Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
Senator DIANE B. ALLEN
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Bateman and Assemblyman Ciattarelli
SYNOPSIS
Requires earlier mandatory polling hours for school elections; requires discretionary additional polling hours be consistent with current primary and general elections.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee on January 29, 2015, with amendments.
An Act concerning polling hours for school elections and amending R.S.19:15-2.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. 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 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 held at a time other than at the time of the general election the polls shall be open between the hours of 1[5:00] 4:001 P.M. and [9:00] 8:00 P.M. and during any additional time which the school board may designate between the hours of 1[7:00] 6:001 A.M. and [9:00] 8:00 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. 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 held at a time other than at the time of the general 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.2011, c.202, s.31)
2. This act shall take effect on January 1 next following the date of enactment.