Bill Text: NJ A2450 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides that certain absentee ballots will be counted if received within ten days of election.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-21 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [A2450 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2450-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GARY R. CHIUSANO
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Provides that certain absentee ballots will be counted if received within ten days of election.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain absentee ballots and amending P.L.1953, c.211 and P.L.1976, c.23.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 26 of P.L.1953, c.211 (C.19:57-26) is amended to read as follows:
26. All [valid military service ballots and] valid civilian absentee ballots bearing a return address within the United States received by the county boards prior to the time designated for the closing of the polls for each election shall be counted.
All valid civilian absentee ballots bearing a return address outside of the United States and all valid military service ballots received by the county boards not later than 5:00 pm on the tenth day following the day of the election shall be counted.
(cf: P.L.1953, c.211, s.26)
2. Section 11 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-11) is amended to read a follows:
11. Upon receipt of each overseas ballot, other than a ballot which had been sent by electronic means to an overseas 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 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 absentee ballots. [No ballot] Ballots received [after the time designated for the closing of the polls] not later than 5:00 pm on the tenth day following the election shall be counted.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.61, s.12)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under existing law, civilian absentee ballots and military service ballots, as well as absentee ballots of overseas federal election voters, must be received prior to the closing of the polls on election day in order to be counted. This bill would provide, instead, that civilian absentee ballots bearing a return address outside of the United States, military service ballots, and absentee ballots of overseas federal election voters would be counted if received not later than the tenth day following the day of the election. The additional time is necessary to compensate for delays which may occur when absentee ballots are mailed from outside the United States and would help to ensure that these voters are not disenfranchised.
