Bill Text: NJ S608 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Reduces polling place hours for certain elections; expands period during which poll worker may be absent from polling place.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S608 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S608-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator BILL BARONI
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Reduces polling place hours for certain elections; expands period during which poll worker may be absent from polling place.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning polling place hours and poll workers for certain elections and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.19:2-1 is amended to read as follows:
19:2-1. Presidential primary elections for delegates and alternates to national conventions of political parties shall be held in each presidential year on the last Tuesday in February.
Primary elections for the general election shall be held in each year on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in June.
All primary elections shall occur between the hours of [6:00] 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M., Standard Time. Primary elections for special elections shall be held not earlier than 30 nor later than 20 days prior to the special elections.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.136, s.2)
2. R.S.19:6-25 is amended to read as follows:
19:6-25. The county boards in each of the counties shall sit on the day of the general election at the office of the county boards between the hours of [5:00] 6:00 A.M. and midnight.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.245, s.2)
3. R.S.19:15-2 is amended to read as follows:
19:15-2. The district boards shall open the polls for such election at [6:00] 7:00 A.M. and close them at 8:00 P.M., and shall keep them open during the whole day of election between these hours; except that for a school election the polls shall be open between the hours of 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. and during any additional time which the school board may designate between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M.
The board may allow one member thereof at a time to be absent from the polling place and room for a period not exceeding one hour between the hours of [1:00 P.M.] noon and 5:00 P.M. or for such shorter time as it shall see fit.
At no time from the opening of the polls to the completion of the canvass shall there be less than a majority of the board present in the polling room or place, except that during a school election there shall always be at least one member of each district election board present or if more than two district board members are designated to serve at the polling place, at least two members present.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.245, s.3)
4. R.S.19:23-40 is amended to read as follows:
19:23-40. The presidential primary election shall be held for all political parties in each presidential year on the last Tuesday in February.
The primary election for the general election shall be held for all political parties upon the Tuesday next after the first Monday in June.
All primary elections shall occur between the hours of [6:00] 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M., Standard Time and shall be held for all political parties in the same places as hereinbefore provided for the ensuing general election.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.136, s.27)
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill reduces, by one hour, the time during which polling places are open on the day of the primary, general, nonpartisan municipal, special and recall elections. Under current law, the polls are open between 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. Under this bill, the polls would be open between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M.
In addition, this bill expands the period during which a poll worker may be absent from the polling place. Under current law, a poll worker may be absent from the polling place and room for a period not exceeding one hour between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. Under this bill, the new time will be noon and 5:00 P.M.
