Sponsored by:
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Extends deadline for filing nominating petitions each year new legislative districts are established by Apportionment Commission.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain deadlines related to elections and supplementing chapter 1 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 R.S.19:23-14 or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, in each year in which the Apportionment Commission establishes new legislative districts, petitions of nomination for the primary election for the general election shall be filed before 4:00 p.m. of the 50th day next preceding the day of the holding of the primary election.
b. The Secretary of State shall be authorized to adjust: (1) all other deadlines that pertain to the filing of petitions of nomination for candidates seeking nomination at the primary election, pursuant to chapter 23 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes; (2) the schedule for the production and transmission of mail-in ballots to mail-in voters for the primary election, pursuant to various sections of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes; and (3) such other deadlines, schedules, and notice requirements as the secretary shall deem necessary to adjust to ensure that all required procedures related to elections are completed prior to the day of the primary election.
c. The secretary shall undertake such steps as the secretary shall deem necessary to notify candidates, election officials, and the general public about any change the secretary makes in the deadlines related to the primary election.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The purpose of this bill is to extend the deadline for filing petitions of nomination to seek nomination in the primary election in each year in which the Apportionment Commission establishes new legislative districts.
Specifically, the bill provides that in each year in which the Apportionment Commission establishes new legislative districts, petitions of nomination for the primary election for the general election are to be filed before 4:00 p.m. of the 50th day next preceding the day of the holding of the primary election.
Under the bill, the Secretary of State is authorized to adjust: 1) all other deadlines that pertain to the filing of petitions of nomination for candidates seeking nomination at the primary election; 2) the schedule for the production and transmission of mail-in ballots to mail-in voters for the primary election; and 3) such other deadlines, schedules, and notice requirements as the secretary deems necessary to adjust to ensure that all required procedures related to elections are completed prior to the day of the primary election.
The secretary is also to undertake such steps as the secretary deems necessary to notify candidates, election officials, and the general public about any change the secretary makes in the deadlines related to the primary election.