No person shall be permitted to vote at any election unless such person shall have been registered in the manner hereinafter in this chapter provided.

Amended 1940,c.18; 1940,c.19; 1981,c.462,s.23; 1994,c.182,s.1.

In all counties having a superintendent of elections, the superintendent of elections is hereby constituted the commissioner of registration and in all other counties the secretary of the county board is hereby constituted the commissioner of registration.

The commissioner of registration shall have complete charge of the registration of all eligible voters within their respective counties. Pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-32), the commissioner of registration shall be responsible for adding to, deleting from, amending and maintaining the records of persons registered to vote in the commissioner's county contained in the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of that act.

The commissioner of registration shall have power to appoint temporarily, and the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 800,000 inhabitants shall have power to appoint on a permanent, or temporary basis, such number of persons, as in the commissioner's judgment may be necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this Title. All persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 850,000 inhabitants according to the latest federal decennial census to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year shall be in the career service of the civil service and shall be appointed, and hold their positions, in accordance with the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service. All persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 600,000 but less than 850,000 inhabitants according to the latest federal decennial census to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year, other than the chief deputy and chief clerk and confidential secretary and chief custodian, shall be in the career service of the civil service and shall be appointed and hold their positions, in accordance with the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service. Persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in such counties to serve for terms of six months or less in any one year and persons appointed by the commissioner of registration shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but shall be in the unclassified service.

In each county the commissioner of registration shall submit to the Attorney General on or before February 15 of each year a plan providing for evening registration for the primary election and on or before July 1 plans providing for evening registration for the general election, which plans shall be subject to approval by the Attorney General. Evening registration shall be made available in the office of each commissioner of registration between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the 21st day preceding the primary and general elections and, in any year in which municipal elections are to be held in any municipality within the county, on the 21st day preceding those municipal elections.

In each county, the commissioner of registration may also establish a plan for out-of-office registration, including door-to-door registration.

Nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner from providing pursuant to plan evening registration in excess of the requirements of this section, or shall preclude or in any way limit out-of-office registration conducted by persons or groups other than the commissioner.

The commissioner of registration shall provide such printed forms, blanks, supplies and office telephone and transportation equipment as are necessary in the opinion of the commissioner to carry out the provisions of this Title and any amendments or supplements thereto.

Subject to the limitations set forth in chapter 32 of this Title, all necessary expenses incurred, as and when certified and approved by the commissioner of registration shall be paid by the county treasurer of the county.
Nothing in the provisions of subtitle 2 of the Title, Municipalities and Counties (R.S.40:16-1 et seq.), shall in anywise be construed to affect, restrict or abridge the powers herein conferred on the commissioners of registration of the several counties.

All powers granted to the commissioner in all counties not having superintendents of elections by the provisions of this Title are hereby conferred on the county board in such counties and any and all duties conferred upon the commissioner in all counties not having a superintendent of elections by the provisions of this Title shall only be exercised and performed by such commissioner under the instructions and directions of and subject to the approval of the county board of such counties.

Amended 1940, c.165, s.1; 1941, c.275, s.8; 1947, c.168, s.17; 1952, c.290, ss.1,4-6; 1953, c.348, s.1; 1961, c.59, s.3; 1963, c.138, s.1; 1966, c.117, s.1; 1967, c.73, s.1; 1974, c.30, s.4; 1975, c.15, s.1; 1975, c.204, s.1; 1979, c.393; 1981, c.462, s.24; 1994, c.182, s.2; 2005, c.139, s.6; 2005, c.145, s.7.

a. The commissioner of registration in each county shall maintain one original and one duplicate registration form for the registration of each duly registered voter in the county. Such forms shall consist of an equal number of original forms of one color and duplicate forms of another color. Each set of original and duplicate registration forms shall be serially numbered and each of such forms shall be suitable for locking in a looseleaf binder, shall be approximately 10 inches by 16 inches so as to contain on the face thereof a margin of approximately 2 inches for binding, and shall contain the information hereinafter required.

b. Space shall be provided on both the original and duplicate forms at the top for the word "original" on the original forms and the word "duplicate" on the duplicate forms, to be followed immediately below by the word "registration" on both forms.

Immediately to the left of the registration and identification statement shall be printed a column approximately 2 1/2 inches wide for subsequent changes in address or removals of such applicant from one district to another.

Immediately to the right of the registration and identification statement shall be printed a form for recording the fact that the registered voters have voted. The face of the record of voting form shall be ruled to provide for serial number, the words "original voting record" on the original record of voting form and the words "duplicate voting record" on the duplicate record of voting forms, followed by the name, address and the municipality, ward and district of the registrant at the top of the space. The remainder of the space shall be ruled to provide a record for a period of 20 years of the number of the ballot cast by the registrant at the primary election for the general election, the general election and other elections and also the first three letters of the name of the political party whose ballot such registrant cast at the primary election for the general election.

c. The original and duplicate registration and voting forms shall be in the form the Secretary of State prescribes pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4).

Amended 1941,c.174,s.1; 1959,c.127,s.2; 1964,c.7,s.3; 1972,c.82,s.1; 1974,c.30,s.5; 1994,c.182,s.3.

1. If the commissioner of registration has maintained information in any form regarding a registrant's party affiliation, the commissioner shall be responsible for maintaining that information for a period of 10 years as part of the current voter information file of the registrant if it is already on computer or magnetic tape or electronic data processing equipment of any kind and for converting such information to such tape or equipment if the information exists but is not on such tape or equipment, so that it becomes part of the Statewide voter registration system.

L.1991,c.504,s.1; amended 2005, c.145, s.8.

1. a. A person who is (1) a victim of domestic violence who has obtained a permanent restraining order against a defendant pursuant to section 13 of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) and fears further violent acts by the defendant, or (2) a victim of stalking, or member of the immediate family of such a victim as defined by paragraph (3) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10), who is protected under the terms of a permanent restraining order issued pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.39 (C.2C:12-10.1) and who fears death or bodily injury from the defendant against whom that order was issued, shall be allowed to register to vote without disclosing the person's street address. Such a person shall leave the space for a street address on the original permanent registration form blank and shall, instead, attach to the form a copy of the permanent restraining order and a note which indicates that the person fears future violent acts by the defendant and which contains a mailing address, post office box or other contact point where mail can be received by the person. Upon receipt of the person's voter registration form, the commissioner of registration in all counties having a superintendent of elections, and the county board of elections in all other counties, shall provide the person with a map of the municipality in which the person resides which shows the various voting districts. The person shall indicate to the commissioner or board, as appropriate, the voting district in which the person resides and shall be permitted to vote at the polling place for that district. If such a person thereafter changes residences, the person shall so inform the commissioner or board by completing a new permanent registration form in the manner described above.

b. Any person who makes public any information which has been provided by a victim of domestic violence, or by a victim of stalking or the family member of such a victim, pursuant to subsection a. of this section concerning the mailing address, post office box or other contact point of the victim or family member or the election district in which the victim or family member resides is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

L.1994,c.148,s.1; (title amended 2001, c.177, s.1), amended 2001, c.177, s.2.

2. The commissioner may eliminate the use of the duplicate permanent registration binders and may authorize and direct the use at the polls in place of such a binder, as a signature copy register for the purposes of this Title and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes, of a polling record which identifies on each page the election at which the record is used, which indicates for each registrant the name, address, and date of birth of the registrant and identifies the municipality and the particular election district therein from which the person is registered, and which includes adjacent to the registrant's name and address an imprint of the digitalized image of the registrant's signature and sufficient space, immediately to the left or right of that imprint, for the registrant to sign the record, which imprint and signature shall be used as the signature comparison record as prescribed by this Title. The polling record shall also include for each registrant the registrant's date of birth, an indication of whether the registrant has applied for a mail-in ballot in that election, and a place to indicate whether the registrant has provided identification pursuant to R.S.19:15-17, if such identification is required. The polling record shall also include for each registrant sufficient space for the notation of remarks as provided by R.S.19:15-23 and for the recording of any challenge and the determination thereof by the district board as provided by R.S.19:15-24, or by other elections officials charged with the same duties as the district board in connection with the conduct of an election. In the case of a primary election, the polling record shall also indicate for each registrant the political party, if any, of which the registrant is a member for the purpose of voting at that primary election.
Polling records for each election shall be prepared by the commissioner of registration not later than the 10th day preceding the election. At each election, the delivery of the polling records to the municipal clerk and to the district boards or other elections officials charged with the same duties as the district board in connection with the conduct of an election, and the return of those records by the district boards or such other elections officials to the commissioner of registration, shall be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.

The commissioner of registration shall retain the polling records for any election for a period of not less than six years following that election.

L.1994, c.170, s.2; amended 1995, c.278, s.20; 1996, c.3, s.5; 2005, c.139, s.7; 2005, c.145, s.9; 2009, c.79, s.31.

Each person, who is at least 17 years of age at the time he or she applies for registration, who resides in the district in which he or she expects to vote, who will be of the age of 18 years or more on or before the first election in which he or she expects to vote, who is a citizen of the United States, and who, if he or she continues to reside in the district until that election, will at the time have fulfilled all the requirements as to length of residence to qualify him or her as a legal voter, shall, unless otherwise disqualified, be entitled to be registered in such district. Each 17-year-old registrant shall be designated in the Statewide voter registration system as temporarily ineligible to vote until the registrant's 18th birthday.

Whenever an individual registers by mail after January 1, 2003 to vote for the first time in his or her current county of residence, that individual shall provide either the individual's New Jersey driver's license number or the last four digits of the individual's Social Security Number, or shall submit with the voter registration form a copy of: (1) a current and valid photo identification card; (2) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or pay check; (3) any other government document that shows the individual's name and current address; or (4) any other identifying document that the Attorney General has determined to be acceptable for this purpose. If the individual does not provide his or her New Jersey driver's license number or Social Security Number information or submit a copy of any one of these documents, either at the time of registration or at any time thereafter prior to attempting to vote, the individual shall be asked for identification when voting for the first time starting at the first election held after January 1, 2004 at which candidates are seeking federal office or thereafter. This requirement shall not apply to any individual entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act" (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1 et seq.) or to any individual who is provided the right to vote other than in person under section 3 of Pub.L.98-435, the "Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act," or any other voter entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other federal law. This requirement shall also not apply to any individual who registers to vote by appearing in person at any voter registration agency or to any individual whose voter registration form is delivered to the county commissioner of registration or to the Attorney General, as the case may be, through a third party by means other than by mail delivery.

Once registered, the registrant shall not be required to register again in such district as long as he or she resides therein, except when required to do so by the commissioner, because of the loss of or some defect in his or her registration record.

The registrant, when registered as provided in this Title, shall be eligible to vote at any election to be held subsequent to such registration, if he or she shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years and shall have been a resident of the State for at least 30 days and of the county at least 30 days, when the same is held, subject to any change in his qualifications which may later disqualify him. No registrant shall lose the right to vote, and no registrant's name shall be removed from the registry list of the county in which the person is registered, solely on grounds of the person's failure to vote in one or more elections.

Amended 1949, c.123; 1959, c.127, s.3; 1964, c.7, s.4; 1974, c.30, s.6; 1994, c.182, s.4; 2004, c.88, s,10; 2015, c.222.

19:31-6. Any person qualified to vote in an election shall be entitled to vote in the election if the person shall have registered to vote on or before the 21st day preceding the election by:

a. registering in person at any offices designated by the commissioner of registration for providing and receiving registration forms;

b. completing a voter registration form while applying for a motor vehicle driver's license from an agent of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, as provided for in section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2);

c. completing and returning to the Secretary of State or having returned thereto a voter registration form received from a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11), while applying for services or assistance or seeking a recertification, renewal or change of address at an office of that agency;

d. completing and returning to the Secretary of State a voter registration form obtained from a public agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 15 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.3);

e. completing and returning to the Secretary of State or having returned thereto a voter registration form received from a door-to-door canvass or mobile registration drive, as provided for in section 19 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.7);

f. completing and returning to the Secretary of State a federal mail voter registration form, as prescribed in subsection (b) of section 9 of the "National Voter Registration Act of 1993," (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg et seq.);

g. completing and returning to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county clerk an application for a federal postcard application form to register to vote, as permitted pursuant to the federal "Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act" 52 U.S.C. s.120301 et seq.) and section 4 of P.L.1976, c.23 (C.19:59-4);

h. completing a provisional ballot affirmation statement and voting the provisional ballot in the previous election, if the person who submitted the provisional ballot in that election is determined not to be a registered voter; or

i. completing and submitting an online voter registration form available on the Secretary of State's Internet website, as provided under section 1 of P.L.2019, c.382 (C.19:31-6.4c).

When the commissioner has designated a place or places other than his office for receiving registrations, the commissioner shall cause to be published a notice in a newspaper circulated in the municipality wherein such place or places of registration shall be located. Such notice shall be published pursuant to R.S.19:12-7.

Any office designated by the commissioner of registration for receiving registration forms shall have displayed, in a conspicuous location, registration and voting instructions. These instructions shall be the same as those provided for polling places under R.S.19:9-2 and shall be provided by the commissioner

amended 1940, c.135, s.2; 1945, c.36, s.1; 1947, c.168, s.18; 1952, c.60, s.1; 1955, c.133; 1974, c.30, s.7; 1975, c.15, s.2; 1991, c.429, s.10; 1994, c.182, s.5; 2005, c.139, s.8; 2017, c.39, s.10; 2019, c.382, s.2; 2022, c.72, s.16.

25. The Secretary of State is designated the chief State election official and shall be responsible for the coordination of this State's responsibilities pursuant to the provisions of the "National Voter Registration Act of 1993," Pub.L.103-31 (42 U.S.C. s.1973gg et seq.) and the "Help America Vote Act of 2002," Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. ss.15301 et seq.).

L.1994, c.182, s.25; amended 2004, c.88, s.11; 2007, c.254, s.2.

1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Title to which this act is a supplement, any person authorized by law to accept applications for voter registration shall accept, during the 20-day period prior to any election, the application for registration of all eligible voters who shall personally appear for registration before such person, or the registration card mailed or delivered to such person, but no eligible voter so registered shall be entitled to vote in the election immediately following said 20-day period. Any person registered under the provisions of this act shall be advised that he will not be eligible to vote in the election immediately forthcoming but will be eligible to vote in elections held thereafter.

Applications for registration pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be received at such place or places as may be designated by any duly authorized election official.

L.1966,c.177,s.1; amended 1974, c.30, s.8; 2005, c.139, s.9.

Except to the extent inconsistent herewith concerning the registration of voters, all other provisions shall be applicable to persons registered under the provisions of this act.

L.1966, c. 177, s. 2.

15. a. As used in this section, "public agency" shall mean:

The Division of Worker's Compensation, the Division of Employment Services and the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance, established initially by section 5 of P.L.1948, c.446 (C.34:1A-5), in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

The Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, continued under section 24 of P.L.1948, c.92 (C.52:18A-24);

The New Jersey Transit Corporation, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-4);

Any free county library established under the provisions of article 1 of chapter 33 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes;

Any regional library established under the provisions of P.L.1962, c.134 (C.40:33-13.3 et seq.);

Any free public library established under the provisions of article 1 of chapter 54 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes;

Any joint free public library established under the provisions of P.L.1959, c.155 (C.40:54-29.3 et seq.);

Any public institution of higher education as included under the provisions of N.J.S.18A:62-1;

Any eligible institution, as defined by subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1979, c.132 (C.18A:72B-17), that receives financial assistance, aid, or grants from State funds;

Any office or commercial establishment where State licenses or permits, other than licenses or permits issued by a professional or occupational board established under the laws of this State, are available to individual members of the public; and

Any recruitment office of the New Jersey National Guard.

b.Any person entitled to register to vote may register as a voter in the election district in which that person resides at any time prior to the 21st day preceding any election by completing a registration form described in section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4) and submitting the form to the commissioner of registration of the county wherein the person resides or alternatively, in the case of a registration form provided by the employees or agents of a public agency or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11), to those employees or agents or to the Attorney General. Any registration form addressed to a commissioner of registration may be mailed to or delivered to the office of that commissioner, and in the case of a registration form available at a public agency, the form shall be mailed to the Attorney General or delivered to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant. A registration form postmarked, stamped or otherwise marked as having been received from the registration applicant, on or before the 21st day preceding any election shall be deemed timely.

