NEW JERSEY – Governor Phil Murphy Friday reaffirmed his commitment to securing access to voting rights by signing a series of bills to strengthen New Jersey’s elections. Today’s signings build on reforms to expand democracy enacted during the Murphy Administration, including automatic voter registration and in-person early voting.
“Across the nation, we continue to see one of our nation’s core principles come under attack as states restrict access to the ballot,” Murphy said. “I am proud to sign legislation that will make democracy more accessible, more transparent, and stronger in our state. New Jersey will continue to move forward as we ensure that the democratic process is secure and protected.”
“With this bill package, New Jersey continues to expand access to the ballot box and provide additional resources to our election officials, while strengthening the security of our elections,” Secretary of State Tahesha Way said. “The right to vote is the very foundation of our democracy and we are committed to making voting as safe, simple, and transparent as possible.”
The Governor signed the following bills into law:
- A-1969/S-138 (Mukherji, Sumter, Egan/Diegnan, Greenstein) – Allows minors to serve as election workers between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on election days
- A-3817/S-2863 (Verrelli, Benson/Zwicker, Gopal) – Requires ballot privacy sleeves at polling place; makes various changes to early and mail-in voting procedures; creates online form to update name and residence on existing voter registration record
- A-3819/S-2868 (Mukherji, Dunn, Stanley/Cryan, Gopal) – Specifies circumstances when voter will be removed from permanent vote by mail status and when ballot will be sent to primary address; requires educational campaign; makes appropriation of $5 million
- A-3820/S-2869 (Karabinchak, Jaffer, Stanley/Cryan, Gopal) – Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballot for primary election; requires election officials to provide such voters certain notices; prohibits mail-in ballot envelopes from containing visible political affiliation or designation for certain elections
- A-3822/S-2865 (Coughlin, DiMaio, Stanley, Dunn, Danielsen/Zwicker, Cryan) – Changes certain mail-in ballot deadlines; permits opening and canvassing of mail-in ballots prior to election day; permits pickup schedule for certain mail-in ballots; requires confirmation notice when voter changes party affiliation at MVC
- A-3823/S-2867 (Sumter, Rooney, Benson, Reynolds-Jackson/Lagana, Cryan) – Requires enhanced review of death records two months prior to election; permits remote training for certain election workers; exempts election worker compensation from taxation and remuneration
- A-3929/S-2899 (Mukherji, Reynolds-Jackson, Murphy/Turner, Beach) – Allows certain voters residing overseas to vote in certain elections in this State depending on overseas residency or intent to return
“Lawmakers understood the democratic process could not stop, even in the midst of a pandemic. Still, there was much confusion going into the 2020 and 2021 elections. Both Republicans and Democrats saw the challenges that arose. Senate and Assembly members came together with this bill package to address those problems and strengthen voter confidence and election integrity,” said Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney in a joint statement.
