Bill Text: NJ S485 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes early voting procedure for certain elections; makes appropriation.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S485 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S485-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator RAYMOND J. LESNIAK
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes early voting procedure for certain elections; makes appropriation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act permitting early voting for certain elections, amending various sections of the statutory law, supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) a. In addition to all other forms of voting provided for by this Title, a registered voter shall be able to vote at a specially designated polling place before the day of a presidential primary election, the day of the primary election for the general election and the day of a general election, starting on the 15 day before the election and ending on the second day before the election. This procedure shall be known as early voting. Any municipality governed by the provisions of the "Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law," P.L.1981, c.379 (C.40:45-5 et seq.), may, by an ordinance passed by its governing body, also conduct early voting for the regular municipal election pursuant to this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The voting shall be conducted using the same voting machines and procedures as used in any election. Pursuant to the provisions of this Title, each county board of elections shall determine the method of verifying that a registrant is qualified to vote in the election and shall prescribe the manner, equipment and method by which a resident may vote during such period.
b. (1) For the presidential primary election, the primary election for the general election and the general election, each county board of elections shall designate at least one public location within the county as the site for early voting to occur. Whenever possible, each location shall be geographically located in the part of the county that features the greatest concentration of population, according to the most recent federal decennial census of the United States. All early voting locations shall be public facilities, such as county courthouses, public libraries and the offices of the county clerk and of the county board of elections. No public school building and no building used as a public school shall, however, be designated as an early voting location. The locations shall be designated at the same time as all other polling places are designated by the board of elections. In the event of a tie vote among members of the county board with respect to the selection of sites for early voting, the county clerk shall cast the deciding vote.
(2) Whenever a municipality chooses to participate in early voting for the regular municipal election, the county board of elections shall designate at least one public location within the municipality as the site for early voting to occur. Whenever possible, each such location shall be geographically located in the part of the municipality that features the greatest concentration of population, according to the most recent federal decennial census of the United States. All early voting locations shall be public facilities, such as municipal courthouses and the offices of the municipal clerk. No public school building and no building used as a public school shall, however, be designated as an early voting location. The locations shall be designated at the same time as all other polling places are designated by the board of elections. In the event of a tie vote among members of the county board with respect to the selection of sites for early voting, the municipal clerk shall cast the deciding vote.
c. Each early voting site in a county or municipality shall be open on the same days and for the same period of time. Early voting shall be available to voters for eight hours each weekday and eight hours in the aggregate each weekend at each site. Any voter who is on line at the time scheduled for the closing of an early voting site shall be permitted to vote.
d. The election officers responsible for conducting early voting shall be the same as those responsible for conducting a general election pursuant to this Title. The number of such officers and their hours of service shall be as determined by each county board of elections. The compensation for such officers shall be the same as provided to district board of election members serving at a school election pursuant to R.S.19:45-6.
e. The restrictions governing the conduct of voters at a polling place on the days that early voting occurs, the procedures governing who is permitted in a polling place on such occasions and the prohibition on electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place during an election, shall be as provided in chapters 15, 34, 50 and 52 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes and every other applicable section of this Title.
f. Prior to the start of each regularly scheduled presidential primary election, primary election for the general election, each general election, and regular municipal election in each municipality choosing to participate in early voting, each county board shall make such changes as may be necessary to the signature copy register used in each polling place to indicate that a voter had voted previously in that election using the early voting procedure.
g. (1) Each county board shall be responsible for forming and executing a written plan for the security of voting machines used during the early voting period. The plan shall be based on guidelines established by the Secretary of State and shall be submitted thereto no later than December 15 of each year. The Secretary of State shall review and, if deemed necessary thereby, require changes to a plan no later than February 1 of each year.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, in the year in which P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) becomes law, each county board shall submit its plan to the Secretary of State within 15 days following the effective date of that act and the Secretary of State shall review it and, if deemed necessary thereby, require changes in the plan within 45 days following the effective date of the act.
h. Each county board shall make certain that each polling place used for early voting shall be accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly, in compliance with the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). At least one voting machine at each such polling place shall be accessible to such individuals, including the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, as other voters in compliance with the "Help America Vote Act of 2002" (42 U.S.C. 15481).
i. Each polling place used for early voting shall have such appropriate supplies, ballots and other materials deemed necessary by the Secretary of State or as is required currently for a polling place on the day of any election by Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
2. (New section) a. A voter shall be able to participate in early voting after:
(1) displaying one of the following identifying documents: (a) a current and valid photo identification card; (b) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or pay check; (c) any other government document that shows the voter's name and current address; or (d) any other identifying document that the Secretary of State has determined to be acceptable for this purpose; and
(2) completing an Early Voting Voter Certificate in substantially the following form:
EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE
I,__________(your name), am a
registered voter, residing at___________________ (your street
address),__________County, New Jersey. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am
the person so listed on the voter registration rolls of ___________County and
that I reside at the above address. I understand that if I commit or attempt
to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote fraudulently or vote more than
once in an election I could be convicted of a crime of the third degree and
fined up to $15,000 and
imprisoned for up to five years. I understand that my failure to sign this
certificate invalidates my vote.