L.1974,c.30,s.15; amended 1974, c.51, s.4; 1991, c.318, s.1; 1994, c.182, s.6; 2003, c.36, s.1; 2005, c.139, s.10.

16. a. The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared and shall provide to each county commissioner of registration forms of size and weight suitable for mailing, which shall require the information required by R.S.19:31-3 in substantially the following form:

VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION

Print clearly in ink. Use ballpoint pen or marker.

(1)  This form is being used as:

[ ]  New registration

[ ]  Address change

[ ]  Name change

(2)  Name:.....................................................

  ...............Last    First    Middle

(3)  Are you a citizen of the United States of America? [ ]Yes [ ]No

(4)  Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day? [ ]Yes [ ] No

If you checked 'No' in response to either of these questions, do not complete this form.

(5)  Street Address where you live:

.........................................................

Street Address     Apt. No.

.........................................................

(6)  City or Town County Zip Code

(7)  Address Where You Receive Your Mail (if different from above):

............................................................

(8)  Date of Birth:

......................................................

Month  Day  Year

(9)  (a) Telephone Number (optional)......................

(b)  E-Mail Address (optional).....................

(10)  Name and address of Your Last Voter Registration

............................................................

............................................................

............................................................

(11)  If you are registering by mail to vote and will be voting for the first time in your current county of residence, please provide one of the following:

(a)  your New Jersey driver's license number:................................

(b)  the last four digits of your Social Security Number....................

OR submit with this form a copy of any one of the following documents: a current and valid photo identification card; a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check or any other government or other identifying document that shows your name and current address. If you do not provide either your New Jersey driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number, or enclose a copy of one of the documents listed above, you will be asked for identification when voting for the first time, unless you are exempt from doing so under federal or State law.

(12)  Do you wish to declare a political party affiliation? (Optional):

[ ]  YES. Name of Party:

[ ]  NO. I do not wish to declare a political party affiliation at this time.

(13)  [ ] I wish to receive a Mail-in Ballot for all future elections, until I request otherwise in writing.

(14)  Declaration - I swear or affirm that:

I am a U.S. citizen.

I live at the above address.

I will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next election.

I am not serving a sentence of incarceration due to a conviction for an indictable offense under any federal or State laws.

I UNDERSTAND THAT ANY FALSE OR FRAUDULENT REGISTRATION MAY SUBJECT ME TO A FINE OF UP TO $15,000, IMPRISONMENT UP TO FIVE YEARS, OR BOTH PURSUANT TO R.S.19:34-1.

...........................................................

Signature or mark of the registrant     Date

(15)  If applicant is unable to complete this form, print the name and address of individual who completed this form.

...................................................

Name

...................................................

Address

In addition, the form may include notice to the applicant of information and options relating to the registration and voting process, including but not limited to notice of qualifications required of a registered voter; notice of the final day by which a person must be registered to be eligible to vote in an election; notice of the effect of a failure to provide required identification information; a place at which the applicant may indicate availability for service as a member of the district board of elections; a place at which the applicant may indicate whether he or she requires a polling place which is accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly or whether he or she is legally blind; a place at which the applicant may indicate a desire to receive additional information concerning voting by mail; and if the application indicates a political party affiliation, the voter is permitted to vote in the primary election of a political party other than the political party in which the voter was affiliated previously only if the voter registration form with the change of political party affiliation is filed prior to the 50th day next preceding the primary election. The form may also include a space for the voter registration agency to record whether the applicant registered in person, by mail or by other means.

b.  The reverse side of the registration form shall bear the address of the Secretary of State or the commissioner of registration to whom such form is supplied, and a United States postal permit the charges upon which shall be paid by the State.

c.  The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared registration forms of the size, weight and form described in subsection a. of this section in both the English and Spanish language and shall provide such forms to each commissioner of registration of any county in which there is at least one election district in which bilingual sample ballots must be provided pursuant to R.S.19:14-21, R.S.19:49-4 or section 2 of P.L.1965, c.29 (C.19:23-22.4).

d.  The commissioner of registration shall furnish such registration forms upon request in person to any person or organization in such reasonable quantities as such person or organization shall request. The commissioner shall furnish no fewer than two such forms to any person upon request by mail or by telephone.

e.  Each such registration form shall have annexed thereto instructions specifying the manner and method of registration, and the vote by mail option specified on the form, and stating the qualifications for an eligible voter.

f.  The Secretary of State shall also furnish such registration forms and such instructions to the Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, the Director of the Division of Employment Services, and the Director of the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury; to the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation; to the appropriate administrative officer of any other public agency, as defined by subsection a. of section 15 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.3); to the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs; and to the chief administrative officer of any voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11).

g.  All registration forms received by the Secretary of State in the mail or forwarded to the Secretary of State shall be forwarded to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant. Each such form, and any registration form received otherwise by a commissioner of registration, shall be forwarded to the county clerk if the vote by mail option is selected on a form.

h.  An application to register to vote received from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or a voter registration agency, as defined in subsection a. of section 26 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11), shall be deemed to have been timely made for the purpose of qualifying an eligible applicant as registered to vote in an election if the date on which the commission or agency shall have received that document in completed form, as indicated in the lower right hand corner of the form, was not later than the 21st day preceding that election.

i.  Each commissioner of registration shall make note in the permanent registration file of each voter who is required to provide the personal identification information required pursuant to this section, as amended, and R.S.19:15-17, R.S.19:31-5 and Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C.s. 15301 et seq.), to indicate the type of identification provided by the voter and the date on which it is provided. Prior to the June 2004 primary election, when such a newly registered voter seeks to vote for the first time following his or her registration, the voter will be required to provide such personal identification information. Beginning with the June 2004 primary election, when such a newly registered voter seeks to vote for the first time following his or her registration, the voter will not be required to provide such information if he or she had previously provided the personal identification information required pursuant to this section. The required information shall be collected and stored for the time and in the manner required pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.

j.  The Secretary of State shall amend the voter registration application form if necessary to conform to the requirements of applicable federal or State law.

k.  In the event that the name of any political party entered on the voter registration form by a voter who wishes to declare a political party affiliation is not legible, the commissioner of registration shall mail the voter a political party declaration form and a letter explaining that the voter's choice was not understood and that the voter should complete and return the declaration form in order to be affiliated with a party.

L.1974, c.30, s.16; amended 1974, c.51, s.5; 1975, c.15, s.3; 1991, c.318, s.2; 1994, c.182, s.7; 2004, c.88, s.12; 2005, c.139, s.11; 2005, c.146, s.9; 2005, c.153, s.3; 2005, c.154, s.8; 2009, c.287, s.1; 2018, c.72, s.3; 2019, c.270, s.3.

10. The Secretary of State may promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

L.1991,c.318,s.10.

11. No State or county government employee shall be subject to any penalty, liability or disciplinary action for failure to fulfill any responsibility under the provisions of this act except if the employee engages in the fraudulent registration of a voter.

L.1991,c.318,s.11.

1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person who is qualified to register to vote may submit a voter registration form electronically on a secure Internet website maintained by the Secretary of State, if the applicant has an email address and provides a valid New Jersey driver's license number, a valid New Jersey nondriver identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number. The voter registration form shall contain substantively the same information required to be contained on a paper voter registration form pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4). The voter registration form available electronically shall also enable a person who is qualified to register to vote, and a person who is registered to vote, to declare a political party affiliation and to make changes to that affiliation, with an option to indicate no affiliation with any political party, by updating the online voter registration form. Beginning on January 1, 2026 and thereafter, the voter registration form available electronically shall enable a person who is qualified to register to vote, and a person who is registered to vote, to apply for and receive a mail-in ballot as provided under section 3 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-3), until the voter requests otherwise.

a. The Secretary of State shall apply the same voter registration deadline applicable under current law for paper voter registration forms to an online voter registration form submitted by an applicant pursuant to this section.

b. The applicant completing the form shall affirmatively attest to the truth of the information provided in the form.

c. For voter registration purposes, the applicant shall affirmatively assent to the use of his or her signature from his or her driver's license or non-driver identification card or the applicant's digitized or electronic signature.

d. For each online voter registration form, the Secretary of State shall obtain either an electronic copy of the applicant's signature from his or her driver's license or non-driver identification card directly from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, or the applicant's digitized or electronic signature.

e. Upon submission of an online voter registration form pursuant to this section, the electronic voter registration system shall automatically acknowledge that the online voter registration form has been submitted successfully, and provide instructions on how the person completing the voter registration form may follow-up on the status of the submission either online or by contacting the appropriate county commissioner of registration. If a person submits more than one online voter registration form with identical information, the county commissioner of registration of the county in which the voter resides may process and adjudicate only the first online voter registration form submitted by the person through the system.

f. The Secretary of State shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of voter registration forms submitted electronically pursuant to this section.

g. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and the Secretary of State shall jointly develop a process and the infrastructure to allow the electronic copy of the applicant's signature and other information required under this section that is in the possession of the commission to be transferred to the Secretary of State and to the appropriate county election officials to allow a person who is qualified to register to vote in New Jersey to register to vote under this section.

h. If an applicant cannot electronically submit the information required pursuant to this section, the applicant shall nevertheless be able to complete the online voter registration form electronically on the Secretary of State's Internet website, print a paper copy of the completed form, and mail or deliver the paper copy of the completed form to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county election official. For the purposes of this subsection, the applicant shall be required to provide the same documents required to be provided with a paper voter registration form pursuant to R.S.19:31-5.

L.2019, c.382, s.1; amended 2022, c.67, s.7.

6. a. For the purpose of facilitating online voter registration as quickly and efficiently as possible, the State shall procure a qualified vendor to develop and implement a voter registration Internet website and all necessary supporting software systems to implement online voter registration ahead of the 2020 general election.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a contract for the implementation of the online voter registration Internet website and necessary supporting software systems shall be procured in an expedited process and in the manner provided by this section.

c. The Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury shall procure, without the need for formal advertisement, but through the solicitation of proposals from professional services vendors, a qualified vendor with experience implementing such websites and systems in other states.

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, for the purpose of expediting the procurement of a vendor capable and experienced in implementing an online voter registration website and systems, the following provisions shall apply as modifications to any law or regulation that may interfere with the expedited procurement:

(1) the timeframes for challenging the specifications shall be modified as determined by the Division of Purchase and Property;

(2) in lieu of advertising in accordance with section 7 of P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-12), the division shall advertise the request for proposals for the procurement under this section and any addenda thereto on the division's website;

(3) the period of time that the State Comptroller, if applicable, has to review the request for proposals for the procurement under this section for compliance with applicable public contracting laws, rules, and regulations, pursuant to section 10 of P.L.2007, c.52 (C.52:15C-10), shall be 10 business days or less, if practicable, as determined by the State Comptroller;

(4) the timeframes for submission under section 4 of P.L.2012, c.25 (C.52:32-58) and section 1 of P.L.1977, c.33 (C.52:25-24.2) shall be extended to prior to the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Award;

(5) the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2005, c.92 (C.52:34-13.2) shall not apply to technical and support services under this section provided by a vendor using a "24/7 follow-the-sun model" as long as the contractor is able to provide such services in the United States during the business day; and

(6) the term "bids" in subparagraph (f) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-12) shall not include pricing which will be revealed to all responsive bidders during the negotiation process.

e. The division may, to the extent necessary, waive or modify any requirement under any other law or regulation that may interfere with the expeditious procurement required under this section.

L.2019, c.382, s.6.

17. a. Upon receipt of any completed registration form, the commissioner of registration shall review it, and if it is found to be in order, shall:

(1) Send to the registrant written notification that such registrant is duly registered to vote. No registrant shall be considered a registered voter until the commissioner of registration reviews the application submitted by the registrant and deems it acceptable. On the face of such notification in the upper left-hand corner shall be printed the words: "Do Not Forward. Return Postage Guaranteed. If not delivered in 2 days, return to the Commissioner of Registration."

(2) In as timely a manner as possible, enter the information provided for the registrant on the completed registration form, or electronically transfer the information from an online voter registration form completed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.382 (C.19:31-6.4c), into the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31).

(3) Paste, tape, or photocopy the completed registration form onto an original registration form, and shall paste or tape a copy of such completed registration form onto a duplicate registration form, both of which shall be filed as provided in R.S.19:31-10. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude any commissioner of registration from keeping the original mail registration form on file.

(4) In the case of a registrant currently registered in another county of this State, notify the commissioner of registration of such other county to remove the individual's name from the registry list of voters of the county and place into an appropriate retention file all registration documents or material relating to that voter. The commissioner of registration of the current county of the registrant shall secure and maintain the entire voting history of that registrant.

b. The commissioner shall notify a registrant of the reasons for any refusal to approve his registration.

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1994, c.182.)

L.1974, c.30, s.17; amended 1974, c.51, s.6; 1976, c.49; 1994, c.182, s.8; 2005, c.145, s.10; 2019, c.382, s.3.

For the purpose of preventing fraudulent registration and voting, the commissioner of registration in counties having a superintendent of elections, and the county board in all other counties, may, at any time deemed necessary, utilize the procedures set forth by R.S. 19:31-15 and by R.S. 19:32-5.

L.1974, c. 30, s. 18.

19. a. On December 31 of every year in which a Presidential Election has been held, each county may certify to the Secretary of State the number of newly registered voters who have been registered by door-to-door canvassing and registration, if any, during that calendar year. The funds provided pursuant to subsection c. of this section shall be allocated by the Secretary of State to each county wherein such canvassing and registration has been conducted in the same proportion as the number of voters newly registered by door-to-door canvassing in each such county is to the total number of voters newly registered by door-to-door canvassing in all such counties throughout the State.

b. Plans for any door-to-door canvassing and registration may be included in the plan, if any, for mobile registration for the general election submitted pursuant to R.S.19:31-2.

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1994, c.182.)

L.1974,c.30,s.19; amended 1994,c.182,s.9.

The Secretary of State shall each year reimburse the counties $0.50 per new registrant, whether the registration was by mail or in person.

L.1974, c. 30, s. 20. Amended by L.1974, c. 51, s. 7, eff. June 25, 1974.

To effectuate the purposes of this act and in addition to any other powers and duties provided in or by this act, the Secretary of State may promulgate such rules as may be necessary, including rules delineating which defects if any in partially completed voter registration forms may be cured and the manner in which such defects if any may be cured, all of which shall have the force of law.

L.1974, c. 30, s. 21. Amended by L.1975, c. 15, s. 4, eff. Feb. 14, 1975.

If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered.

L.1974, c. 30, s. 22.

