SENATE, No. 2973

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblyman  JOHN ARMATO

District 2 (Atlantic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Creates office of deputy superintendent of elections in counties of fifth class.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act creating the office of deputy superintendent of elections in counties of the fifth class and amending P.L.1992, c.17 and P.L.1947, c.167.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  Section 1 of P.L. 1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.1) is amended to read as follows:

     1.    The governing body of a county of the second or fifth class in which the office of superintendent of elections for the county has been established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26) may establish, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, the office of deputy superintendent of elections.  The office of deputy superintendent of elections in each such county shall be filled by a suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall not be from the same political party as the superintendent of elections, and who shall hold office for a term of five years, running concurrently with the term of the superintendent and until the deputy superintendent's successor is appointed and has qualified.  The initial appointment to the office of deputy superintendent of elections may be for a partial term, as appropriate. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but shall be for the unexpired term only.  The annual salary of a deputy superintendent of elections shall be 90% of the salary received by the superintendent of elections of the same county for performing the duties of superintendent of elections and commissioner of registration.  The office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be located in the county making the appointment.

(cf: P.L.1992, c.17, s.1)

 

     2.    Section 24 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-49) is amended to read as follows:

     24.  In addition to the foregoing, the superintendent of elections is constituted the commissioner of registration for the county and he shall, within the county, have and exercise all the powers of, and be charged with all the duties had and exercised and required to be performed by, the superintendent of elections and the commissioner of registration in any county, including the custody and control of voting machines heretofore or hereafter installed in the county in any manner provided by law, except those heretofore or hereafter installed in any municipality by the governing body thereof, which shall be placed and remain in the custody of the municipal clerk unless taken over by the county according to law.  The deputy superintendent of elections in counties of the first class, and in counties of the second and fifth [class] classes in which the governing body has established the office of superintendent of elections for the county, is constituted the deputy commissioner of registration.

(cf: P.L.1992, c.17, s.5)

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would permit the governing body of a county of the fifth class to create the office of deputy superintendent of elections once the office of superintendent of elections has been established.  The deputy superintendent of elections would be filled by a suitable person nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  The person cannot be from the same political party as the superintendent of elections and will serve a five-year term concurrent with the term of the superintendent of elections.  Vacancies will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but the successor shall only serve for the duration of the unexpired term.  The deputy superintendent would also serve as the deputy commissioner of registration.