), or who, not being entitled to vote thereunder, fraudulently votes or attempts to vote thereunder, or enables or attempts to enable another person not entitled to vote thereunder to vote fraudulently thereunder, or who prevents or attempts to prevent by fraud the voting of any person legally entitled to vote under this act, or who shall knowingly certify falsely in any paper required under this act, or who, at any time, tampers with any ballot or document used in an election or interferes with the secrecy of the voting of any person, is guilty of a crime of the third degree, and upon conviction thereof shall be subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement while serving a sentence of incarceration, unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage.

b. Any person who knowingly aids and abets another in violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a crime of the third degree and upon conviction thereof shall be subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement while serving a sentence of incarceration, unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage.

19:63-29. Mail-In Ballot Local Reimbursement Fund; establishment; maintenance; contents; appropriation of funds
There is created a special, non-lapsing fund in the Department of State that shall be designated the “Mail-In Ballot Local Reimbursement Fund.” The fund shall be maintained as a separate account and administered by the Secretary of State. The fund shall consist of: (1) any monies appropriated by the State for the purposes of the fund; and (2) all interest and investment earnings received on monies in the fund. The fund shall be used to offset the additional direct expenditures required for the implementation of P.L.2018, c. 72 and P.L.2019, c. 265 and any rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto.

There shall be appropriated annually through the annual appropriations act such amounts as shall be deemed necessary for the purposes of the fund.

The clerk of each county, shall, on or before January 1 of each year following the year for which the county, or any municipality, board of education, or fire district therein, is seeking reimbursement, certify to the Department of State, in a manner prescribed by the department, the total cost incurred by the county, municipality, board of education, or fire district in implementing the provisions of P.L.2018, c. 72 and P.L.2019, c. 265.

19:63-30. Retroactive application of P.L.2018, c. 72 and P.L.2019, c. 265
To the extent deemed expired by the Council on Local Mandates, established by section 4 of P.L.1996, c. 24 (C.52:13H-4) pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution, the provisions of P.L.2018, c. 72 and P.L.2019, c. 265 shall be accorded full force and effect retroactive to the effective dates thereof, the funding for which shall be provided as in sections 1 and 5 of this act, P.L.2019, c. 459 (C.19:63-29), and section 3 of P.L.2019, c. 265, to offset the additional direct expenditures required for the implementation of P.L.2018, c. 72 and P.L.2019, c. 265 as required under Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution.

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