26. a. As used in this section, "voter registration agency" means:

Any agency or office serving as a food stamp issuer, pursuant to P.L.1988, c.79 (C.44:8-153 et seq.) and the "Food Stamp Act of 1977," Pub.L.95-113 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.);

Any agency or office providing or administering assistance under the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program," pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) and 42 U.S.C. s.1395 et seq.;

Any agency or office distributing food pursuant to the special supplemental food program for women, infants and children (WIC), established pursuant to P.L.1987, c.261 (C.26:1A-36.1 et seq.) and Pub.L. 95-267 (42 U.S.C. s.1786);

Any agency or office administering assistance under the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.);

Any public office of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1985, c.145 (C.30:6D-24), in the Department of Human Services;

Any public office of the Office of Disability Services, established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.91 (C.30:6E-3), in the Department of Human Services;

Any recruitment office of the Armed Forces of the United States, subject to any agreement between this State and the Secretary of Defense of the United States for the joint development and implementation, as provided under subsection (c) of section 7 of Pub.L.103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-6), of procedures for applying at those offices to register to vote;

Any office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the New Jersey Department of Labor;

Any office of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired of the New Jersey Department of Human Services;

Any county welfare agency or county board of social services established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1 or chapter 4 of Title 44 of the Revised Statutes;

The office of the commissioner of registration in the several counties of this State; and

Any office of the municipal clerk in the several municipalities of this State.

b.With each voter registration form and instructions provided to the chief administrative officer at each voter registration agency under subsections e. and f. of section 16 of P.L.1974, c.30 (C.19:31-6.4), the Secretary of State shall provide at the same time a declination form that includes:

(1)the question: "If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?";

(2)the statement: "Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.";

(3)boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would or would not like to register to vote, together with the statement "IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME.";

(4)the statement: "If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.";

(5)the statement: "If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of State." (insert address and current telephone number); and

(6)the statement: IF YOU DECLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME, YOUR DECISION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL BE USED ONLY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES. IF YOU DO REGISTER TO VOTE, THE WAY IN WHICH YOU DO SO WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL BE USED ONLY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES.

c.The Secretary of State shall cause to be prepared declination forms in the form provided for by subsection b. of this section in both the English and Spanish languages and shall provide such forms to the chief administrative officer of each voter registration agency which has an office in any county in which there is at least one election district in which bilingual sample ballots must be provided pursuant to R.S.19:14-21, R.S.19:49-4 or section 2 of P.L.1965, c.29 (C.19:23-22.4).

d.The Secretary of State shall adopt, pursuant to consultation with the chief administrative officers at voter registration agencies, regulations for the prompt return of the completed voter registration forms, but in no case shall the forms be returned later than the fifth day following the date on which the completed forms are received by the voter registration agencies.

e.All registration forms received by the Secretary of State in the mail or forwarded to the Secretary of State by employees or agents of the voter registration agencies shall be forwarded to the commissioner of registration in the county of the registrant.

f.Each completed declination form received by a voter registration agency shall be kept confidential for a period of at least two years. The Secretary of State shall determine, pursuant to consultation with the chief administrative officers at voter registration agencies, which office or agency shall retain the declination forms.

L.1994,c.182,s.26; amended 1999, c.91, s.10.

20. The Secretary of State is authorized, on behalf of this State, to enter into and to carry out an agreement with the Secretary of Defense of the United States for joint development and implementation of procedures for persons to apply at recruitment offices of the Armed Forces of the United States to register as voters of this State. The terms of the agreement with respect to the implementation of those procedures shall conform as nearly as possible to the provisions for the implementation of such procedures at each agency or office providing or administering assistance under the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program" pursuant to the provisions of section 28 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.30:4D-19.1).

L.1994,c.182,s.20.

34. The commissioner of registration in each of the several counties shall make available at the office of the commissioner to each person appearing in person thereat to apply for services or assistance provided thereby the assistance in registration prescribed by paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 7 of Pub.L.103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-5). Any person providing such assistance in registration shall be subject to the restrictions of paragraph (5) of that subsection.

L.1994,c.182,s.34.

4. a. Any State agency, except for the Motor Vehicle Commission, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, may establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom such information is collected shall be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. Any such agency shall comply with the requirements, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State, as established in subsections b. through d. of section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2).

b. Any additional agencies that are designated for automatic voter registration shall comply with the requirements, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State, as established in section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2) for automatic voter registration and shall provide the notices required pursuant to subsection c. thereof to each person from whom such information is collected.

L.2018, c.6, s.4.

For the convenience of the voters the respective municipal clerks or their duly authorized clerk or clerks in all municipalities shall also be empowered to register applicants for permanent registration up to and including the 21st day preceding any election and after any such election in the manner indicated above, subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the commissioner, in counties having a superintendent of elections, and the county board in all other counties. Duly authorized clerk as used in this section shall mean a clerk who resides within the municipality and has been approved by the commissioner or the county board as the case may be. For this purpose the commissioner shall forward to each municipal clerk a sufficient supply of registration forms. The commissioners shall keep a record of the serial numbers of these forms and shall periodically make such checks as are necessary to accurately determine if all such forms are satisfactorily accounted for. Each municipal clerk shall transmit daily to the commissioner all of the filled out registration forms that he may have in his office at the time.

Amended 1940, c.135, s.3; 1945, c.36, s.2; 1952, c.60, s.2; 1956, c.28; 1966, c.83; 1967, c.73, s.2; 1974, c.30, s.9; 1994, c.170, s.3; 2005, c.139, s.12.

35. The municipal clerk in each of the several municipalities of this State shall make available at the office of the clerk to each person appearing in person thereat to apply for services or assistance provided thereby the assistance in registration prescribed by paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 7 of Pub.L. 103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-5). Any person providing such assistance in registration shall be subject to the restrictions of paragraph (5) of that subsection.

L.1994,c.182,s.35.

The original and duplicate registration forms when filled out shall be filed alphabetically by districts at the office of the commissioner in separate sets of locked binders, one for the permanent office record and the other for use in the polling places on election days. Each set of the locked binders of original and duplicate registration forms shall consist of two volumes for each election district to be known as volume I and volume II. Volume I shall contain an index alphabetically arranged beginning with the letter "A" and ending with the letter "K", and volume II shall contain a similar index beginning with the letter "L" and ending with the letter "Z". In filing the forms there shall be inserted after the original and duplicate registration forms of each registrant a record of voting form with the corresponding serial number and the name and address of the registrant thereon. The binders containing the duplicate registration forms and the corresponding record of voting forms shall constitute and be known as the signature copy registers.

The original registration forms shall not be open to public inspection except during such period as the duplicate registration forms are in process of delivery to or from the district boards or in the possession of such district boards. The original registration forms shall not be removed from the office of the commissioner except upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The signature copy registers shall at all times, except during the time as above provided and subject to reasonable rules and regulations be open to public inspection.

Amended 1994,c.182,s.10.

1.The commissioner of registration may eliminate use of original permanent registration binders, as provided for in R.S.19:31-10, and may maintain in a permanent and separate file the original completed voter registration form of each voter, and any new or amended forms filed by that voter.

L.1994,c.170,s.1; amended 2005, c.145, s.11.

19:31-11. a. In all counties within the State, change of residence notices shall be made: (1) by a written request, signed by the registrant, forwarded to the commissioner by mail, and actually received by the commissioner; (2) by calling in person at the office of the commissioner or the municipal clerk; or (3) by completing and submitting a change of residence notice online as provided by the Secretary of State. The commissioner shall provide change of residence notices in card form for the use of any registered voter moving to another address within the same election district; to another election district within the same county; or to another election district in another county for processing as provided under subsection c. of this section. Copies of these notices shall also be available at the office of the municipal clerk in each municipality. Each municipal clerk shall transmit daily to the commissioner all the filled out change of residence notices that may be in the municipal clerk's office at the time. These notices shall be printed upon cards, shall contain a blank form showing where the applicant last resided and the address and exact location to which the applicant has moved and shall have a line for the applicant's signature, printed name and date of birth. Upon receipt of such change of residence notice the commissioner shall cause the signature to be compared with the registration forms of the applicant and, if such signature appears to be of and by one and the same legal voter, the commissioner shall cause the entry of the change of residence to be made on those registration forms and the registrant shall thereupon be qualified to vote in the election district to which the registrant shall have so moved. If the commissioner is not satisfied as to the signature on the request for a change of residence, a confirmation notice as prescribed by subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 shall be sent by mail with postage prepaid to the registrant at the new address.

The application for change of residence shall be filed with the commissioner or municipal clerk, as the case may be, on or before the 21st day preceding any election.

b. In any county any voter who, prior to an election, shall move within the same county after the time above prescribed for filing an application for change of residence without having made application for change of residence, or who has not returned a confirmation notice sent to the voter by the commissioner of registration of the county, if such a notice has been sent to the voter, or who has not moved since the previous election but whose registration information is missing or otherwise deficient, or has otherwise failed to notify the commissioner of registration of the voter's change of address within the county, shall be permitted to vote in that election in the district to which the voter has moved, upon making a written affirmation regarding the change of address at the polling place of the district in which the voter resides on the day of the election. No identifying document shall be required from the voter for this affirmation. A district board member shall provide the voter with a provisional ballot, and an envelope with an affirmation statement that conforms with the requirements for such documents contained in subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1). The voter shall complete the provisional ballot and affirmation statement, place the ballot in the envelope, seal and return it to the district board member. The board member shall review the information in the affirmation statement for completeness before forwarding it for inspection, tabulation and notation by the county board of elections, as provided for by sections 7 through 26 of P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 through C.19:53C-20). The affirmation statement shall constitute a transfer to the registrant's new residence for any subsequent election. However, if the voter has moved from one residence to another within the same election district at any time, the voter shall be permitted to vote in such election district at any election in the same manner as other voters at the polling place upon written affirmation by the registrant to the district board member of the registrant's change of address.

c. A voter who moves from an election district in one county to an election district in another county prior to the close of registration preceding an election shall register in the new county of residence, in accordance with the provisions of R.S.19:31-6, or shall file a change of residence notice with the commissioner of either county or complete and submit that notice online as provided by the Secretary of State, in order to be permitted to vote. A change of residence notice filed by a voter pursuant to this subsection shall cause the commissioners of the county of previous residence and the county of new residence to update the voter registration record of that voter. The commissioner of the county of new residence shall notify the voter by mail that the voter is now registered to vote in that county or, if the notice submitted by the voter is incomplete, to request any additional information or documentation necessary to finalize the change of residence notice. Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to waive the requirement specified under R.S.19:31-5 that the voter shall have been a resident of the county of new residence for at least 30 days prior to being eligible to vote in any election in that county.

Amended 1940, c.135, s.4; 1941, c.165; 1944, c.251; 1945, c.75; 1946, c.149; 1974, c.30, s.10; 1974, c.51, s.3; 1977, c.89; 1994, c.182, s.11; 1999, c.232, s.3; 2005, c.139, s.13; 2022, c.67, s.12.

14. The Secretary of State shall develop and make available on its website a form to allow a registered voter to electronically complete a change of residence notice, change of name notice, or both, and to electronically submit that form to the appropriate county commissioner of registration. If the voter is reporting a change of residence from one county to another, the form shall be submitted to both the commissioner of the previous county of residence and the new county of residence. The form shall contain substantively the same information required to be submitted by a registered voter on a paper version of a change of residence and change of name form pursuant to R.S.19:31-11 and R.S.19:31-13. The form shall contain any additional information deemed necessary by the secretary.

L.2022, c.67, s.14.

When by error an eligible voter has been registered in a district other than the one in which he resides the commissioner shall cause the error to be corrected, of which correction the registrant shall be notified by postal card.

19:31-13. Whenever the registrant after his or her original registration shall change his or her name due to marriage, divorce, or by judgment of court, the registrant shall in person or by mail submit to the commissioner of registration a written statement notifying the commissioner of the change, which statement shall take such form, and be printed on a postal card suitable for mailing of such design, as the Attorney General shall prescribe and shall be signed by the registrant. A registrant may complete the form online as provided by the Secretary of State. The commissioner, upon receipt of such a notice of change of name, shall revise accordingly the name of the registrant as it appears among the items of information concerning the registrant included on the registrant's registration forms, shall make a photographic copy of the notice of name change submitted by the registrant, and shall affix the original notice so submitted to the registrant's original registration form and the photographic copy of that notice to the registrant's duplicate registration record.

When notice of such change in name has not been received by or filed with the commissioner prior to the 21st day preceding any election, such person may be permitted to vote under the name under which the person was registered prior to that change at the first election following such change in name at which the person shall appear to vote, after signing the signature copy register with both the registered name and his or her new name. The commissioner shall then revise accordingly the name of the registrant as it appears on the registrant's registration forms, make a photographic copy of the notice, and affix the original and copy of the notice to the registrant's permanent registration forms as hereinabove prescribed.

Amended 1945, c.117; 1953, c.19, s.44; 1960, c.139; 1974, c.30, s.11; 1994, c.182, s.12; 2005, c.139, s.14; 2022, c.67, s.13.

When a person appears to register in any county of this State, and in answer to the statement on the registration forms, to wit: "Municipality, house number and street address from which last registered," such person gives information as to previous registration in another county of this State, the commissioner of registration of the county in which such person newly registers shall forthwith notify the commissioner of registration of the county in which such person was last registered, by postal card signed by the registrant, of the new registration, upon receipt of which information the said commissioner shall transfer the registration forms of such person to the inactive file without any publication thereof being required.

L.1947, c. 414, p. 1288, s. 1.

4. If, when submitting a voter registration form for any reason, a registrant declares thereon his or her political party affiliation and in so doing declares an affiliation with a political party other than the political party with which that person was affiliated previously, the registrant shall be ineligible to vote in the next succeeding primary election unless he or she has made the declaration of affiliation with the political party specified in the latest voter registration form no later than the 50th day next preceding such primary election.

L.2005,c.153,s.4.

When a new district has been created or the boundaries of any district have been changed, the commissioner shall transfer the permanent registration forms of registered voters whose voting districts have been changed, of which change the registrant may be notified by postal card. Within ten days after the creation of any such new district, the commissioner of registration shall notify the Secretary of State of such fact.

The registration of a voter shall not be invalidated by such alteration nor shall the right of any registered voter to vote be prejudiced by any error in making the transfers of the registration forms.

Amended by L.1947, c. 277, p. 982, s. 1.

a. Upon receipt by the commissioner of registration of a county from a registered voter of that county of a request that the name of the registrant be removed from the Statewide voter registration system, the commissioner shall so remove the registrant's name. Notice by a registered voter to the commissioner of registration of a county that the registrant has ceased to reside in the State shall, for the purposes of this subsection, be deemed a request for removal of the registrant's name from the Statewide voter registration system.

b. The commissioner of registration of any county may agree with the United States Postal Service or its licensee to receive information provided by the Postal Service concerning the change by any Postal Service customer of that customer's address within the county. If it appears from information so received that a Postal Service customer registered to vote in the county has moved to a different address, then (1) if that address is within the county, the commissioner shall cause the registration records of the registrant to be corrected accordingly and shall transmit to the resident by forwardable mail a notice of the change and a postage prepaid, pre-addressed return form by which the registrant may verify or correct the address information, or (2) if that address is not within the county, the commissioner shall undertake the confirmation notice procedure prescribed under subsection d. of this section to confirm the change of address.

c. The commissioner of registration of a county shall cause the name of a registrant to be removed from the Statewide voter registration system if the registrant (1) confirms in writing, by return of a confirmation notice as prescribed under subsection d. of this section or by other means, that the registrant has changed residence to a place outside the State, or (2) has either not notified the commissioner or failed to respond to a confirmation notice as so prescribed and has not, in any election during the period beginning on the date on which the commissioner sends the confirmation notice to the registrant and ending on the day after the second general election for federal office following that date on which the notice is sent, (a) voted, or (b) appeared to vote in any county and, if necessary, correct the official record of the registrant's address.

Other than as provided under subsection a. of this section, the name of a registrant shall not be removed from the Statewide voter registration system on the ground that the registrant has changed residence except as provided by this subsection.

d. A confirmation notice sent to ascertain whether a registrant continues to reside at the address from which that registrant is registered to vote shall be a postage prepaid and pre-addressed return card, sent by forwardable mail, which shall include: (1) space on which the registrant's current address may be entered; (2) the statement "To any voter who continues to reside at the residence address to which this notice is addressed or who no longer resides at that residence address but continues to reside in.................. (name of county): please mail or personally deliver this postage prepaid card to the commissioner of registration to whom it is addressed not later than................. (calendar date of the 21st day preceding the next election to be held in the county). If you do not return this card by that date, then at any election held subsequent to that date and on or before................. (calendar date of the day after the second general election for federal office following that date), you may be required at the polls to affirm or confirm your address before you are permitted to vote, and if you do not vote in an election during that period, your name will be removed from the registry of eligible voters."; and (3) a statement, the text of which shall be prescribed by the Attorney General, setting forth the means by which a registrant who has changed residence to a county different from that in which is located the residence to which the notice was originally addressed may retain the right to vote. e.The commissioner of registration shall correct the registry list of eligible voters in accordance with change of residence information obtained in conformity with the provisions of this section.

Amended 1940, c.155; 1941, c.273, s.2; 1945, c.18; 1947, c.168, s.19; 1952, c.292; 1953, c.206; 1991, c.91, s.249; 1994, c.182, s.13; 2005, c.139, s.15; 2005, c.145, s.12.

