SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1446

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 23, 1996

      The Senate State Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1446.

      This bill amends the statute that prohibits electioneering activity within the polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance thereto. Under the bill, the prohibition is extended to cover one person's solicitation of another by the use of telecommunications equipment to appear at the polling place for the purpose of voting.

      In some jurisdictions, persons serving as challengers have used devices such as cellular telephones to undertake such solicitations; this practice risks disruption of the electoral process and is contrary to the longstanding statutory policy of barring political activity at the polls.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to make clear that the prohibition is expanded to specifically cover one person's solicitation of another by the use of telecommunications equipment to appear at the polling place for the purpose of voting.