ASSEMBLY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
ASSEMBLY, Nos. 673 and 608
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 16, 1996
The Assembly State Government Committee reports favorably an Assembly committee substitute for Assembly, Nos. 673 and 608.
This committee substitute changes the date by which petitions of nomination for offices to be filled at the general election (including both petitions of direct nomination and petitions of candidates seeking the nomination of a political party at the primary election) and petitions nominating candidates for party positions at the primary election must be filed with the appropriate public officer from the 54th to the 57th day preceding the primary election.
The legislation also requires that whenever a petition is circulated within a county, municipality, school district, or special district for signatures to place a referendum question on the ballot at any election, each page of the petition shall contain double spacing between the signature lines of the petition so that each signer has sufficient space to provide a printed name, address and signature. The Secretary of State is directed to notify in writing each county and municipal clerk and the secretary of the board of education of each school district of this provision periodically as the Secretary deems necessary.