19:31-16. a. (1) Except as prescribed in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the health officer or other officer in charge of records of death in each municipality shall file with the commissioner of registration for the county in which the municipality is located once each month, during the first five days thereof, the age, date of death, and the names and addresses of all persons 18 years of age or older who have died within such municipality during the previous month. Within 30 days after the receipt of such list, the commissioner shall make and complete such investigation as is necessary to establish to his satisfaction that such deceased person is registered as a voter in the county. If such fact is so established, the commissioner shall cause the registration and record of voting forms of the deceased registrant to be transferred to the death file as soon as possible. If the deceased person was not so registered in the county, but the person maintained a residence in another county of this State, the officer in charge of records of death in the municipality in which the decedent died shall forward a copy of the notice of death to the officer in charge of records of death in the municipality in which the decedent resided. That officer having received the notice shall notify the commissioner of the county in which that municipality is located of the death of the person. Any commissioner who receives such notification shall undertake the procedures prescribed herein with respect to the registration in that county of the decedent.

(2) During the two months immediately preceding a primary or general election, the health officer or other officer in charge of records of death in each municipality shall file with the commissioner of registration for the county in which the municipality is located once every two weeks, during the first three days thereof, the age, date of death, and the names and addresses of all persons 18 years of age or older who died within such municipality during the previous two weeks. Within 10 days after the receipt of such list, the commissioner shall undertake the procedures prescribed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.

b. The State registrar of vital statistics shall file with the commissioner of registration of each county no later than May 1 of each year an alphabetized list of the name, address, and date of birth, if available, of each resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the previous year. Within 30 days after the receipt of the list the commissioner shall undertake and complete such investigation as is necessary to establish that each person on the list is not registered as a voter in the county. The commissioner shall cause the registration and record of voting forms of any deceased registrant found on the list to be transferred to the death file as soon as possible.

L.1999,c.232,s.32; amended 2022, c.71, s.1.

33. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the State registrar of vital statistics shall provide to the chairman of the county committee of a political party, or the designee thereof, upon the request of the chairman or the chairman's designee, a copy of the alphabetized list of the name, address and date of birth, if available, of each resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the previous year, as provided for by R.S.19:31-16 as amended, and a copy of the alphabetized list of the name, address, and date of birth, if available, of each resident of the county 18 years of age or older who died during the 40-year period prior to the enactment of P.L.1999, c.232, as provided for by that act.

b. The chairman of the county committee of a political party shall have the authority to inquire whether the commissioner of registration of the county in which the chairman resides is conducting or has conducted the investigations and transfers of the registration and records of deceased registrants, in compliance with R.S.19:31-16 as amended. In the event that the chairman finds the commissioner of registration is not complying, in the chairman's opinion, with R.S.19:31-16 as amended, the chairman shall report this finding to the Attorney General for further investigation or action, if deemed necessary.

L.1999,c.232,s.33.

a. Once each month during the first five days thereof, the chief State election official shall notify the commissioner of registration of a county of any information which the official shall have received during the previous month from the United States Attorney under subsection g. of section 8 of Pub.L. 103-31 (42 U.S.C. s. 1973gg-6) concerning the conviction of a resident of the county of a crime under the laws of the United States, or any other official action relating to such a conviction, that would constitute grounds for disfranchisement of the person while serving a sentence of incarceration under the laws of this State.

b. Once each month during the first five days thereof the prosecutor of the county shall deliver to the commissioner a list of the names and addresses of all persons and their ages and offenses who have been convicted during the previous month of a crime which would disfranchise them while serving a sentence of incarceration under the laws of this State, including therewith the date upon which judgment of conviction was entered against the person, and also including a statement of any sentence of incarceration imposed by the court during the month upon any person so convicted during that month or any previous month; provided, however, if the address of the person so convicted is located in a county other than the county in which the conviction was obtained the said prosecutor shall mail a report of such conviction to the proper election official of the county in which the address of such person is located.

c. Upon the receipt of the notice prescribed under subsection a. of this section or the list prescribed under subsection b. hereof, the commissioner shall make such investigation as is necessary to establish to his satisfaction that the convicted person who was sentenced to a period of incarceration is registered to vote in the county. If it is so established, the commissioner shall cause the registration and record of voting forms of such convicted and sentenced registrant to be transferred to the conviction and incarceration file. In the event the person so convicted and incarcerated is not registered at the time the list or report is received, the commissioner shall cause an index card to be made out and inserted in its proper place in the master index file bearing the information received from the State election official or a county prosecutor, and the person so convicted and incarcerated shall be denied the right to register while serving a sentence of incarceration. Such persons upon the restoration of their citizenship rights or upon being pardoned shall be required to register or reregister before being allowed to vote.

Amended 1947, c.168, s.21; 1950, c.37; 1994, c.182, s.15; 2019, c.270, s.4.

On or before the eighth day preceding any general election the commissioner shall certify and transmit to the county clerk a complete list of all persons who are registered in each election district in each municipality in the county together with a statement as to the number of persons registered in each district. The list of registered voters shall include only the following information for each registered voter: name, address, date of birth, political party affiliation, and voting history. Except when so ordered by a court, the list of registered voters shall not include voter signatures. The list shall be drawn from the Statewide voter registration system, established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31). It shall in figures state the total number of names of persons registered. Such lists shall be arranged substantially in the following form: br />
Grand Street

Residence number    Name of voter

or other designation

14    Jones, Charles M.

15    Smith, John M.

Amended 1947, c.347, s.1; 1974, c.30, s.18; 1976, c.22; 2005, c.139, s.16; 2005, c.145, s.13.

2. a. The county clerk in all counties shall cause copies of the registry lists, certified and transmitted under R.S.19:31-18, to be printed, and shall furnish to any voter applying for the same such copies, charging therefor $0.25 per copy of the list of voters of each election district. The clerk shall also furnish five printed copies thereof to each district board, which shall within two days post two such registry lists, one in the polling place and one in another conspicuous place within the election district. The county clerk shall also forthwith deliver to the superintendent of elections of the county, if any there be, and to the chairmen of the county committees of each of the several political parties in the county, five copies of the lists of voters of each election district in the county; and to the municipal clerk of each of the municipalities in the county five copies of the lists of voters of each election district in such municipality; and to the county board 10 copies of the lists of voters of each election district in each of such municipalities. The county clerk shall also, upon the request of the chairman of the State committee of any of the several political parties, but not more than once in each calendar year, forthwith deliver a copy of the lists of voters of each election district in each of the municipalities in his county. In no case shall a list of registered voters furnished pursuant to this section include voter signatures or, except as otherwise provided in section 3 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-3), the home address of a covered person, as defined in section 1 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-1), who has received approval from the Office of Information Privacy for the redaction or nondisclosure of the covered person's address. The county clerk shall satisfy the request by delivery of a computer-generated or electronic copy of the list for the county from the Statewide voter registration system.

b. The commissioner of registration shall furnish a computer-generated or electronic copy of a list of registered voters in any or all election districts in the county to any voter requesting it, for which copy such commissioner shall make a charge which shall be uniform in any calendar year and which shall reflect only the cost of reproducing the list, but which in any case shall not exceed $375.

c. No person shall use voter registration lists or copies thereof prepared pursuant to this section as a basis for commercial or charitable solicitation of the voters listed thereon. Any person making such use of such lists or copies thereof shall be a disorderly person, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00.

L.1947,c.347,s.2; amended 1951, c.273, s.1; 1966, c.117, s.2; 1974, c.30, s.13; 1975, c.115; 1990, c.60; 1991, c.113; 2005, c.139, s.17; 2005, c.145, s.14; 2021, c.371, s.6.

The county clerk, after causing copies of such registry lists to be printed, shall file the original registry lists in his office and keep same on file for one year.

L.1947, c. 347, p. 1138, s. 4.

Sections 19:30-1 and 19:30-2 of the Revised Statutes are repealed.

L.1947, c. 347, p. 1138, s. 5.

The commissioner shall transfer to the deleted file the permanent registration and record of voting forms of such persons as a judge of the Superior Court may, as hereinafter provided, order stricken from the Statewide voter registration system and the signature copy register.

The registrant shall be notified by the commissioner by registered mail of any transfer made pursuant to this section.

After the permanent registration form of any person has been placed in the deleted file for any reason whatsoever, the Commissioner of Registration shall note that the person's registration has been rendered void in the record for that person in the Statewide voter registration system and stamp across the face of said registration form in red ink with a rubber stamp, in type at least one inch high, the word void and underneath said word, deleted, and thereafter, the said form shall not be restored, reinstated or re-transferred to the active file.

Any person whose permanent registration form has been transferred to the deleted file shall be required to reregister, in order to be eligible to vote.

In no event, shall any person's registration form number which has been transferred to the deleted file be again used as the registration number of that person or any other person.

Amended 1940, c.31, s.1; 1953, c.19, s.45; 1991, c.91, s.250; 2005, c.145, s.15.

On or before the eighth day preceding the primary election for the general election and the general election, respectively, the commissioner in counties not having a superintendent of elections, shall deliver to the municipal clerk in each municipality the signature copy registers for each election district in such municipality and shall take a receipt for same. The municipal clerk shall thereupon deliver at his office, or in any other way he sees fit, such registers to a member or members of the proper district boards at the same time and together with the primary for the general election sample ballots or the general election sample ballots, as the case may be. The registers shall be used by the district boards on election days and for the purpose of mailing the sample ballots. The commissioner in counties having a superintendent of elections shall deliver such registers at his office, or in any other way he may see fit, to the various district boards, taking a receipt for same.

Before delivering the registers the commissioner shall cause to be printed upon a separate sheet or sheets of paper, to be inserted inside of the front cover of such registers in conspicuous type, such instructions to election officers regarding the use and disposition of the binders and forms as he deems necessary.

Amended 1947, c.168, s.22; 2005, c.136, s.44; 2005, c.139, s.18; 2011, c.134, s.41.

A person whose name appears in the signature copy register and who upon applying for a ballot or voting authority shall have given the information and signed the signature comparison record as provided in this Title and whose signature in the signature comparison record shall have been compared by a member of the district board and in the presence and view of the challengers with the signature of the applicant as recorded in the register shall be eligible to receive a ballot or voting authority unless it be shown to the satisfaction of a majority of the members of the district board that he is not entitled to vote in the district or has otherwise become disqualified.

No person shall be required to sign the signature comparison record as a means of identification if he shall have been unable to write his name when he registered, or if, having been able to write his name when registered, he subsequently shall have lost his sight or lost the hand with which he was accustomed to write or shall by reason of disease or accident be unable to write his name when he applies to vote, but each such person shall establish his identity in the manner provided in this Title.

In addition to signing the signature comparison record and after the comparison of the signature with the signature in the register, a person offering to vote at the primary election for the general election, as the case may be, shall announce his name and the party primary in which he wishes to vote.

After a person has voted the member of the district board having charge of the signature copy registers shall place the number of the person's ballot in the proper column on the record of voting form of such person, which number shall constitute a record that the person has voted. In the case of the primary election for the general election such member of the district board shall also place in the proper column on the record of voting form the first three letters of the name of the political party whose primary ballot such person has voted.

In the event that the duplicate permanent registration form of any person cannot be found in the signature copy register at the time he applies for a ballot or voting authority, a member of the district board shall promptly ascertain from the commissioner or a duly authorized clerk if such person is permanently registered. Upon information that such is the fact, such member of the district board shall require the person applying for a ballot or voting authority to obtain an order from the commissioner authorizing him to receive a ballot or voting authority. The commissioner shall specially authorize and deputize clerks to issue such orders in municipalities within his county. The commissioner or his clerk shall require the voter to sign his name upon such order for the purpose of signature comparison. The district board shall require the voter to again sign his name on said order, in the presence of the board, and if the signatures compare, to permit him to vote. At primary elections the commissioner or his duly authorized clerk shall endorse on the order the political party whose ballot such person voted at the last preceding primary election. The order shall be returned to the commissioner at the same time and along with the signature copy registers.

Amended 1945, c.77; 2005, c.136, s.45; 2011, c.134, s.42.

Not later than noon of the day following the canvass of the votes cast at the primary election for the general election or the general election, the signature copy registers shall be returned by each district board to the commissioner at his office or in any other way as the commissioner may see fit.

Upon receipt of the registers the commissioner shall inspect them and verify from the party primary poll books and the general election poll books, as the case may be, that the entries required to be made on the record of voting forms in such registers by the district boards have been made. If the commissioner shall ascertain that such entries have not been made or have been improperly made, he shall cause such entries and corrections to be made forthwith and also notify the county board of such failure of duty and the members of such district board who have so failed in their duty and shall be ineligible for appointment as members of any district board thereafter.

Amended 1965, c.106; 2005, c.136, s.46; 2011, c.134, s.43.

Following each election the commissioner shall cause the record of voting as shown on the record of voting forms in the signature copy registers or, in counties in which polling records are used in place of those signature copy registers pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.170 (C.19:31-3.3), as shown in the polling records, to be entered on the record of voting forms in the original registration binders and the Statewide voter registration system. An entry of any record of voting which shall have been made in the system shall be retained for a period of not less than ten years following the election at which the vote so recorded was cast.

Amended 1994, c.170, s.4; 1994, c.182, s.16; 2005, c.145, s.16.

In the event of the complete loss or failure of the Statewide voter registration system, the commissioner shall promptly provide for a general registration at the regular polling places in the district or districts for which the binders, registration forms, or other official voter registration information have been lost or destroyed.

Amended 1994, c.170, s.5; 1994, c.182, s.17; 2005, c.145, s.17.

The commissioner may make and maintain a card index file showing on separate cards the full name, address, birth date, driver's license number, last four digits of the social security number, or unique identifying number, municipality, ward and district, registration number and date of registration of each person registered in his county. This file shall be arranged alphabetically according to names irrespective of municipality, ward, district, registration number, and date of registration. Reasonably sufficient space shall be reserved on each card for the notations to be made thereon as herein provided.

The commissioner shall cause to be made notation on these cards as to each registrant respectively whose registration forms have been transferred from one register to another or to the inactive, death or conviction files concurrently with such transfer. The card with such notations shall show the location of the registration forms of each registrant at all times. All changes of address of the registrant, including those within the same district, shall be noted on these cards concurrently with changes of address on the registration forms.

Amended 1994, c.170, s.6; 1994, c.182, s.18; 2005, c.145, s.18.

42. a. Any person who believes that he or she has been denied an opportunity to register to vote or to remain a registered voter in violation of the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.), may seek relief by providing written notice to the Secretary of State. Such notice shall include the date which the person seeking relief believes the violation to have occurred and as many of the particulars relative to the violation as that person can recount. The notice shall also include the name and address of the person seeking relief and shall be certified by that person's signature.

b. If the violation of the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.) has not been investigated or corrected within 90 days after the Secretary of State receives written notice of the violation, or within 20 days after the Secretary of State receives written notice of the violation if the violation occurred within 120 days prior to the day of an election, the aggrieved person may bring a civil action in the appropriate superior court for declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation.

c. If the violation occurred within 30 days prior to the day of an election, the aggrieved person shall not be required to first provide written notice to the Secretary of State, as provided for in subsection a. of this section, but may instead bring a civil action in the appropriate superior court, as provided for in subsection b. of this section.

d. In any civil actions brought under subsections b. or c. of this section, the superior court may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, reasonable attorney fees, including litigation fees and costs.

L.1994,c.182,s.42.

44. The Secretary of State shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

L.1994,c.182,s.44.

