ASSEMBLY, No. 1736

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 25, 1996

By Assemblymen ROBERTS and R. SMITH

An Act concerning voter registration, amending P.L.1974, c.30 and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

    1. Section 15 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.3) is amended to read as follows:

    15. a. As used in this section, "public agency" shall mean:

    The Division of Worker's Compensation, the Division of Employment Services and the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance, established initially by section 5 of P.L.1948, c.446 (C.34:1A-5), in the Department of Labor;

    The Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, continued under section 24 of P.L.1948, c.92 (C.52:18A-24);

    The New Jersey Transit Corporation, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-4);

    Any free county library established under the provisions of article 1 of chapter 33 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes;

    Any regional library established under the provisions of P.L.1962, c.134 (C.40:33-13.3 et seq.);

    Any free public library established under the provisions of article 1 of chapter 54 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes;

    Any joint free public library established under the provisions of P.L.1959, c.155 (C.40:54-29.3 et seq.);

    Any public institution of higher education as included under the provisions of N.J.S.18A:62-1;

    Any eligible institution, as defined by subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1979, c.132 (C.18A:72B-17), that receives financial assistance, aid, or grants from State funds;

    Any office or commercial establishment where State licenses or permits, other than licenses or permits issued by a professional or occupational board established under the laws of this State, are available to individual members of the public; and

    Any recruitment office of the New Jersey National Guard.

    b. Any person entitled to register to vote may register as a voter in the election district in which that person resides at any time prior to the twenty-ninth day preceding any election by completing a registration form described in section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4) and submitting the form to the commissioner of registration of the county wherein the person resides or alternatively, in the case of a registration form provided by the employees or agents of a public agency or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11), to those employees or agents or to the Secretary of State. Any registration form addressed to a commissioner of registration may be mailed to or delivered to the office of that commissioner, and in the case of a registration form available at a public agency, the form shall be mailed to the Secretary of State, or delivered to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant. A registration form postmarked, stamped or otherwise marked as having been received from the registration applicant, on or before the twenty-ninth day preceding any election shall be deemed timely.

(cf: P.L.1994, c.182, s.6)

    2. (New section) The registrar or other principal officer responsible for the registration of students at each public institution of higher education as included under the provisions of N.J.S.18A:62-1 shall:

    a. cause copies of the voter registration forms and instructions furnished under subsection f. of section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4) to be displayed at the office of registration for that institution and to be made available to each eligible enrolled student at and each eligible prospective student of the institution who, when appearing in person at that office, may wish on a voluntary basis to register to vote;

    b. provide for the continuous supply of the forms and instructions specified in subsection a. of this section to that office of registration; and

    c. provide the forms and instructions specified in subsection a. of this section in both the English and Spanish languages to each office of registration that is located in any county in which bilingual sample ballots must be provided pursuant to R.S.19:14-21, R.S.19:49-4 or section 2 of P.L.1965, c.29 (C.19:23-22.4).

    As used in this section:

    “eligible enrolled student” means an individual who is already enrolled in a public institution of higher education who, by the time of the next election, shall be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State of New Jersey, and a resident of the county in which the individual resides for at least 30 days before the election; and

    “eligible prospective student” means an individual who is applying for initial enrollment in a public institution of higher education who, by the time of the next election, shall be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State of New Jersey, and a resident of the county in which the individual resides for at least 30 days before the election.

    3. (New section) The registrar or other principal officer responsible for the registration of students at each eligible institution, as defined by subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1979, c.132 (C.18A:72B-17), that receives financial assistance, aid or grants from State funds shall:

    a. cause copies of the voter registration forms and instructions furnished under subsection f. of section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4) to be displayed at the office of registration for that institution and to be made available to each eligible enrolled student at and each eligible prospective student of the institution who, when appearing in person at that office, may wish on a voluntary basis to register to vote;

    b. provide for the continuous supply of the forms and instructions specified in subsection a. of this section to that office of registration; and

    c. provide the forms and instructions specified in subsection a. of this section in both the English and Spanish languages to each office of registration that is located in any county in which bilingual sample ballots must be provided pursuant to R.S.19:14-21, R.S.19:49-4 or section 2 of P.L.1965, c.29 (C.19:23-22.4).

    As used in this section:

    “eligible enrolled student” means an individual who is already enrolled in the eligible institution who, by the time of the next election, shall be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State of New Jersey, and a resident of the county in which the individual resides for at least 30 days before the election; and

    “eligible prospective student” means an individual who is applying for initial enrollment in the eligible institution who, by the time of the next election, shall be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State of New Jersey, and a resident of the county in which the individual resides for at least 30 days before the election.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that voter registration forms are to be made available at the office of the registrar of any public institution of higher education and any private institution of higher education that receives financial assistance, aid, or grants from State funds.

Provides for voter registration at office of registrar of institutions of higher education.