SENATE, No. 1924

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator LATHAM TIVER

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits purchase and installation of entirely new voting systems in Presidential election years.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning the purchase and installation of new voting systems in Presidential election years and supplementing chapter 48 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 the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no county shall purchase, and no county clerk shall install or use, or direct the installation or use, of an entirely new system of voting machines or voting equipment for the conduct of an election occurring in the same calendar year as an election for President of the United States.  The prohibition established under this section shall apply with respect to all voting machines and voting equipment which shall include, but need not be limited to, voting machines, tabulating equipment, and any associated software.

     b.    Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a county from purchasing voting machines or voting equipment to supplement an existing inventory or to replace voting machines or voting equipment that is broken, outdated, or otherwise defective.  A county clerk may install and make use of such voting machines and equipment at any election.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     This bill prohibits counties from purchasing and county clerks from installing and using an entirely new system of voting machines or voting equipment in the same calendar year as an election for President of the United States.  This includes voting machines, tabulating equipment, and associated software.  The bill does not restrict the ability to purchase or make use of new voting machines or other equipment needed to supplement the current inventory or replace machines or equipment that is broken, outdated, or otherwise defective.

     The provisions of this bill are intended to limit the potential for logistical issues associated with the installation of new voting systems interfering with the conduct of elections in Presidential years, which typically generate the highest turnout of voters, heightening the need for a smooth election process.