___________________
(Voter Signature)
___________________
(Date)
If the voter does not display one of the required documents, the voter shall not be permitted to vote using a voting machine, but instead shall be permitted to vote by provisional ballot, pursuant to P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et seq.). Each early voting voter certificate shall be collected and forwarded to the county board at the end of each day of the early voting period and shall be kept by the board for two years following the date of the election.
b. No voter who has voted in an election using the early voting procedure established by this act, P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be permitted to vote in person at the polling place in the voter's election district on the day of the election.
3. (New section) a. The appointment of challengers for early voting shall be in the same manner as provided in chapter 7 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes for all elections. The name and address of each challenger, including a candidate acting as a challenger or a challenger representing a grouping of two or more candidates, together with the number or name and location of the polling place at which the challenger is to serve, shall be filed with the county board of elections not later than the fifth day preceding the start of the early voting period.
b. Each challenger, including a candidate acting as a challenger or a challenger representing a grouping of two or more candidates, shall have all of the powers of challengers serving at other elections, as provided for in R.S.19:7-5 and by R.S.19:15-1 et seq.
c. Any voter whose name does not appear on a challenge list but who is challenged as not qualified or entitled to vote by a challenger duly appointed pursuant to this section shall be entitled to the rights and protections provided by P.L.1991, c.249 (C.19:15-18 et seq.) and every other applicable section of this Title.
4. (New section) During each early voting period, the county board shall make available to the public a tally of the total number of voters who have cast a ballot at each early voting location during the previous day. The county boards shall prepare an electronic data file listing the names of the individual voters who cast a ballot during the early voting period. This information shall be made available to the public in an electronic format pursuant to rules adopted by the county board and subject to review each year by the Secretary of State. The information shall be updated and made available to the public no later than noon of each day during the early voting period and shall at the same time be provided to the clerk of the county in which early voting is occurring and to the Secretary of State.
5. (New section) No early vote cast in an election, as provided for in this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be canvassed prior to the closing of the polls on the day of an election.
Every provisional ballot voted in each such election and determined by a county board to be valid shall be counted and shall be part of the official tally of the results of the election.
6. (New section) In compliance with the provisions of Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution, upon application for reimbursement by a county governing body or a municipal governing body, as may be appropriate, to the Secretary of State and approval of the application by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, a county or municipality shall be reimbursed by the State for any additional costs incurred by the county or municipality as a result of the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
7. (New section) The Secretary of State is hereby authorized to make such adjustments to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes by regulation as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
8. R.S.19:12-7 is amended to read as follows:
19:12-7. 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 early voting period for the presidential primary election or the primary election for the general election [is held] begins, as the case may be, 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 early voting period for the general election [is held] begins.
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 and for the selection of members of the county committees of each political party, will be held on the day and between the hours and at the places provided for by or pursuant to this Title and the days, hours and places at which early voting shall be available in the county.
(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 early voting period for the primary election [is held] begins, 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 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 and at the places provided for by or pursuant to this Title and the days, hours and places at which early voting shall be available in the county.
(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 to be filled 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 and municipal 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 early voting period for the general election [is held] begins, 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 to determine the proper polling place location for the voter.
(3) For a school election:
(a) The day, time and place 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 to determine the proper polling place location for the voter; and
(f) Such other information as may be required by law.
(4) For the presidential primary election:
(a) That a primary for the selection of delegates and alternates to national conventions of political parties will be held on the day and between the hours and at the places provided for pursuant to this Title; and notice shall be given of the days, hours and places at which early voting shall be available in the county.
(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 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.
(d) The availability of assistance to a person unable to vote due to blindness, disability or inability to read or write.
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.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.149, s.2)
9. Section 1 of P.L.2005, c.149 (C.19:12-7.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. 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] at the start of the early voting period and 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" 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] private, regardless of the voter's physical abilities;
an explanation of the right of the voter to a provisional ballot and the circumstances under which a voter has a right to such a 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 [Attorney General] 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 [Attorney General] 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 [Attorney General] 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 [Attorney General] 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 [Attorney General] 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.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.149, s.1)
10. R.S.19:14-21 is amended to read as follows:
19:14-21. 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 start of the early voting period for 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, to enable each district board in each municipality to mail one of such sample ballots to each voter who is registered in the municipality 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 start of the early voting period for 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 and not later than noon of the twelfth day preceding the start of the early voting period for 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 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 start of the early voting period for the general election 10 such sample ballots of each election district of each municipality in the county.
(cf: P.L.1974, c.30, s.2)
11. R.S.19:14-22 is amended to read as follows:
19:14-22. 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 street address or location of the polling place in the election district, the hours between which the polls shall be open, and 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." The sample ballot shall also state clearly the days, hours and places at which early voting shall be available in the county.
(cf: P.L.1959, c.139, s.1)
12. R.S.19:14-24 is amended to read as follows:
19:14-24. 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 start of the early voting period for 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.