1. a. There shall be established in the Department of State a single Statewide voter registration system, as required pursuant to section 303 of the federal "Help America Vote Act of 2002," Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15483). The principal computer components of the system shall be under the direct control of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for creating the network necessary to maintain the system and providing the computer software, hardware and security necessary to ensure that the system is accessible only to those executive departments and State agencies so designated by the Secretary of State, each county commissioner of registration, each county and municipal clerk, and individuals under certain circumstances, as provided for by this section. The system shall be the official State repository for voter registration information for every legally registered voter in this State, and shall serve as the official voter registration system for the conduct of all elections in the State.

b. The Statewide voter registration system shall include, but not be limited to, the following features:

(1) the name and registration information of every legally registered voter in the State;

(2) the ability to assign a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the State;

(3) interactivity among appropriate State agencies so designated by the Secretary of State, each county commissioner of registration, each county board of elections, and each county clerk such that these entities shall have immediate electronic access to all or selected records in the system, as determined by the Secretary of State, to receive or transmit all or selected files in the system and to print or review all or selected files in the system;

(4) the ability to permit any county commissioner of registration to enter voter registration information on an expedited basis, and to transfer electronically voter registration information from an online voter registration form completed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.382 (C.19:31-6.4c), at the time the information is provided thereto and to permit the Secretary of State to provide technical support to do so whenever needed;

(5) the ability to permit each municipal clerk to view or print information in the system;

(6) the ability to permit an individual, by July 1, 2006, to verify via the Internet whether that individual, and only that individual, is included in the system as a legally registered voter, whether the information pertaining to that individual required by subsection c. of this section is correct, and if not, a means to notify the pertinent county commissioner of registration of the corrections that must be made and to so verify in a way that does not give one individual access to the information required by subsection c. of this section for any other individual;

(7) a Statewide street address index and map in electronic form that can accurately identify the location of every legally registered voter in this State;

(8) the ability to record and monitor all requests for mail-in ballots; to enable the county clerk to verify the identity and signature of each person requesting a mail-in ballot; to record the name and address of each voter determined to be eligible to receive a mail-in ballot for a particular election and to note when a mail-in ballot has been transmitted to that voter by mail or hand delivery; to update the system to allow the postal tracking of mail-in ballots using Intelligent Mail barcodes, or a similar successor tracking system, upon the finding by the Secretary of State that such technology is viable; and to make such information available to the Secretary of State so that a voter can be notified whether the application for such a ballot was accepted or rejected, and the reason for the rejection, using the free-access system established by section 5 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-5); and

(9) any other functions required pursuant to Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15301 et seq.), or Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or that may be deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.

c. The Statewide voter registration system shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for every legally registered voter in this State:

(1) last, first and middle name;

(2) street address at time of registration or rural route, box number or apartment number, if any;

(3) city or municipality, and zip code;

(4) date of birth;

(5) telephone number and e-mail address, if provided on voter registration form;

(6) previous name or address if individual re-registered due to change of name or address;

(7) ward and election district number, if either is available;

(8) (a) current and valid New Jersey driver's license number; or

(b) if the registrant has not been issued a New Jersey driver's license number, the last four digits of the registrant's social security number; or

(c) unique identifying number for any individual who has not been issued the information sought in subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph;

(9) notation that a copy of one of the following documents has been submitted with the voter registration application, if required: current and valid photo identification card; a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check or any other government document showing the registrant's name and current address;

(10) the method by which the individual registered and whether that person needs to provide additional identification information to vote using a voting machine instead of a provisional ballot;

(11) political party affiliation, if designated;

(12) digitized signature;

(13) date of registration or re-registration;

(14) name and street address of the individual assisting in the completion of the form, if the applicant for registration is unable to do so;

(15) voting participation record for ten-year period; and

(16) any other information required pursuant to Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15301 et seq.), or Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or that the Secretary of State determines is necessary to assess the eligibility of an individual to be registered to vote and to vote in this State.

L.2005, c.145, s.1; amended 2009, c.79, s.32; 2009, c.287, s.2; 2018, c.72, s.4; 2019, c.382, s.4.

2. a. The Statewide voter registration system shall replace all other computer or electronic-based registry files of voters and other voter registration files established and maintained by each county commissioner of registration for voter registration and election administration purposes established pursuant to the provisions of Title 19 and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes, and shall be the single system for storing and managing the official file of registered voters throughout the State. A commissioner may, however, continue to use and maintain as a supplement to the system the original and duplicate permanent registration binders and voting records and shall continue to use and maintain the signature copy registers or polling records provided for in Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

b. Each county commissioner of registration shall be responsible for adding to, deleting from, amending and otherwise conducting on a regular basis maintenance for the files of every legally registered voter in that commissioner's county as contained in the Statewide voter registration system, pursuant to the provisions of section 303 of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s. 15301 et seq.) and Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. Each commissioner shall be responsible for verifying the accuracy of the name, address and other data of registered voters in the commissioner's respective county as contained in the system. The commissioner who receives the voter registration forms of individuals who have registered to vote in the county or who are re-registering for any reason shall be responsible for entering the information on those forms into the system on an expedited basis, and electronically transferring into the system the information from online voter registration forms completed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.382 (C.19:31-6.4c), including but not limited to forms and information received pursuant to chapter 31 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. The information the commissioner shall use to update and maintain the system shall be that required by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31).

c. The Secretary of State and each county commissioner of registration shall be responsible for developing and providing the technological security measures needed to prevent unauthorized access to the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31) and to the information for any individual on the system required by subsection c. of section 1 of that act.

d. The Secretary of State, in consultation with each county commissioner of registration, shall develop minimum standards to safeguard the accuracy of the files contained in the Statewide voter registration system. Such standards shall include procedures to ensure that reasonable effort is made to remove registrants who are ineligible to vote pursuant to federal or State law and to ensure that eligible voters are not removed in error from the system.

e. (1) The Secretary of State and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in the Department of Transportation shall enter into an agreement to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with information in the database of the commission, including social security numbers, to the extent required to enable verification of the accuracy of the information provided on applications for voter registration, and to locate and utilize for voter registration purposes the digitized signatures of licensed drivers or holders of non-driver identification cards who register to vote using an online voter registration form, as provided pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.382 (C.19:31-6.4c).

(2) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on death records.

(3) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on individuals who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole as the result of a conviction for an indictable offense.

(4) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on individuals who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole as the result of a conviction for an indictable offense.

(5) The Secretary of State shall enter into an agreement with the State Parole Board to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with State agency information on individuals who are on parole.

L.2005, c.145, s.2; amended 2019, c.382, s.5.

3.Each year the Attorney General shall prepare and submit to the Governor and the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly a report that:

a.assesses the current status of the Statewide voter registration system;

b.assesses the hardware and software required to maintain and expand the system;

c.reviews existing or planned statewide voter registration systems in other states or as may be required by Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. s.15301 et seq.) or the federal Election Assistance Commission created by that law;

d.recommends ways to strengthen and expand electronic communications among those executive departments and State agencies designated by the Attorney General to have access to the system, the county commissioners of registration and the county and municipal clerks; and

e.recommends ways to improve the effectiveness of the system in the administration of elections and voting in this State.

In preparing the report, the Attorney General shall solicit the views of county commissioners of registration and such other individuals familiar with the system as the Attorney General may wish to consult.

The Attorney General shall submit the initial report to the Governor and the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly no later than two years after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31 et al.).

L.2005,c.145,s.3.

4.The Attorney General may promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19:31-31 et al.).

L.2005,c.145,s.4.

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Secretary of State may become a member, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, of a non-profit organization comprised solely of United States territorial governmental units, states, and the District of Columbia for the purpose of improving the accuracy of voter registration information and increasing access to voter registration for eligible individuals. The Secretary of State may share, transmit, or receive confidential, personal, or personally identifiable information, excluding information unrelated to voter eligibility, for those purposes. The Secretary of State shall not share or transmit documentation or other information that indicates that an individual is not a citizen of the United States. Information shared, transmitted, or received, including information from the non-profit organization, in carrying out the purposes of this section shall not be considered a government record under P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or the common law concerning access to government records.

2021, c.139, s.1.

1. Each county commissioner of registration and county board of elections shall require the use of electronic poll books, as further provided by this act, P.L.2019, c.80 (C.19:31-35 et seq.), at each polling place during the early voting period and on the day of any election, in place of the paper polling record or signature copy register, to access the registration record, eligibility, signature, and other information of each registered voter in the election district. The electronic poll books shall enable at least the same functionality currently provided by the paper polling records or signature copy register to be accomplished in the conduct of an election. An electronic poll book shall not be used unless it has been certified by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall adopt and publish electronic poll books standards and regulations governing the certification and use of electronic poll books. The Secretary of State shall not certify an electronic poll book unless it is in compliance with at least the capabilities and standards specified under section 2 of P.L.2019, c.80 (C.19:31-36) and the Secretary of State's standards and regulations. The Secretary of State shall provide the rules, regulations, and instructions regarding the examination, testing, and use of electronic poll books, including rules regarding the security and protection of the information stored in such electronic poll books, to each county commissioner of registration and board of elections.

L.2019, c.80, s.1; amended 2021, c.40, s.19.

2. The electronic poll book technology certified by the Secretary of State shall meet at least the following capabilities and standards:

a. The ability to enable a poll worker to perform by electronic means all of the same functions performed using a paper polling record and signature copy register, during the conduct of an election, including but not limited to, the following:

(1) retrieving a registered voter's name, address, and date of birth and identifying the municipality and the particular election district therein from which the person is registered;

(2) verifying whether additional identifying documents or proof of residency are needed to complete a voter's registration;

(3) accessing a registered voter's voting record and an imprint of the digitized image of the registered voter's signature;

(4) recording a registered voter's signature at the polls;

(5) assigning a sequential number of each voter permitted to vote;

(6) inspecting whether a registered voter already voted or was mailed a mail-in ballot;

(7) redirecting a voter to the correct polling place;

(8) recording any necessary notation of remarks on the voter's record as provided by R.S.19:15-23 and any other challenge and the determination thereof by the district board in connection with the conduct of an election;

(9) providing an auditable record of the election; and

(10) in the case of a primary election, the electronic poll books shall indicate for each registered voter the political party, if any, of which the voter is a member for the purpose of voting at that primary;

b. compatibility with the Statewide voter registration system established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.145 (C.19 :31-31), which shall include the ability of the electronic poll books to import the records of all registered voters in the election district and updates to those records before election day, to record edits to those records on election day, and to export to the Statewide voter registration system all of the election activity and voter participation information at the closing of the polls or, as an alternative to the export capability, the capability to generate a report of the election activity and voter participation information for manual entry into the Statewide voter registration system;

c. a proven ability to successfully meet requirements concerning technology documentation, user safety, accessibility, durability, data encryption, non-interference with and separation from the voting system in use during an election, device and system security, audit log, data and power backup, compatibility, and functionality, as demonstrated under actual performance and use in other United States election administration jurisdictions; and

d. any other capability or standard deemed appropriate by the county commissioner of registration, county board of elections, or Secretary of State, or deemed necessary to comply with any provision of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

L.2019, c.80, s.2.

3. A county commissioner of registration and county board of elections shall submit to the Secretary of State a request for approval in the form, content, and timeframe specified by the Secretary of State. Within 10 days of receiving the request, the Secretary of State shall review the request for compliance with the Secretary of State's standards and regulations and all of the capabilities and standards required under this act, P.L.2019, c.80 (C.19:31-35 et seq.). A county commissioner of registration and county board of elections approved to use electronic poll books shall furnish at least two electronic poll books for each polling place. Each voter shall be required to sign the electronic poll book. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a voter shall be permitted to vote by provisional ballot if the electronic poll book ceases to operate. Electronic poll books for each election shall be prepared by the commissioner of registration no later than the 10th day preceding the start of the early voting period for the election. At each election, the delivery of the electronic poll books to the municipal clerk and to the district boards or other officials charged with the same duties as the district boards in connection with the conduct of an election, and the return of those electronic poll books by the district boards or such other election officials to the commissioner of registration, shall be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of registration and shall comply with Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. The commissioner of registration shall retain the electronic poll books records for any election for a period of not less than six years following that election.

L.2019, c.80, s.3; amended 2021, c.40, s.20

4. Notwithstanding any provision of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the Secretary of State shall adopt immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law, within 90 days of the effective date of this act, P.L.2019, c.80 (C.19 :31-35 et seq.), such rules and regulations as the Secretary of State deems necessary to implement the provisions of this act, which shall be effective during an interim period and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the Secretary of State in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

L.2019, c.80, s.4.

The commissioner of registration shall have printed on the back of the duplicate permanent registration and voting form a signature comparison record, which record shall have in the left-hand side one-half inch from the top, a line upon which the voter when registering shall place his signature. Directly underneath this line shall be printed the words "sample signature."

The signature comparison record shall be printed so as to leave a margin one and one-half inches on the left-hand side for the purpose of binding. The remainder of the space shall be ruled to provide a record of registrants' signatures as made for comparison purposes before receiving a ballot at any election. The form shall be sufficient to record signatures for a period of 20 years and shall be subdivided into seven columns.At the top of the first column at the left-hand side shall appear the word "year." This column shall be approximately three-quarters of an inch wide.

At the top of the second column shall appear the abbreviation for the words "signature compared by." In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of the voter placed in third column with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the third column shall appear the word "primary." Upon the line in this column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in the primary election for the general election in the year as stated in the first column. This column shall be approximately three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the top of the fourth column shall appear the abbreviation of the words "signature compared by." In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of voter placed in the fifth column, with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the fifth column shall appear the word "general." Upon the line in said column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in the general election in the year as stated in the first column. This column shall be approximately three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the top of the sixth column shall appear the abbreviation of the words "signature compared by." In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of voter placed in the seventh column, with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the seventh column shall appear the words "any other election." Upon the line in this column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in any election other than a primary election for a general election or a general election. The signature shall be placed on the line opposite the year stated in the first column which corresponds with the year during which such other election shall be held. This column shall be three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the time the voter registers, in addition to obtaining the signature on the original and duplicate registration forms the commissioner of registration shall also require the registrant to sign the signature comparison record on the back of the duplicate registration form above the line below which are the words "sample signature."

The signature comparison record shall be in substantially the following form:

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY INSERTION

L.1944, c. 230, p. 773, s. 1; L.1972, c. 82, s. 2, eff. July 5, 1972; L.1981, c. 434, s. 7; L.1982, c. 118, s. 7, eff. Aug. 25, 1982.

2.Every person qualified to vote in any election shall at any time after the opening of the polls be at liberty to enter the polling place or room and claim his right to vote at such election in his proper district, and he shall claim such right in person before the district board in the district. The board shall permit no person to vote whose name does not appear in the signature copy register of its election district. Each voter in claiming the right to vote shall first give his full name and address to the member of the district board having charge of the duplicate permanent registration binder and voting record and the signature comparison record. Such clerk shall thereupon locate the permanent registration form and voting record and signature comparison record of the voter and shall require the voter to thereupon sign his name in the proper space on his signature comparison record if the voter has previously signed his name on the line marked sample signature. If the voter has not so signed the member of the district board shall require the voter to sign the line marked sample signature and compare the sample signature with the signature made by such person at the time he registered and if satisfied that they were made by one and the same person he shall then permit the voter to sign his name in the proper space on the signature comparison record. The voter shall sign his name without assistance using black ink in the proper column on the signature comparison record. Such signature being completed on the signature comparison record the member of the board having charge of the duplicate permanent registration binder shall audibly and publicly announce the name of the claimant and if the member of the board has ascertained from the duplicate permanent registration binder that the claimant is registered as a qualified voter and upon comparison the member of the board is satisfied that the signature of the claimant and the sample signature on the signature copy register has been made by one and the same person, the member of the board who compared the signature of the voter shall place his initials in the proper column on the signature comparison record signifying that he has made such comparison and is satisfied that the signature of the claimant and sample signature has been made by one and the same person; whereupon the voter shall be eligible to receive a ballot unless it be shown to the satisfaction of a majority of the members of the district board that he is not entitled to vote in the district or has otherwise become disqualified.

In addition to signing the signature comparison record and after the comparison of the signature with the signature in the register, a person offering to vote at a primary election for the general election shall announce his name and the party primary in which he wishes to vote.

After a person has voted, the member of the district board having charge of the signature copy register shall place the number of the person's ballot in the proper column on the record of voting form of such person, which number shall constitute a record that the person has voted. In the case of a primary election for the general election such member of the district board shall also place in the proper column on the record of voting form the first three letters of the name of the political party whose primary ballot such person has voted.

