Bill Text: NJ S3193 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires availability of electronic signature and submission process for all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-10-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S3193 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-S3193-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 3193

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 13, 2022

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NIA H. GILL

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires availability of electronic signature and submission process for all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the electronic gathering of signatures and submission of petitions and supplementing chapter 13 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      1.  a.  Notwithstanding any provision of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Secretary of State, county clerks, and municipal clerks shall jointly develop and implement a process to allow for the electronic gathering of signatures and electronic submission of all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions. The process may be modeled on the electronic signature and submission process implemented during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor under Executive Order No. 103 (2020). The electronic signature and submission requirements established under this section shall be available as an alternative to the paper submission process established by law, to be used at the discretion of the petition's respective filing officer.

      b.  The process for the electronic signature and submission of petitions shall be made available for the:

      (1) collection of signatures for any candidate, including a candidate for a board of education, delegate, recall, initiative, referendum, or other petition required to be filed prior to an election;

      (2) delivery of petitions to the Secretary of State, county clerks, and municipal clerks;

      (3) acceptance by the Secretary of State, county clerks, and municipal clerks of electronic petitions with signatures collected via the online form or forms, except that handwritten signatures obtained prior to the effective date of this section shall also be accepted electronically and in person; and

      (4) verification of signatures, notarization of petitions, and submission of oaths to accompany petitions, as may be required by law.

     c.  The Secretary of State shall develop a generic template or templates for the online form or forms to be used for the electronic collection of signatures and submission of petitions. The petition's respective filing officer shall develop the electronic procedures for signature verification, petition notarization, and submission of oaths to meet the requirements of current law.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the availability of an electronic signature and
submission process for all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions.    

     Under current law, such petitions are circulated, signed, and submitted in person. Under the bill, the Secretary of State, county clerks, and municipal clerks would jointly develop and implement a process to allow for the electronic gathering of signatures and electronic submission of all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions. The process may be modeled on the electronic signature and submission process implemented during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor under Executive Order No. 103 (2020). Under the bill, the electronic signature and submission process would be available as an alternative to the paper submission process established by law, to be used at the discretion of the petition's respective filing officer. The bill directs the Secretary of State to develop a generic template or templates for the online form or forms to be used for the electronic collection of signatures and submission of petitions. The petition's respective filing officer would develop the electronic procedures for signature verification, petition notarization, and submission of oaths to meet the requirements of current law.