Bill Text: NJ A1405 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides for receipt for voter at primary or general election; allows receipt to be proof of eligibility to vote in subsequent election; provides State reimbursement.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [A1405 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A1405-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Gusciora
SYNOPSIS
Provides for receipt for voter at primary or general election; allows receipt to be proof of eligibility to vote in subsequent election; provides State reimbursement.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act requiring the issuance of receipts to voters at primary and general elections and supplementing P.L.1944, c.230 (C.19:31A-7 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A district board of election shall issue to each voter, who has signed the signature comparison record and cast a ballot at a primary election or a general election, a written receipt signed by one member of the board and by the voter in the presence of that board member which sets forth the date and type of election, and in the case of a primary election the name of the political party the primary of which the voter voted in, the name of the county and municipality in which the election district is located, and the number of the election district. A voter who is unable to sign the signature comparison record and for whom a disability certificate has been completed shall not be required to sign the receipt and the member of the board signing the receipt shall, instead, print thereon the voter's name and the words "disabled voter".
Each voter who votes by provisional ballot, pursuant to P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et seq.), and whose ballot is determined to be valid by the board of elections in the county where the voter is registered to vote, shall be sent by regular mail no later than 21 days following the day of the election a written receipt signed by a member of the board that notes that the voter has voted by provisional ballot. Each military service voter or an civilian absentee voter who votes by military service ballot or civilian absentee ballot, respectively, pursuant to P.L.1953, c.211 (C.19:57-1 et seq.), shall be sent by regular mail no later than 21 days following the day of the election a written receipt signed by a member of the board of elections in the county in which the voter is registered that notes that the voter has voted by absentee ballot. Each removed resident who votes for electors for president and vice president of the United States by Presidential ballot, pursuant to P.L.1964, c.134 (C.19:58-1 et seq.), shall be sent by regular mail no later than 21 days following the day of the election a written receipt signed by a member of the board of elections of the county in which the voter formerly resided that notes that the voter voted by Presidential ballot. Each Overseas Federal election voter who votes in a federal election by absentee ballot or by fax, pursuant to P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented, shall be sent by regular mail or by fax, as the case may be, no later than 21 days following the day of the election a written receipt signed by a member of the board of elections of the county in which the voter formerly resided or was registered to vote prior to departure from the United States or by the Attorney General, as may be appropriate, that notes that the voter voted as an Overseas Federal election voter.
A receipt issued pursuant to this section may be used by the voter at the next subsequent primary election or general election as proof of eligibility to vote at that election in that district in the event that the voter's registration information is unavailable. Such a voter shall be allowed to vote using a provisional ballot as provided by P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et seq.).
Any challenge of a person's right to vote that involves a written receipt issued pursuant to this section shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures established in Chapter 15 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
2. Upon receipt of proper documentation submitted to the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury and the certification thereby of the expenses incurred by a county board of elections due to the provisions of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill), there shall be appropriated from the General Fund to the board of elections of that county such sums as may be necessary to reimburse the board for the expenses it incurred pursuant to that act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to primary elections and general elections occurring more than 60 days thereafter.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a district board of election to issue a written receipt to each voter at a primary election or a general election. The receipt may be used by the voter at the next subsequent primary election or general election as proof of eligibility to vote in that district in the event that the voter's registration information is unavailable. The voter would be allowed to vote using a provisional ballot.
A receipt would be signed by one member of the board and by the voter and would list the date and type of election, the name of the county and municipality in which the election district is located, and the number of the election district. A receipt issued at a primary election would also list the name of the voter's political party. In the case of a disabled voter who is unable to sign the receipt, the board member would print thereon the voter's name and the words "disabled voter".
The bill also provides: 1) that voters who vote by provisional ballot, when such a vote is deemed valid, by absentee ballot, by Presidential ballot, or as an Overseas Federal election voter would be sent, by regular mail (or by fax for Overseas Federal election voters voting by fax) no later than 21 days following the election, a written receipt signed by a member of the board of elections of the county where the voter is registered; 2) that any challenge of a voter's right to vote that involves a written receipt issued pursuant to the bill would be resolved in accordance with the procedures provided for in Chapter 15 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes; and 3) for reimbursement by the State for the expenses a county board of elections incurs as a result of complying with the provisions of this bill when it becomes law.
