SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1982

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 5, 2020

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1982.

      This bill seeks to address concerns over sufficient time to prepare the significant number of mail-in ballots expected for the 2020 primary election.  Under current law, thousands of ballots will be required to be mailed by April 18, 2020, which gives county clerks less than four days to prepare and deliver mail-in ballots.  This bill would provide county clerks with an additional week to proof, print, prepare, and mail ballots following the ballot draw date.

      Under the bill, any additional mail-in ballots that have been approved before the 45th day before the 2020 primary election are required to be forwarded or delivered at least 38 days, instead of 45 days, before the day of the election.  Under the bill, county clerks are still required to comply with federal guidelines and have military and overseas ballots mailed by April 18, 2020.  The additional week provided under the bill is temporary and will only apply to the 2020 primary election.

      As amended by the committee, the bill requires the ballot position draw to be conducted one day early if the statutory date for such draw falls on a holiday. Under the bill, as amended, a clerk’s office that conducts the ballot position draw a day early would be required to post notice of the change of date 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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)   require the ballot position draw to be conducted one day early if the statutory date for such draw falls on a holiday; and

      (2)   require a clerk’s office that conducts the ballot position draw a day early to post notice of the change of date 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.