No person shall be required to sign the signature comparison record as a means of identification if he shall have been unable to write his name when he registered, or if, having been able to write his name when registered, he subsequently shall have lost his sight or lost the hand with which he was accustomed to write or shall by reason of disease or accident be unable to write his name when he applies to vote, but each such person who alleges his inability to sign his name on the signature comparison record shall establish his identity as follows: one of the members of the district board shall read the same list of questions to the voter as were required upon registration, such questions shall be provided at each election by the commissioner of registration and are to be known as "identification statements for election day." The member of the board shall write the answers of the voter upon the identification statement. These statements shall be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders, at each election, and shall be numbered serially from one to twenty.

Each statement shall contain the same questions as the voter was required to answer upon registration. The questions answered upon registration shall not be turned to or inspected until the answers to the questions shall have been written on election day by the member of the board.

At the end of each list of questions shall be printed the following statement: "I certify that I have read to the above named voter each of the foregoing questions and that I have duly recorded his answers as above to each of said questions"; and the member of the board who has made the above record shall sign his name to such certificate and date the same, and note the time of day of making such record. If the answers to the questions asked of the voter on election day agree with the answers given by him to the same questions at the time he registered, he shall then be eligible to receive a ballot. Any person who shall permit or attempt to furnish the answers on behalf of the voter shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The commissioner of registration shall furnish sufficient identification statements for each election district in each county. The statements shall be printed on sheets approximately ten by sixteen inches and shall contain a margin of approximately two inches for binding and shall be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders each election and shall be in substantially the following form:

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM FROM P.L.1996, c.120, s.6.

At any election any person who declares under oath and establishes to the satisfaction of a majority of all the members of the district board, that by reason of an inability to read or write, blindness or other physical disability he is unable to mark his ballot without assistance, shall have the assistance of two members of the board who shall not be members of the same political party, to be assigned by the board, in preparing his ballot. Such members shall retire with such voter to the booth and assist him in the preparation of his ballot and folding the same. The member acting as clerk of the district board shall make an entry on a disability certificate for assistance, which entry shall be in the form of an oath and be inserted in the front of the duplicate registry binders each election.

In every instance when such oath was administered to a voter as herein provided, it shall state briefly what facts were sworn to and the names of the members of the board who aided such voter. Any members of the district board shall be eligible to witness the preparation of the ballot of any such voter, but no other person shall be allowed to assist him in marking his ballot or to witness the marking of the same. No member of the board shall reveal the name of any person for whom such voter has voted or anything that took place while he was being assisted.

Such voter, if blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, may, in lieu of the assistance of the board as above provided, have assistance of some person of his own selection in preparing his ballot. Such person shall retire with such voter to the booth and assist him in the preparation of his ballot and folding the same. The name and address of such person shall be recorded as above. In such case, no other person than the one so selected by the voter shall be allowed to assist such voter in marking his ballot or witness the marking of the same. No person so selected shall reveal the name of any person for whom such voter has voted or anything that took place while he was being assisted.

The disability certificates shall be numbered serially one to twenty. The commissioner of registration shall furnish sufficient disability certificates for assistance for each election district in his county. The disability certificates for assistance shall be printed on sheets approximately ten by sixteen inches and shall contain a margin of approximately two inches for binding and shall be in substantially the following form:

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM FROM P.L.1996, c.120, s.6.

The commissioner of registration in each county shall furnish sufficient certificates of signature comparison records for each election district in his county to be filled in and signed at the close of the polls by the members of the district board. A blank space shall also be provided for on the certificate for the signatures of the members of the election board. Under said certificate there shall also be printed the word "Remarks" together with a number of blank lines. The commissioner shall insert one of such certificates in the front of the signature copy register in each election district in the county. At primary elections the certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

PRIMARY ELECTION

CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURE COMPARISON RECORD

The undersigned constituting the district board of election in the County of....................................................... in the.................................................................

(City, Town, Township, Borough or Village)

.................................................. Ward............................................. District hereby

certify that (................................................................) is the correct total of the

(Figures)

number of names of voters who actually signed the signature comparison records and voted in the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION held on the

...................... day of..................................... 20....

And hereby certify that (.........................) is the correct total of the number of

(Figures)

names of voters who actually signed the signature comparison records and voted in the REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION held on the............... day of..............................., 20....

DISTRICT

...................................................Judge................................... Clerk.

BOARD OF

...................................Inspector........................ Clerk.

ELECTION

Remarks:...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

At all other elections the certificates shall be in substantially the following form:

CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURE COMPARISON RECORD

The undersigned constituting the district board of election in the County of.......................... in the.......................................................................

(City, Town, Township, Borough or Village)

............................................... Ward................................................ District hereby

certify that (................................................................) is the correct total of the

(Figures)

number of names of voters who actually signed the signature comparison records and voted in the.................................................................................election held on the (General, Special or other Election as the case may be)

.................. day of..............., 20..... .

DISTRICT

.................... Judge.................................... Clerk.

BOARD OF

....................Inspector................................ Clerk. ELECTION

Remarks:.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

After each election the commissioner of registration shall remove from the binders the identification statements, the disability certificates for assistance, and certifications of signature comparison records and shall preserve them in his office in a suitable place for a period of two years.

L.1944,c.230,s.2; amended 1985, c.20, s.1; 1996, c.120, s.6; 2005, c.154, s.9.

When any legal voter shall apply to the district board in the district in which he resides and shall find that his name upon the signature comparison record is marked as having voted, the district board shall not permit such persons to vote. Application may be made by the registrant to the commissioner and upon due proof to the commissioner or his duly authorized clerk that such registered voter has not voted in such election the commissioner shall issue a certificate directed to the district board authorizing the district board to permit such person to vote.

The commissioner shall immediately following such election cause the members of the district board in such district to appear before him and unless such district board can explain to the satisfaction of the commissioner why such registrant's form was marked as voted the commissioner shall advise the county board that such district board or any member thereof has failed in the performance of its duty and the member or members of such board who have so failed in their duty shall be ineligible for appointment as members of any district board thereafter.

L.1944, c. 230, p. 786, s. 3.

Sections 19:15-7, 19:15-13, 19:15-14, 19:15-15, 19:15-16, 19:15-35 and 19:15-36 of the Revised Statutes and "An act concerning elections and supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes," approved June third, one thousand nine hundred and forty-one (P.L.1941, c. 177), are repealed.

L.1944, c. 230, p. 786, s. 4.

The office of superintendent of elections in counties of the first class in which such office has previously been established is continued, and in those counties of the first class in which such office has not been previously established, is established. The offices shall be filled by some suitable persons who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and who shall hold office for the term of five years from the date of appointment and until their successors are appointed and have qualified. Each superintendent shall receive such salary per annum as the governing body of such county may by resolution authorize, but not less than $7,500, to be paid by the county treasurer. The persons so appointed shall have their offices in the counties for which they are appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments, but shall be for the unexpired terms only. Any person filling a vacancy shall be from the same party as the original appointee. The annual salary of each deputy superintendent shall be 90% of what the superintendent receives for performing the duties of superintendent of elections and commissioner of registration.

Amended 1940, c.165, s.2; 1944, c.45; 1961, c.59, s.4; 1965, c.143; 1967, c.13; 1975, c.256, s.1; 1982, c.46, s.3; 1989, c.160, s.1; 1998, c.91, s.1.

The office of deputy superintendent of elections in counties of the first class is established. The office in each county shall be filled by a suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall not be from the same political party as the superintendent of elections, and who shall hold office for a term of 5 years, running concurrently with the term of the superintendent and until his successor is appointed and has qualified. The initial appointment to the office of deputy superintendent of elections may be for a partial term, if necessary. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments but shall be for the unexpired term only. He shall have his office in the county for which he is appointed.

L.1982, c. 46, s. 1, eff. June 29, 1982.

The deputy superintendent of elections shall assist the superintendent of elections in the performance of his duties, shall serve as superintendent in his absence, and shall have such powers and duties as the superintendent may delegate to him from time to time. In addition, the deputy superintendent is constituted the chief deputy of the superintendent and shall have all of the powers and duties of the chief deputy. No county with a deputy superintendent so appointed shall also have a chief deputy appointed pursuant to R.S. 19:32-2.

L.1982, c. 46, s. 2, eff. June 29, 1982.

a. Except as provided in section 2 of P.L.1982, c.46 (C.19:32-1.2), each superintendent may appoint a chief deputy, a chief clerk, a secretary, such personnel as is authorized under R.S.19:48-6, and any other assistants he considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Title, and, except as hereinafter provided, may remove the same whenever he deems it necessary and all persons so appointed, by superintendents of elections in counties of the first class having more than 850,000 inhabitants, according to the latest federal census taken in a year ending in zero, to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year, shall be in the classified service of the civil service and shall be appointed in accordance with and shall be subject to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but all other persons so appointed shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but shall be in the unclassified service. All persons appointed by the commissioner of registration in counties of the first class having more than 600,000, but less than 850,000 inhabitants, according to the latest federal census taken in a year ending in zero, to serve for terms of more than six months in any one year, other than the chief deputy and chief clerk and confidential secretary and chief custodian, shall be in the classified service of the civil service and shall be appointed, and hold their position, in accordance with the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but all other persons so appointed shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, but shall be in the unclassified service. Subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, the salaries of the persons so appointed shall be fixed and such salaries certified to and approved under his hand shall be paid semimonthly by the county treasurer of the county in which such persons are so engaged. All other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Title, when certified to and approved by the superintendent, shall be paid by the county treasurer of the county in which the superintendent shall maintain his office; provided, however, that all necessary expenses incurred by the commissioner of registration, the superintendent of elections, and the custodian of voting machines in the counties of the first class for the proper performance of all of his duties of all his offices as set forth in Title 19, shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the sum of $2,000,000.00 for the year 1998 or that sum, as adjusted, for each year thereafter. The governing body of the county may increase the sum but the increase shall not exceed 5% or the index rate, whichever is less, over the previous year's sum. As used in this section, "index rate" means the rate of annual percentage increase, rounded to the nearest half-percent, in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services, computed and published quarterly by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, which annual increase shall be calculated on the basis of the second quarter which occurred in the next preceding local budget year. The Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs shall promulgate annually, on or before October 1, the index rate to apply in the next following local budget year.

b.The superintendent shall determine the amount of the salary to be paid to each person appointed by the superintendent, and shall submit the proposed salaries to the governing body for review and approval. Following the review and approval of the governing body, the salaries shall be fixed and shall be paid to those persons pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

amended 1940, c.165, s.3; 1945, c.56, s.11; 1945, c.304; 1952, c.290, s.2; 1953, c.348, s.2; 1963, c.138, s.2; 1972, c.32; 1975, c.204, s.2; 1976, c.69; 1981, c.263, s.1; 1981, c.462, ss.25,58; 1982, c.46, s.4; 1989, c.160, s.2; 1998, c.91, s.2; 2015, c.250, s.3.

All necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this title when certified to and approved by such superintendent in connection with an election held in and for a municipality only shall be paid by the municipality.

The board of chosen freeholders of the counties shall provide suitable room or rooms for the transaction of the business of such superintendent and procure suitable furniture therefor and any books, stationery, fuel and supplies that may be necessary from time to time. It shall provide a proper place for the safe-keeping of the records and papers.

9.On the day of every municipal, primary, general, special or annual school election the superintendent of elections in counties having a superintendent of elections or the county board of elections in all other counties shall provide to each polling place in the county sufficient numbers of a form on which voters or persons attempting to vote may register any complaint regarding the conduct of the election at the polling place where they voted or attempted to vote. In counties in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, the form for the complaint shall appear in both English and Spanish. The form shall protect the anonymity of the complainant, if that person so wishes, and shall be accompanied by an envelope with the proper postage and the name and address of the superintendent of elections of the county or the chairman of the county board of elections, as the case may be. A complaint may be used by the superintendent of elections or any other municipal or State investigatory agency to conduct an investigation into possible violation of the State election law. Copies of the form containing the complaint shall be available from the superintendent of elections or the county board of elections, as the case may be. The original form of the complaint, or a copy, shall be kept on file with the superintendent of elections or the county board of elections, as the case may be, for two years after the election for which it was filed.

L.1991, c.249, s.2; amended 2005, c.136, s.47; 2011, c.134, s.44.

Such superintendents and their assistants, in order to enforce the laws of this State regarding the conduct of elections, shall investigate all complaints relating to the registration of voters, and for that purpose the superintendents and their assistants shall have full power and authority to visit and inspect any house, dwelling, building, inn, lodging house or hotel and interrogate any inmate, house-dweller, keeper, caretaker, owner, proprietor or landlord thereof or therein as to any person or persons residing or claiming to reside therein or thereat; to inspect and copy any books, records, papers or documents relating to or affecting the elections, either general, special, primary or municipal, or the registration of voters in the custody and control of district boards, county boards, or the clerks or other officers of municipalities; to require every lodging-house keeper, landlord or proprietor to exhibit his register of lodgers therein at any time to the superintendent, his subordinates or any other person so designated by such superintendent.

Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this title, or to exhibit the records, papers, or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.10.

The superintendent shall have power to issue subpoenas for the purpose of investigating any complaint of violation of the election laws of the state, such subpoenas to be issued in the name of the superintendent and for the purpose of aiding him in enforcing the provisions of the election laws. He may in proper cases issue subpoenas duces tecum. A subpoena issued by the superintendent may be served by any peace officer or any other person designated by him for that purpose.

A person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the superintendent and made returnable by him or who shall refuse to testify under oath before such superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

A person who shall make any false statement under oath before the superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.11.

The superintendent, his subordinates, or any person or persons designated by him, may attend at any election, any of whom shall be admitted at any time within any polling place and within the guard rails thereof.

When directed by the superintendent every landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of a lodging house, inn or hotel, shall keep a register in which shall be entered the names and residences, the date of arrival and departure of his guests, and the room, rooms or bed occupied by them. This register shall be arranged so that there shall be a space on the same line in which each guest or lodger shall sign his name.

Such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall make a sworn report upon a blank to be prepared and furnished by the superintendent thirty days before the election next ensuing to such superintendent, containing a detailed description of the premises so used and occupied as a lodging house, inn or hotel, including the size and character of building, and in case only part of a building is so used, a statement as to what part, and the names of the lodgers therein, and all the employees, and all other persons living therein, including the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and members of his family, who claim a voting residence at or in such lodging house, inn or hotel, together with the length of time they have been regularly lodged or lived therein, the beginning of such residence, the color, approximate age, height, weight, whereby the persons may be identified, the nationality, the occupation and place of business of such persons, and the room occupied by each person, and whether the person is a guest, landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and the signature of each person. Above the space reserved for the signature of each such person shall be printed the following words, "the foregoing statements are true." In the form of affidavit, which shall be sworn to by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of such lodging house, inn or hotel, shall be included the statement that the signatures of the guests or lodgers certified to in such report were written in the presence of such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and that he personally knows them to be the persons therein described.

To the end that the sworn report herein shall truly set forth the facts therein stated, such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall question each male person lodging or living in the lodging house, inn or hotel, as to his intention of claiming such place as a voting residence, and the person shall thereupon declare his intention thereof, and if he shall claim the place as his voting residence, he shall give to such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper such facts regarding himself as are required to be incorporated in the sworn report herein provided for. Such report and affidavit shall be filed personally by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper with the superintendent at his office.

Any such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper or any lodger who shall violate this section shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.12.

The district board of each election district in municipalities not having permanent registration shall on each day of registration transfer to cards to be provided for that purpose by the county clerk of the county, which cards shall be in form and style approved by the superintendent, a complete copy of the name of each person registered in its respective district, together with all the answers made and information given by such person at the time of registration, and such cards, inclosed and sealed in a cover, to be provided for that purpose by the county clerk, shall be delivered personally or by mail forthwith by the chairman of such district board, together with a statement on a blank form to be furnished by the county clerk, after approval by the superintendent, that the cards delivered contain a correct copy of all the names registered and information given by the person so registered, to the superintendent at his office in the county courthouse.

