SENATE, No. 1775

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JANUARY 14, 1997

By Senators EWING, PALAIA, Cafiero and Girgenti

An Act establishing a simulated elections pilot program in the Department of State.

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

    1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

    a. Active participation in the electoral process is an essential civic duty for all citizens who live under a democratic system of government;

    b. Learning how the electoral process works, who the candidates are and how they are elected or defeated are lessons that should be taught to all residents of New Jersey starting with the earliest grades of formal education;

    c. Involving young children in the electoral process creates an informed citizenry, prepares them for participating in government and helps to develop a lifelong habit of voting;

    d. Simulated elections, such as those conducted under the "Kids Voting USA" program, have, since 1988, been conducted in 28 states and have involved thousands of students, teachers and volunteers;

    e. Evaluations of the effects of the program have shown that involvement in the elections process at an early age encourages young adults to register to vote and to participate in federal and state elections in greater numbers than previously; and

    f. Establishment of a simulated elections pilot program in this State, under the supervision of the Department of State and with the assistance of the Commissioner of Education, could serve to stimulate greater interest among children in the electoral process in New Jersey and boost the number of young adults who later participate in elections.

    2. a. There is established in the Department of State a simulated elections pilot program to be administered by the Secretary of State pursuant to the provisions of this act. The Commissioner of Education shall assist the Secretary in the operation and administration of this program. Each school district in the State may choose to participate in the program for one or more elections during the period of the pilot program.

    b. The purpose of the program shall be to improve citizen involvement in the electoral process by enabling students from grades K through 12 to register and vote for candidates in regular elections held in this State.

    c. Whenever a school district decides to participate in the program, it shall so notify the county board of elections of the county in which the district is located and the Secretary of State. The county board of elections of each county shall provide to each school district participating in the program all of the assistance necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

    d. Voting under the program shall occur at the same polling places used for regular elections in the participating school district, except that participants in the program shall not vote by using the same voting machines used to record the vote of duly registered and qualified voters voting at that election. At any polling place in which such voting occurs, the members of the district board shall maintain authority over all election-related activities occurring thereat.

    e. A school district that participates in the program shall be responsible for all costs incurred because of that participation, including all relevant costs incurred by a county board of elections.

    3. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.19:15-8 to the contrary, all persons needed to administer a simulated election at a polling place and all students participating in the pilot program in a school district shall be permitted to be present in the polling place or polling room during an election.

    4. The Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Commissioner of Education, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

    5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the day following the second anniversary of the effective date.

STATEMENT

    This bill establishes a simulated elections pilot program in New Jersey.

    The purpose of the program is to improve citizen involvement in the electoral process by enabling students from grades K through 12 to register and vote for candidates in regular elections held in this State. The program would be established in the Department of State and administered by the Secretary of State with the assistance of the Commissioner of Education.

    Each school district in the State may choose to participate in the program for one or more elections during the period of the pilot program. Any district that chooses to do so would be responsible for all of the costs that it incurs because of such participation. Voting would occur in the same polling place used for regular elections in the school district, except that participants in the program could not vote by using the same voting machines used to record the vote of duly registered and qualified voters voting at that election.

    Under the bill, the pilot program would expire on the day following the second anniversary of the date that the bill became law.

Establishes a simulated elections pilot program in New Jersey.