NJ Legislature delays primary by one week, moves toward ballot redesign
By: Kate Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... The Legislature passed a bill to move the 2025 primary back one week to avoid conflicting with a Jewish holiday.
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The bill came after advocates expressed concern that Jewish residents would be hindered from participating in the primary because of Shavuot.
..... If the bill is signed by Governor Phil Murphy - which is expected - would move ht e2025 primary election date from June 3 to June 10 [2025] to accommodate a period of religious observance.
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As it stands, the primary conflicts with Shavuot, a Jewish holiday on which those observing are not allowed to use electronic devices, write, drive or travel.
..... The bill would require the secretary of state to inform all county clerks, county board of elections, superintendents of elections, municipal clerks and the public of the rescheduled primary election day no late than seven days after the effective date of the legislation.
..... In a joint statement issued before the bill was introduced, Murphy, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Nick Scutari said the "right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and everyone deserves the freedom to have their voice heard at the ballot box."
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"We have an obligation to encourage participation and ensure everyone can participate in and trust our electoral system," they said. "We cannot allow deeply held and legitimate religious beliefs to become a barrier to voting."
..... Scutari said the primary is being moved by a week "for good reason" but that it was confusing to do because several other deadlines had to be moved as well.
..... He's not sure how this might impact school calendars for districts that are scheduled to be closed on June 3 [2025] because of the primary but "if there's an issue I'm sure we'll hear about it.
NJ ballot designed set for overhaul
..... Two other election-related bills were passed by the Assembly on Thursday. [12/19/2024]
..... The first would overhaul the county line ballot design. A select committee met six times to discuss and listen to experts and advocates weigh in on how primary ballots will look in New jersey moving forward.
..... The committee's efforts followed a pledge form legislative leaders of both parties in March [2024] to consider redesigning New Jersey's ballot after a federal lawsuit was brought by now-Senator Andy Kim during his U.S. Senate run.
..... Though the committee co-chairs said the lawsuit wasn't the sole reason for the meeting, Kim's initial suit was field in February [2024] in U.S. District court in Trenton and challenged the so-called "county-line," the longstanding New Jersey ballot design that gave preferential placement to candidates backed by county political organizations.
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The bill would require county clerks to design office-block ballots that group candidates by office and could not allow candidates running for different offices to be bracketed together. It would also eliminate the existence of so-called "ballot Siberia," which isolated some candidates seeking the same office as others to the outer edges of the ballot.
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The legislation odes allow candidates running for the same office to be bracketed and have their names drawn as a group as opposed to individually. It also allows for election officials such as the secretary of state, town clerk or county clerk, to reject slogans that are similar to those used by other candidates and does not allow the sue of the name of candidates running for other office in a slogan.
..... As far as a companion bill in the state Senate is concerned, Senate President Nick Scutari said Thursday [12/19/2024] that lawmakers weren't "going to rush it."
..... He went on to say the Assembly had a "pretty good framework" and the state senate had input on it but he's not sure an eventual bill in his chamber would be exactly the same.
..... "I don't take any issue with any of it. It's a very important piece of legislation, needs to be studied by our members," eh said. "There may be some things that haven't been thought of, small things, technical things."
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In March, [2024] Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughin, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Buccon and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio issued a statement saying they were open to redesigning New Jersey ballots that give preferential positions to candidates supported by county political machines.
..... They said they have"listened to the public date" about the ballot design and there is a "longstanding precedent that the Legislature has the authority to determine the law regarding ballot design and the appropriate discretion used by county clerks."
..... "We are committed to beginning a public process on ballot design in New Jersey, including a through and thoughtful review of other states, as well as a process that involves input from the public," the statement said.
..... U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi ordered that the June Democratic primary use office-block-style ballots instead
..... All 49 other states and two New Jersey counties already use the office block style, Salem and Sussex counties do not use the county line design.
..... That order was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia.
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In his preliminary opinion, Quraishs said he "recognized the magnitude" of the discussion and that the "integrity of the democratic process for a primary election is at stake."
Signature thresholds for election petitions will increase
..... The Assembly also passed a bill increasing the number of signatures required for candidates to appear on the ballot in primary, general, nonpartisan municipal and school elections.
..... Fro general elections, the bill would require signatures of 5%, up from 2%, of the entire vote cast for members of the Assembly at the last Assembly election for tier direct nonterminating petition. Candidates for statewide office would need 2,000 as opposed to 800 for their direct nominating petitions, and candidate running for any other office will be required to collect no more than 250 signatures on their direct nomination petitions, up from 100.
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For primaries, candidates for statewide office would need 2,500 signatures, up form 1,000; candidates for Congress will need 500 signatures, up from 200 and candidates for the state Senate and Assembly will need 250 signatures, up from 100.
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The bill would require candidates for countrywide office to collect at least 1% of the total vote cast by the voters of that political party at the last primary election held for the election of that party's candidates for Assembly, or at least 300 signatures, whichever is less.
..... Municipal elections would have requirements based on population:
* at least 100 in municipalities or wards with population greater than 50,000
* at least 75 in municipalities or wards with population greater than 25,000 and up to 50,000.
* at least 50 in municipalities or wards with populations greater than 10,000 and up to 25,000;
* at least 25 in municipalities or wards with populations greater than 5,000 to 10,000;
* at least 10 in municipalities or wards with popularizations greater than 2,500 and up 5,000; and at least five in municipalities or wards with populations up to 2,500.
..... The specified number of signatures, or signatures of at least 5% of the total votes cast by the voter of that political party at the last Assembly election are also permitted for municipality with populations of up to 10,000, whichever is less.
..... Those running in a primary in a single election distinct will need at least 10 signatures or 5% of the total votes cast by the voters of that political party at the last Assembly election, whichever is less.
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Candidates for school elections would need 25 signatures, up form 10, and candidate for nonpartisan municipal office would follow the same population requirements as partisan races.