Bill Text: NJ A3818 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates specific dates for special fire district elections.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-06-09 - Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A3818 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A3818-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Designates specific dates for special fire district elections.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating specific dates for special fire district elections and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 40A of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The board of fire commissioners may call a special election of the legal voters of the fire 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 fire district requires such an election. The board of fire commissioners 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 the Department of Community Affairs may change in any year any date authorized for a special fire district 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 fire districts, municipal clerks, 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.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates four specific dates throughout the year when special fire district elections can be held. Currently, special fire district elections can be held at any time. Requiring that the special elections be held on four specific dates will provide voters with more notice and predictability, allowing them a better chance to vote.
This bill also allows the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs to change the date of a designated special election day if it falls on a date that is a period of religious observance which would significantly prevent residents from voting.