In respect to each general, primary, municipal and special election, the superintendent shall prepare for each election district in the county a challenge list containing the names, alphabetically arranged, and the addresses of all persons who have lost the right to register from the addresses within such election district from which they registered at the last preceding election. Such challenge list shall be delivered to the respective district boards in such municipalities at least one-half hour before the commencement of registration. The chairman of the respective district boards shall challenge the registration of any person applying to them for registration under any name on such challenge list, unless it shall affirmatively appear after strict examination of the voter, and, if necessary, of others, that such voter is domiciled at a new address within the election district. At the close of the last day of registration, the challenge list with the remarks of the district board or of any member or members thereof to be noted thereon shall be signed and certified as true by each member of the respective district boards and returned to the superintendent in a sealed envelope provided therefor.

After the last day of registration and before each general, primary, municipal and special election, the superintendent shall also prepare for each election district a challenge list containing the names, alphabetically arranged, and addresses of all persons registered in the district whom he believes or has reason to suspect are not entitled to vote at the election in the district. Such challenge list shall be delivered to the respective district boards at least one-half hour before the opening of the polls at each election. The chairman of the respective district boards shall challenge the vote of any person presenting himself to vote under any name on the challenge list. The challenge list shall contain a column headed "remarks," and the chairman of the respective district boards shall enter therein opposite the names on such list whether any person applying to vote under any name thereon who was challenged was allowed to vote, and the reason for allowing him to vote.

All persons whose names appear on any challenge list before being allowed to vote shall subscribe to an affidavit on forms supplied by the superintendent to the respective district boards together with the challenge list. Any members of the district boards are hereby empowered to take such affidavits. The affidavit shall show that the affiant is eligible to vote in that district and shall set forth the place of his residence, the fact that he actually resides at that place, the length of time of such residence, and also all the facts necessary to qualify him as a voter under the constitution of this State. A copy of the affidavit signed by the challenged voter shall be given to the affiant. At the close of the polls the affidavits shall be returned to the superintendent in an envelope provided therefor and they shall be preserved in the office of the superintendent.

If a person applying to vote under any name on the challenge list is challenged and does not vote, there shall be entered opposite his name in such column the words "challenged, but did not vote." If no person applies to vote under any name on such challenge list, there shall be noted opposite each such name in such column the words "no application." At the close of the polls the challenge list shall be signed and certified as true by each member of the respective district boards and returned to the superintendent of the county in a sealed envelope provided therefor.

If a person applying to vote is challenged and denied the right to vote because that person's name appears on a challenge list prepared by the superintendent of elections, that challenged voter may apply to a Superior Court judge sitting at the county seat for permission to vote, as provided in R.S.19:32-18.

The superintendent, concurrently with delivering the challenge lists, shall deliver to the commissioner a true copy, certified by him as correct, of each challenge list delivered by him pursuant to this section to each district board in municipalities having permanent registration.

The superintendent shall prepare duplicates of all challenge lists provided for in this section, and shall keep duplicate challenge lists on file in his office from the time of their preparation until the close of the third general election following their preparation. The original challenge lists shall also be kept on file for two years after the general election following their preparation. All such challenge lists shall be open to inspection by any citizen at any time the superintendent's office is open for business.

Amended 1991,c.249,s.7.

The superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, shall have the power, when in his or their judgment it is deemed necessary at any election, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots by any district board, to enter any place containing ballot boxes for the purpose of taking possession and sealing any ballot box or boxes with a seal to be adopted by the superintendent. When any ballot box shall be so sealed it may be removed to a vault or other place of security by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, but shall not be opened and the seal thereof destroyed or affected without an order first had and obtained from a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county. Taping or any other mechanical device may be used to make such sealing secure.

Amended by L.1953, c. 19, p. 347, s. 47.

Any person preventing, hindering or interfering with the said superintendent or his chief deputy or assistants in sealing such ballot box or boxes or bag or bags shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.13.

Any person who destroys, defaces or removes, or attempts to destroy, deface or remove, such a seal shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.14.

The powers herein granted may be exercised by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots at any election by the district board or within a period of ninety days thereafter.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants shall have and possess all the powers of constables, policemen and other peace officers.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered and without warrant, to arrest any person violating any provision of this title.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, shall have the right and power to call upon any constable, police officer or other peace officer to aid in taking any person so arrested to the nearest police station in the municipality in which the arrest is made, and such constable, police officer or other peace officer shall render such aid.

Any constable, police officer or other peace officer failing to comply with such request shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of the police station to which he is removed, such officer shall hold and detain the person so arrested until ordered released by the magistrate taking the complaint hereinafter provided for or by other process of law.

Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of such police station the superintendent or his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, making the arrest, shall forthwith and as soon as may be make and sign before a magistrate of the municipality in which the arrest was made a complaint in writing, duly verified, setting forth the particular act for which such person was arrested. Upon the complaint being made, the magistrate before whom it is made shall forthwith and as soon as may be cause the person so arrested to be brought before him and proceed on such complaint, as in the case of other persons arrested on a complaint charging a criminal offense.

The superintendent, his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered to remove from any polling place or place where any election is being held any person found violating any provision of this title or in any way unlawfully interfering with the lawful conduct of any election.

1. In any county of the second class and in any county of the fifth class, the governing body may establish, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, the office of superintendent of elections for the county, and said office when once established may be altered or abolished in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2018, c.163 (C.19:32-54 et al.).

The governing body shall file a certified copy of such ordinance or resolution, attested by the chief elected executive officer or director of the board of freeholders, if appropriate and clerk of the board, in the office of the Secretary of State within 10 days after adoption, and the ordinance or resolution shall take effect at the expiration of 30 days after the next primary election for the general election, or the next general election, after adoption whichever shall occur first.

The office so established shall be filled by some suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of five years from the date of his appointment and until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified. In the event that no such appointment to such office is made within 30 days following the taking effect of the ordinance or resolution, heretofore or hereafter adopted, of the governing body of the county, as herein provided, then the governing body of the county shall appoint some suitable person to fill such office for a term of five years from the date of appointment and until the successor of such person is in the same manner appointed and shall have qualified. The governing body shall file notice of such appointment in the office of the Secretary of State.

Each superintendent so appointed in a county of the fifth class shall receive a salary of not less than $4,000 nor more than $8,000 per annum and each superintendent so appointed in a county of the second class shall receive a salary in such amount, not less than $4,000 per annum, as shall be determined by the governing body of the county; such salaries shall be paid by the county treasurer and the superintendent shall have his office in the county for which he is appointed.

Any vacancy occurring in such office of superintendent of elections shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to such office was made, but for the unexpired term. Any person filling a vacancy shall be from the same political party as the original appointee.

L.1947, c.167, s.1; amended 1949, c.188, s.2; 1953, c.84, s.2; 1953, c.246; 1953, c.444; 1965, c.153; 1971, c.146; 1981, c.462, s.26; 1989, c.160, s.3; 1992, c.17, s.3; 2018, c.163 s.4.

1. The governing body of a county of the second or fifth class in which the office of superintendent of elections for the county has been established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26) may establish, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, the office of deputy superintendent of elections. The office of deputy superintendent of elections in each such county shall be filled by a suitable person who shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall not be from the same political party as the superintendent of elections, and who shall hold office for a term of five years, running concurrently with the term of the superintendent and until the deputy superintendent's successor is appointed and has qualified. The initial appointment to the office of deputy superintendent of elections may be for a partial term, as appropriate. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but shall be for the unexpired term only. The annual salary of a deputy superintendent of elections shall be 90% of the salary received by the superintendent of elections of the same county for performing the duties of superintendent of elections and commissioner of registration. The office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be located in the county making the appointment.

L.1992, c.17, s.1; amended 2021, c.58, s.1.

2. A deputy superintendent of elections appointed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.1) shall assist the superintendent of elections in the performance of the superintendent's duties, shall serve as superintendent in the absence of the superintendent, and shall have such powers and duties as the superintendent may delegate from time to time. In addition, the deputy superintendent is constituted the chief deputy of the superintendent and shall have all of the powers and duties of the chief deputy. No county with a deputy superintendent so appointed shall also have a chief deputy appointed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-27).

L.1992,c.17,s.2.

1.There is established a pilot program to suspend the operations of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections in participating counties. The governing body of a participating county shall have three years from the effective date of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.) to adopt an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to commence its participation in the program. A certified copy of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State as soon as possible after it is adopted.
As used in P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.), "participating counties" shall mean any county of the second class with a population of between 510,000 and 515,000 persons or between 490,000 and 495,000 persons, according to the 2010 federal decennial census for New Jersey.

L.2013, c.17, s.1.

2. a. Upon the adoption of a resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, to commence participation in the pilot program by a participating county, the operations of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections in the participating county shall be suspended for a period of three years and the functions, powers, and duties of each office shall be transferred to and assumed by the county board of elections. The transfer of the functions, powers, and duties of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be completed no later than the 90th day following the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, and the term of office of each individual holding each office shall be terminated no later than that 90th day.

b.For the period that the suspension is in effect, whenever reference is made in any statute, regulation, document or judicial proceeding to the office of the superintendent of elections or the office of the deputy superintendent of elections concerning the functions, powers, and duties that had been vested therein prior to the suspension, the same shall mean and refer to the county board of elections.

L.2013, c.17, s.2.

3. Within 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension provided for by section 2 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.4), the governing body of a participating county shall undertake the following actions:

a.The governing body shall prepare a report in writing for the public and the Secretary of State on the impact of the suspension of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections during the three-year period of the suspension with respect to:

(1)the operation and administration of State, county, municipal, school, special and federal elections;

(2)the maintenance and distribution of voting machines;

(3)the administration of voter registration in the county; and

(4)the cost of conducting elections in the county.

The report shall be made public and submitted to the secretary no later than the 45th day following the expiration of the suspension.

b.The governing body shall decide whether to adopt an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, within 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension, with the adoption to be effective on the date of the expiration of the suspension, to either:

(1)abolish the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections; or

(2)re-establish such offices as they existed prior to the suspension.

L.2013, c.17, s.3.

4. In the event that the governing body of a participating county fails to decide whether to adopt an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to abolish or re-establish the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections within 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension, as provided for by section 3 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.5), the suspension provided by section 2 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.4) shall terminate and both of these offices shall be deemed abolished as of the date of the expiration of the suspension.

L.2013, c.17, s.4.

5. Once the office of superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent has been abolished in a participating county pursuant to P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.), the county shall not be permitted to re-establish the offices and return to them the functions, powers, and duties provided by law until the following requirements have been met in the following order:

a.at least five years shall have passed since the offices were abolished;

b.a new ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, providing for the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections, and the return of the functions, powers, and duties of each office provided by law from the county board of elections, shall be adopted by the county's governing body and a certified copy of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, together with a tally of the vote to adopt it, shall be filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the adoption;

c.a written report shall be prepared for the secretary that:

(1)explains why the governing body of the county believes the re-establishment of the office of superintendent and the office of deputy superintendent are necessary;

(2)presents a plan for how the offices shall be re-established and shall work in conjunction with the county clerk and the county board of elections; and

(3)includes the financial information necessary to prove that re-establishing the offices shall improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of:

(a)operating and administering State, county, school, municipal, special and federal elections;

(b)maintaining and distributing voting machines; and

(c)overseeing the administration of voter registration in the county; and

d.the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections shall be approved by the secretary after the secretary has had a maximum of 90 days to review the report. The secretary shall be authorized to receive answers to such questions that the secretary deems necessary to ask to ensure that the operation and administration of elections, maintenance and distribution of voting machines and administration of voter registration shall be conducted by the county in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

In the event that the secretary decides that the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections should be re-established in a participating county, qualified individuals to serve in each office shall be appointed as provided by law and the functions, powers, and duties of the offices shall be re-established within one year after the secretary's decision.

L.2013, c.17, s.5.

6. a. An individual shall be appointed to fill the office of superintendent of elections, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26) and an individual shall be appointed to fill the office of deputy superintendent of elections, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.1), in a participating county if the offices are re-established pursuant to either section 3 or section 5 of P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.5 or C.19:32-26.7), as the case may be.

b.A participating county is hereby authorized to abolish the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections, pursuant to P.L.2013, c.17 (C.19:32-26.3 et seq.), notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26).

L.2013, c.17, s.6.

5.A county superintendent of elections shall prepare the annual budget request for the office of the county superintendent of elections pursuant to the requirements of section 3 of P.L.2015, c.249 (C.40A:4-45.45b).

L.2015, c.249, s.5.

2. a. Except as provided in section 2 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.2), each superintendent may appoint a chief deputy, a clerk, a secretary and any other assistants he considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Title, and may remove the same whenever he deems it necessary. Those so appointed shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes but shall be in the unclassified service. Subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, the salaries of the persons so appointed shall be fixed and such salaries certified to and approved under his hand shall be paid semimonthly by the county treasurer of the county in which such persons are so engaged. All other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Title when certified to and approved by the superintendent shall be paid by the county treasurer of the county in which the superintendent shall maintain his office.

b.The superintendent shall determine the amount of the salary to be paid to each person appointed by the superintendent, and shall submit the proposed salaries to the governing body for review and approval. Following the review and approval of the governing body, the salaries shall be fixed and shall be paid to those persons pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

L.1947, c.167, s.2; amended 1992, c.17, s.4; 2015, c.250, s.4.

All necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Title when certified to and approved by such superintendent in connection with an election held in and for a municipality only shall be paid by the municipality.
L.1947, c. 167, p. 727, s. 3.

The board of chosen freeholders of such counties shall provide suitable room or rooms for the transaction of the business of such superintendent and procure suitable furniture therefor and any books, stationery, fuel and supplies that may be necessary from time to time. It shall provide a proper place for the safe-keeping of the records and papers.
L.1947, c. 167, p. 727, s. 4.

5. Such superintendents and their assistants, in order to enforce the laws of this State regarding the conduct of elections, shall investigate all complaints relating to the registration of voters, and for that purpose the superintendents and their assistants shall have full power and authority to visit and inspect any house, dwelling, building, inn, lodging house or hotel and interrogate any inmate, house-dweller, keeper, caretaker, owner, proprietor or landlord thereof or therein as to any person or persons residing or claiming to reside therein or thereat; to inspect and copy any books, records, papers or documents relating to or affecting the elections, either general, special, primary or municipal, or the registration of voters in the custody and control of district boards, county boards, or the clerks or other officers of municipalities; to require every lodging-house keeper, landlord or proprietor to exhibit his register of lodgers therein at any time to the superintendent, his subordinates or any other person so designated by such superintendent.

Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this Title, or to exhibit the records, papers, or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

L.1947,c.167,s.5; amended 2005, c.154, s.15.

6. The superintendent shall have power to issue subpoenas for the purpose of investigating any complaint of violation of the election laws of the State, such subpoenas to be issued in the name of the superintendent and for the purpose of aiding him in enforcing the provisions of the election laws. He may in proper cases issue subpoenas duces tecum. A subpoena issued by the superintendent may be served by any peace officer or any other person designated by him for that purpose.

A person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the superintendent and made returnable by him or who shall refuse to testify under oath before such superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

A person who shall make any false statement under oath before the superintendent shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
L.1947,c.167,s.6; amended 2005, c.154, s.16.

The superintendent, his subordinates, or any person or persons designated by him, may attend at any election, any of whom shall be admitted at any time within any polling place and within the guard rails thereof.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 728, s. 7.

8. When directed by the superintendent, every landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of a lodging house, inn or hotel shall keep a register in which shall be entered the names and residences, the date of arrival and departure of his guests, and the room, rooms or bed occupied by them. This register shall be arranged so that there shall be a space on the same line in which each male guest or male lodger shall sign his name.

Such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall make a sworn report upon a blank to be prepared and furnished by the superintendent thirty days before the election next ensuing to such superintendent, containing a detailed description of the premises so used and occupied as a lodging house, inn or hotel, including the size and character of building, and in case only part of a building is so used, a statement as to what part, and the names of the lodgers therein, and all the employees, and all other persons living therein, including the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and members of his family, who claim a voting residence at or in such lodging house, inn or hotel, together with the length of time they have been regularly lodged or lived therein, the beginning of such residence, the color, approximate age, height, weight, whereby the persons may be identified, the nationality, the occupation and place of business of such persons, and the room occupied by each person, and whether the person is a guest, landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and the signature of each person. Above the space reserved for the signature of each such person shall be printed the following words, "the foregoing statements are true." In the form of affidavit, which shall be sworn to by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper of such lodging house, inn or hotel, shall be included the statement that the signatures of the guests or lodgers certified to in such report were written in the presence of such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper, and that he personally knows them to be the persons therein described.

