NJ voters could see more flexibility
Bill would allow casting ballots at any polling pace in town
By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Legislation that would expand New Jersey votes' access to ballot boxes on election days is advancing in Trenton.
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A bill, known as the Voter Convenience Act, would allow for voters to cast their ballots at any polling place in their municipality on election Day. Currently, New Jersey voters have to go to a specific designated polling place within their district in their town or city on primary and general election days.
..... New Jersey has been making strides in recent years to expand access to polling places. Early, in-person voting began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
..... Voters set a record in 2024, when 1,172,842 people use early, in-person voting oppositeness, with lines in some places nearly every day.
..... Senate President Nick Scutari said the bill would be considered but would have to "work through the process."
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"We're got to see what it costs, see if it's economically feasible and see if they're able to do that, but think people would like that," he said. "We're going to consider it. Not sure if it's definitely going to happen, but we're going to consider it."
..... Calandria Ortiz-Resende of the League of Women Voters said the bill would help "significantly remove barriers and increase participation" in elections.
..... She is concerned that the bill would allow for the consolidation of polling locations in a given town, though.
..... That sentiment was shared by Heather Richner, an associate counsel for the democracy and justice program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.
..... "While the institute is generally in support of this bill, we are concerned about guardrails. This legislation could lead to future consolidation of polling locations and creates confusion for voters," she said.
SAVE America Act is in play
..... Two other election-related bills also cleared a state Senate committee on March 23. [2026] They would require county clerks to send applications for mail-in ballots to registered voters on their 18th birthday and would establish a public awareness campaign about the changed rules for postmarks by the United States Postal Service and their effect on mail-in ballots.
..... This comes at a time when the federal government is considering legislation aimed at restricting access for voters.
..... The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to vote, in the form of certain specific documents, when arriving at the polls.
..... Those documents include a passport birth certificate, enhanced driver's licenses or other government-issued photo ID to prove U.S. citizenship.
..... New Jersey does not offer enhanced driver's licenses, which are different from real ID.