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What NJ ballot signature law means for candidates

More registered voters will have to sign to run

By: Kaistie Cattafi
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... A new state law has changed the number of signatures needed to run for state, county and local office, making it a bit more challenging to get on the ballot. the law will increase the number of signatures needed for those running for a statewide office, such as the governor' seat, from 1,000 to 2,500 registered voters. The law went into effect on February 3 [2025] and is retroactive to January 1. [2025] It will affect the March 24 [2025] deadline to file for the June 10 [2025] primary election.
..... Governor Phil Murphy signed A-5117/S-3994, which changes required registered voter signatures to get on the ballot for state, county,, municipal and school board elections.
..... The law increases ballot signatures required by 150% for most offices. Assembly candidates will need 250 signatures instead of the previous 100.
..... The governor's seat and all state Assembly seats will be on the ballot this year. [2025] Candidates for county seat will need between 150 and 300 signatures, or 1% of the total votes cast in the last General Assembly primary election.
..... "New Jersey Petition signature requirements are significantly outdated and lower than compared to states such as New York, California and Colorado," said Tyler Jones, a spokespersons for Murphy's office. "this legislation helps modernize New Jersey's petition signature requirements in a manner that was supported by ample testimony and studies presented to the Assembly Select Committees on Ballot Design last year." [2024] Republicans questioned the measure, saying it would lower ballot access, accusing Democrats of setting up barriers for people wishing to run of office.

What does the new law mean for local elections?

..... In Bergen County, for example, Democrats will need at least 298 signatures and Republicans at least 174.
..... "As long as the information is out there, I think the change is good and guarantees serious candidates that will go out there and meet people," Bergen County clerk John Hogan said. "If you make the signatures too low, people just throw their names out and it clouds the ballots. this guarantees serious candidates who really want to run."
..... The Bergen County clerk's website has an updated list of how many signatures are needed for every town following the population formula.
..... Based on the population formula, Bergenfield, Cliffside Park, Fair Lawn and Paramus will need 75 signatures to run for local office. In Englewood, the general office signature requirement is 75, but ward-specific seats have different signature requirements.
..... Other towns, such as Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater and Maywood will need 50 signatures.
..... For towns with a smaller population, the formula drops and is calculated by population and registered voters. Democrats in Leonia will need 22 signatures to run, but a Republican candidate will need only three. in Upper Saddle River, a Democrat requires three signatures, while a Republican candidate needs 27.
..... The number of signatures needed will change again next year [2026] based on the 2025 voter number, Hogan said. "I don't think it;s going to upset the whole election process at all. i think it will make it better," he said.
..... The new law will require school board candidates to get 25 signatures, up from the previous 10.
..... Others didn't support the changes as much as Hogan did.
..... Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, a Sussex County Republican, said it creates a disadvantage for challengers who already started collecting signatures.

..... "While candidates across New Jersey are already circulating petitions or the upcoming primary election, this body is moving the goalposts mid-game, making it harder for people to run for office,: Fantasia said. "This is about protecting incumbents and keeping challengers off the ballot."

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