(cf: R.S.19:14-24)
13. R.S.19:14-25 is amended to read as follows:
19:14-25. 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 start of the early voting period for 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 start of the early voting period 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 start of the early voting period for 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.
(cf: P.L.1974, c.30, s.3)
14. R.S.19:23-31 is amended to read as follows:
19:23-31. 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. It shall state clearly the days, hours and places at which early voting shall be available in the county. 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)."
For the presidential
primary election, the sample ballot shall also state clearly the days, hours
and places at which early voting shall
be available in the county.
(cf: R.S.19:23-31)
15. R.S.19:23-33 is amended to read as follows:
19:23-33. 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 start of the early voting period for 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. In each year that a presidential primary election occurs, the sample ballots and stamped envelopes for that election shall be provided on the 23rd day before the presidential primary election. 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 start of the early voting period for 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 and shall, not later than noon of the twelfth day preceding the start of the early voting period for the primary election furnish sufficient sample ballots to the commissioner of registration of his county for that purpose. In each year that a presidential primary election occurs, stamped envelopes shall be furnished to the commissioner of registration by the municipal clerks not later than 30 days before the start of the early voting period for the presidential primary election and sufficient sample ballots shall be furnished to the commissioner of registration not later than 23 days before the presidential primary election. The commissioner of registration shall give the municipal clerk a receipt for such sample ballots and envelopes.
(cf: P.L.1947, c.168, s.10)
16. R.S.19:23-34 is amended to read as follows:
19:23-34. 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 start of the early voting period for 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.
In each year that a presidential primary election occurs, the commissioner shall prepare and deposit in the post office on or before twelve o'clock noon on the 23rd day preceding that primary, the stamped and addressed envelopes containing a copy of the sample ballot for the presidential primary election.
(cf: P.L.1947, c.168, s.11)
17. R.S.19:23-35 is amended to read as follows:
19:23-35. 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 start of the early voting period for 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.
In each year that a presidential primary election occurs, the county board shall deliver or mail to the members of the district board the sample ballots for that election no later than the 23rd day before the presidential primary election.
(cf: P.L.1952, c.61, s.2)
18. R.S.19:49-3 is amended to read as follows:
19:49-3. At least one week prior to the start of the early voting period for 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.
(cf: P.L.1945, c.56, s.4)
19. Section 3 of P.L.1981, c.379 (C.40:45-7) is amended to read as follows:
3. Except as may otherwise be provided by law for initial elections conducted in a municipality following its adoption of a plan or form of government, or a charter or an amendment thereto, regular municipal elections shall be held in each municipality governed by this act on the second Tuesday in May in the years in which municipal officers are to be elected. In addition to the elections held at that time, such a municipality may, by an ordinance passed by its governing body, also conduct early voting for the elections pursuant to the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The municipal election shall be held at the same place or places and conducted in the same manner, so far as possible, as the general election. The election officers shall be those provided for conducting the general election.
(cf: P.L.1981, c.379, s.3)
20. There is appropriated from the General Fund as State aid to each county governing body and to each municipal governing body that approves conducting early voting such sums as the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting deem necessary to effectuate the purpose of section 6 of this act.
21. This act shall take effect on the January 1 next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a procedure, known as early voting, whereby voters will be permitted to vote at specially designated polling places starting on the 15th day before a presidential primary election, a primary election and a general election and ending on the second day before the election. Municipalities holding elections on the second Tuesday in May would be able, by ordinance, to also conduct early voting for those elections.
Early voting will enable a registered voter to vote at a designated polling place before the day of certain elections, for eight hours each week day and eight hours in the aggregate for each weekend, using the same machines and procedures used on the day of any election. A registered voter will be permitted to vote after displaying a specified identifying document and signing an early voting voter certificate. If the voter does not display one of these documents, the voter will not be permitted to vote on a voting machine, but instead will be permitted to vote by provisional ballot.
Under the bill, each county board is to designate at least one public location for early voting to occur, including, but not limited to, courthouses, libraries and the offices of the county clerk. When ever possible, each location is to be geographically located in the part of the county that features the greatest concentration of population, according to the most recent federal decennial census of the United States. No public school building may serve as an early voting location.
The election officers responsible for conducting early voting would be the same as those responsible for conducting a general election. The number of such officers and their hours of service would be as determined by each county board of elections. The compensation for such officers would be as provided for by current law for poll workers serving at a school election.
The bill provides that each county board will be responsible for forming and executing a written plan for the security of the voting machines used during the early voting period, based on guidelines established by the Secretary of State and submitted thereto no later than December 15 of each year. For the elections that early voting is available, the procedures concerning the conduct of voters at the polling place and the appointment of challengers, as well as the prohibition on electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place, will be as provided for in current law.
Funds to pay for early voting would be provided to each county governing body and each municipal governing body that approves early voting in such amounts as the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting deem necessary to cover any additional costs incurred as a result of this bill.
This bill is based on the early voting procedures used by Florida and other states that permit voting on voting machines prior to the day of certain elections.
