TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Mikie Sherrill has signed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act into law, establishing expanded voting rights protections aimed at increasing ballot access, strengthening safeguards against voter discrimination and improving election transparency across New Jersey.
Sponsored by Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, D-Hunterdon, Mercer, the legislation makes New Jersey the 10th state to enact its own state-level voting rights act.
The new law expands language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency, strengthens protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, creates a centralized public database of election information and establishes standards intended to reduce barriers to voter registration and participation.
“It’s time for states to step up to protect voting rights. New Jersey has a clear mandate to not only protect but expand voting rights for Black voters and other voters of color who are disproportionately harmed by discriminatory practices and barriers to voting,” Reynolds-Jackson said. “Today, New Jersey joins the growing movement of state voting rights acts. We are now the 10th state to pass a state VRA and—because we’re New Jersey and we don’t play—ours is one of the strongest in the country. By passing our own voting rights, we are making sure that New Jersey voters—especially Black and other voters of color—are protected more by our state law than by federal law.”
Named for the late Congressman John R. Lewis, a civil rights leader who championed voting rights throughout his career, the law builds on New Jersey’s existing election laws by providing additional protections against voter intimidation, discrimination and unnecessary barriers to voting.
Among its provisions, the law increases language accessibility for voters with limited English proficiency, creates stronger oversight of election practices and establishes a statewide public database containing election information.
The legislation also establishes guiding principles intended to ensure eligible residents can register to vote without unnecessary obstacles and promotes equitable access to the electoral process for racial, ethnic and language-minority communities.
