ASSEMBLY, No. 3095
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT MAZZEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Danielsen, Holley, Assemblywomen DiMaso, Reynolds-Jackson, McKnight, Chaparro, Lopez, Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblywomen Jasey, Timberlake, Assemblymen Chiaravalloti, Zwicker, Assemblywoman Carter, Assemblyman Giblin, Senators Corrado, Stack, Cruz-Perez, Ruiz, Pou, Brown, Holzapfel, Singer and O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Provides county clerks with additional week to mail ballots for 2020 primary election; requires ballot position draw to occur one day early if statutory date falls on holiday.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee on March 16, 2020, with amendments.
An Act concerning the delivery of mail-in ballots for the 2020 primary election 1and the day for conducting the ballot position draw1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. 1a.1 Notwithstanding section 9 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-9), starting on or before the 45th day before the day the 2020 primary election is held, each county clerk shall forward mail-in ballots by first-class postage, hand delivery, or electronically to each uniformed and overseas mail-in voter, as defined by the federal “Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act” (52 U.S.C. s.20310 et seq.), whose request therefor has been approved. Any additional mail-in ballots that have been approved before the 45th day before the election shall be forwarded or delivered at least 38 days before the day of the election. Hand delivery of a mail-in ballot shall be made by the county clerk or the clerk's designee only to the voter, or the voter's authorized messenger, who must appear in person. No person shall serve as an authorized messenger for more than three qualified voters in an election. Ballots that have not been hand delivered shall be addressed to the voter at the forwarding address given in the application.
1b. Notwithstanding R.S.19:23-24, or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, if the 53rd day prior to the primary election for the general election falls on a holiday, the county clerk or the clerk’s deputy, or the municipal clerk or the clerk’s deputy, as the case may be, shall at their office on the 54th day prior to the primary election for the general election at three o’clock in the afternoon conduct the drawing from the box to determine ballot positions. A clerk’s office that conducts the drawing from the box on the 54th day prior to the primary election for the general election as required under this subsection shall post notice of the change of date and time in the clerk’s office and on the clerk’s official website at least by three o’clock 60 days prior to the primary election for the general election.1
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the date of the 2020 primary election.