To the end that the sworn report herein required shall truly set forth the facts therein stated, such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper shall question each male person lodging or living in the lodging house, inn or hotel as to his intention of claiming such place as a voting residence, and the person shall thereupon declare his intention thereof, and if he shall claim the place as his voting residence he shall give to such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper such facts regarding himself as are required to be incorporated in the sworn report herein provided for. Such report and affidavit shall be filed personally by the landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper with the superintendent at his office.

Any such landlord, proprietor, lessee or keeper or any lodger who shall violate this section shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

L.1947,c.167,s.8; amended 2005, c.154, s.17.

The superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, shall have the power, when in his or their judgment it is deemed necessary at any election, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots by any district board, to enter any place containing ballot boxes for the purpose of taking possession and sealing any ballot box or boxes with a seal to be adopted by the superintendent. When any ballot box shall be so sealed it may be removed to a vault or other place of security by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, but shall not be opened and the seal thereof destroyed or affected without an order first had and obtained from a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county. Taping or any other mechanical device may be used to make such sealing secure.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 730, s. 9. Amended by L.1953, c. 19, p. 349, s. 50.

10. Any person preventing, hindering or interfering with the said superintendent or his chief deputy or assistants in sealing such ballot box or boxes or bag or bags shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

L.1947,c.167,s.10; amended 2005, c.154, s.18.

11. Any person who destroys, defaces or removes, or attempts to destroy, deface or remove, such a seal shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.
L.1947,c.167,s.11; amended 2005, c.154, s.19.

The powers herein granted may be exercised by the superintendent, his chief deputy or assistants, upon the completion of the counting and canvassing of the ballots at any election by the district board or within a period of ninety days thereafter.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 731, s. 12.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants shall have and possess all the powers of constables, policemen and other peace officers.
L.1947, c. 167, p. 734, s. 19.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered and without warrant, to arrest any person violating any provision of this Title.

The superintendent and his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, shall have the right and power to call upon any constable, police officer or other peace officer to aid in taking any person so arrested to the nearest police station in the municipality in which the arrest is made, and such constable, police officer or other peace officer shall render such aid.

Any constable, police officer or other peace officer failing to comply with such request shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 734, s. 20.

Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of the police station to which he is removed, such officer shall hold and detain the person so arrested until ordered released by the magistrate taking the complaint hereinafter provided for or by other process of law.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 734, s. 21.

Upon delivering the person so arrested to the officer in charge of such police station the superintendent or his chief deputy and assistants, as the case may be, making the arrest, shall forthwith and as soon as may be make and sign before a magistrate of the municipality in which the arrest was made a complaint in writing, duly verified, setting forth the particular act for which such person was arrested. Upon the complaint being made, the magistrate before whom it is made shall forthwith and as soon as may be cause the person so arrested to be brought before him and proceed on such complaint, as in the case of other persons arrested on a complaint charging a criminal offense.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 734, s. 22.

The superintendent, his chief deputy and assistants are hereby authorized and empowered to remove from any polling place or place where any election is being held any person found violating any provision of this Title or in any way unlawfully interfering with the lawful conduct of any election.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 735, s. 23.

24. In addition to the foregoing, the superintendent of elections is constituted the commissioner of registration for the county and he shall, within the county, have and exercise all the powers of, and be charged with all the duties had and exercised and required to be performed by, the superintendent of elections and the commissioner of registration in any county, including the custody and control of voting machines heretofore or hereafter installed in the county in any manner provided by law, except those heretofore or hereafter installed in any municipality by the governing body thereof, which shall be placed and remain in the custody of the municipal clerk unless taken over by the county according to law. The deputy superintendent of elections in counties of the first class, and in counties of the second and fifth classes in which the governing body has established the office of superintendent of elections for the county, is constituted the deputy commissioner of registration.

L.1947, c.167, s.24; amended 1982, c.46, s.5; 1992, c.17, s.5; 2021, c.58, s.2.

If during the fiscal year in which this act becomes effective, the board of chosen freeholders of the county shall not have made provision in its annual budget for the payment of the salaries and other expenses of the superintendent of elections and his office during such fiscal year, all appropriations made in said budget to the county board of elections, except those made for the payment of the salaries of the members of said board and the expenses of the board in connection with the functions to be performed by it during said year, notwithstanding the provisions of this act, shall be transferred and made available to the superintendent of elections for the carrying out of the powers and functions vested in him under this act, which shall include all appropriations for (a) salaries and wages, except for the salaries of the members of the board, (b) the control and conduct of permanent registration, and (c) the custody, maintenance and distribution of voting machines.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 735, s. 25.

All employees of the county board of elections of the county hereby are transferred to the office of superintendent of elections but the board of chosen freeholders may provide two clerks for the county board of elections and fix the salary to be paid to such clerks.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 736, s. 26.

In the event that said appropriations shall not be sufficient to provide full payment of the salaries and other expenses of the superintendent of elections and his office and of the county board of elections and its office, during such fiscal year, the board of chosen freeholders shall appropriate and use any county funds, not otherwise appropriated or dedicated, for such purposes.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 736, s. 27.

Upon the taking effect of such resolution the county board of elections of the county shall turn over to the superintendent of elections all voting machines of the county with the keys thereto, and all records, books, binders, folders, files, card indexes, documents and forms, used or unused, relating to or used or useful in connection with the registration of voters, or the use of voting machines, in the county, together with all racks, cabinets, furniture, equipment and supplies used or useful for the filing, storing, repair servicing or use of the same.

L.1947, c. 167, p. 736, s. 28.

1. a. Upon the adoption of a resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, the governing body of a county may abolish the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections in the county, and the functions, powers, and duties of each office shall be transferred to and assumed by the county board of elections. The transfer of the functions, powers, and duties of the office of the superintendent of elections and the office of the deputy superintendent of elections shall be completed no later than the 90th day following the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, and the term of office of each individual holding each office shall be terminated no later than that 90th day.

b. Whenever reference is made in any statute, regulation, document or judicial proceeding to the office of superintendent of elections or the office of deputy superintendent of elections concerning the functions, powers, and duties that had been vested therein prior to their abolishment pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the same shall mean and refer to the county board of elections.

c. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2015, c.249 (C.40A:4-45.45b) to the contrary, and subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, all expenses, including salaries, of such county's board of elections shall be exempt from the requirements of that subsection for the budget year next succeeding the budget year in which a resolution or an ordinance, as appropriate, is adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The director shall approve an exemption of expenses from the requirements of subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2015, c.249 (C.40A:4-45.45b) pursuant to this subsection if: (1) the director determines that the expenses are reasonable and will result in long-term savings for the county; and (2) the county board of election's budget request for the budget year is less than the aggregate amount of the budget requests submitted to the county governing body by the office of the superintendent of elections, the office of the deputy superintendent of elections, and the board of elections in the last preceding budget year.

L.2018, c.163, s.1.

2. Once the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections has been abolished in a county pursuant to P.L.2018, c.163 (C.19:32-54 et al.), the county shall not be permitted to re-establish the offices and return to them the functions, powers, and duties provided by law until the following requirements have been met in the following order:

a. at least five years shall have passed since the offices were abolished;

b. a new ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, providing for the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections, and the return of the functions, powers, and duties of each office provided by law from the county board of elections, shall be adopted by the county's governing body and a certified copy of the ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, together with a tally of the vote to adopt it, shall be filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the adoption;

c. a written report shall be prepared for the secretary that:

(1) explains why the governing body of the county believes the re-establishment of the office of superintendent and the office of deputy superintendent is necessary;

(2) presents a plan for how the offices shall be re-established and shall work in conjunction with the county clerk and the county board of elections; and

(3) includes the financial information necessary to prove that re-establishing the offices shall improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of:

(a) operating and administering State, county, school, municipal, special, and federal elections;

(b) maintaining and distributing voting machines; and

(c) overseeing the administration of voter registration in the county; and

d. the re-establishment of the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections shall be approved by the secretary after the secretary has had a maximum of 90 days to review the report. The secretary shall be authorized to receive answers to such questions that the secretary deems necessary to ask to ensure that the operation and administration of elections, maintenance and distribution of voting machines, and administration of voter registration shall be conducted by the county in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

In the event that the secretary decides that the office of superintendent of elections and the office of deputy superintendent of elections should be re-established in a county, qualified individuals to serve in each office shall be appointed as provided by law and the functions, powers, and duties of the offices shall be re-established within one year after the secretary's decision.

L.2018, c.163, s.2.

3. An individual shall be appointed to fill the office of superintendent of elections pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.167 (C.19:32-26), and an individual shall be appointed to fill the office of deputy superintendent of elections pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.17 (C.19:32-26.1), in a county if the offices are re-established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2018, c.163 (C.19:32-55).

L.2018, c.163, s.3.

A judge of the Superior Court shall order stricken from the Statewide voter registration system and any other register the name of any person who shall be shown to his satisfaction not to be entitled to vote at any election in the election district wherein he is registered, and the commissioner shall, upon such order, cause the name of such person to be stricken from the system and from the register.

Such judge shall hear an application to strike off in a summary manner at the time and day specified in the notice hereafter provided; but no name shall be stricken or ordered stricken from any such system and register in the absence of the person to be affected thereby, unless it shall appear to the judge by affidavit of the commissioner of registration or his deputy or assistant that notice by mail has been given such person, either personally or by leaving the same at his registered place of residence, or present actual residence, if known to the commissioner, at least five entire days before the day and time of hearing before such judge, that at such hearing application would be made to have the name of such registered person stricken from the system and register, and of the grounds on which such application would be based. Such judge shall not order any name stricken subsequent to the sixth Tuesday preceding any election. The commissioner shall notify the judge, five days before the day and time specified, when the application will be made, and the judge shall hear the application at the time and day specified in the notice.

In addition to the notice by mail, the commissioner shall also publish in one or more newspapers within the county at least five entire days before the day and time of hearing before such judge, the names and registered addresses of such persons as shall be affected by this proceeding, giving notice through such publication of the time and place where the application is to be made for the removal of said names from the system and registry lists.

The judge shall cause a full record of the proceedings of such application, including the appearances and a statement of his findings of fact and law and of the order made pursuant thereto, to be taken stenographically, transcribed and filed in the office of the county clerk, which record shall be public. All costs and expenses of such proceedings shall be paid by the county. The commissioner of registration, after the hearing before the judge, shall amend the record for the person in the Statewide voter registration system and transfer to the inactive file the permanent registration and record of voting forms of such persons as the judge shall have ordered stricken from the system and signature copy register pursuant to this section.

The registrant shall be immediately notified by the commissioner by mail of any removal from the system or transfer made pursuant to this section. In counties other than counties of the first class this notice by mail shall be sent in addition to the notice by publication.

Amended 1945, c.270; 1953, c.19, s.53; 1991, c.91, s.256; 2005, c.145, s.19.

If any member of the district board shall willfully refuse to enter in the canvassing books or upon the registers the name of any person legally entitled to vote, or shall register the name of any person contrary to the provisions of this title, such member shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Any person who shall cause or procure his name to be registered in more than one election district, or shall cause or procure his name or that of any other person to be registered, knowing that he or such other person is not entitled to vote in the election district wherein such registry is made at the next election to be held therein, shall be punished for each such offense and shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

No district board shall execute or deliver to any voter any paper in the nature of a transfer, purporting to authorize him to vote in any other election district unless he is actually registered as now provided by law.

Any officer or employee who shall willfully fail to perform or enforce any of the provisions of this title or who shall unlawfully or fraudulently remove any registration records, or who shall willfully destroy any record directed by this title to be kept, or any person who shall willfully or fraudulently register more than once, or register under any but his true name, or attempt to vote by impersonating another who is registered, or who willfully registers in any election district where he is not a resident at the time of registering, or who violates any of the provisions of this title, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.20.

43. a. Any person, other than an election official, who:

(1)knowingly and willfully intimidates, threatens or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce, any person for registering to vote, voting or attempting to register to vote or vote, urging or aiding any person to register to vote, to vote or to attempt to register or vote or exercising any right under the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.); or

(2)knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of this State of a fair and impartially conducted election by the procurement or submission of voter registration applications that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or the procurement, casting or tabulation of ballots that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, is guilty of a crime of the second degree.

b.Any election official who:

(1)knowingly and willfully intimidates, threatens or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce, any person for registering to vote, voting or attempting to register to vote or vote, urging or aiding any person to register to vote, to vote or to attempt to register or vote, or exercising any right under the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.); or

(2)knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of this State of a fair and impartially conducted election by the procurement or submission of voter registration applications that are known by the election official to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or the procurement, casting or tabulation of ballots that are known by the election official to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, is guilty of a crime of the second degree and, in addition to any other penalties provided under the law, shall be permanently barred from serving as an election official.

c.As used in this section, "election official" shall include, but not be limited to, any superintendent or deputy superintendent of elections, commissioner of registration, member of a county board of elections, county clerk, municipal clerk, member of a district board of elections, member of a board of county canvassers and member of a board of State canvassers.

L.1994,c.182,s.43; amended 2005, c.154, s.21.

No person shall falsely make, falsely make oath to, or fraudulently deface or fraudulently destroy any certificate of nomination or petition, or any part thereof, or file, or receive for filing, any certificate of nomination or petition, knowing the same or any part thereof to be falsely made, or suppress any certificate of nomination or petition which has been duly filed, or any part thereof. A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Any person who, being a member of one political party, shall sign his name to any petition indorsing any person as a candidate for office of another political party, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.22.

If any printer employed by any county or municipal clerk to print official ballots, or any person engaged in printing the same, shall appropriate to himself or give or deliver or knowingly permit to be taken any of such ballots by any other person than such county or municipal clerk or his duly authorized agent, or shall print or cause to be printed any official ballot in any other form than that prescribed by the county or municipal clerk, or with any other names thereon, or with the names spelled or the names or printing thereon arranged in any other way than that authorized and directed by this title, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

If any person not authorized by the proper officers shall print or make any official or sample ballot provided for in this title, or on or prior to election day shall willfully have in his possession an official ballot without being authorized by this title to have charge or possession thereof, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

If any person shall forge or falsely make any ballot or the official indorsement thereof, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.23.

19:34-4. If a person convicted of a crime which disfranchises him while serving a sentence of incarceration shall vote at any election, unless he shall have been pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage, he shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

amended 2005, c.154, s.24; 2019, c.270, s.5.

No person shall, during an election, with intent to hinder or delay same, or to hinder or delay any voter in the preparation of his ballot, remove or destroy any of the ballots or pencils placed in the booths or compartments for the purpose of enabling the voter to prepare his ballot.

Any person willfully violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.25.

a. If a person shall on election day tamper, deface or interfere with any polling booth or obstruct the entrance to any polling place, or obstruct or interfere with any voter, or loiter in or near the polling place, or, with the purpose to obstruct or interfere with any voter or to unduly delay other voters from voting, spend an inordinate amount of time in the polling booth, or do any electioneering within any polling place or within one hundred feet thereof, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

b.This section shall not be construed to prohibit a minor from entering a polling place on the day of an election to vote in a simulated election at that polling place, or persons from supervising or working at a polling place in a simulated election in which minors vote, provided that the county board of elections has determined that the polling place can accommodate simulated election activities without interfering with the orderly conduct of the official voting process.

Amended 1940, c.199, s.3; 1948, c.438, s.12; 2000, c.173, s.2; 2005, c.154, s.26.

No person shall within the polling room mark his ballot in a place other than in the polling booth or show his ballot, nor shall anyone request such person to show his ballot during the preparation thereof, nor shall any other person inspect such ballot during the preparation thereof or after it is prepared for voting in such a way as to reveal the contents, nor shall any person within the polling place or within a hundred feet thereof, loiter, electioneer, or solicit any voter.

No voter, at any election where official ballots are used, shall knowingly vote or offer to vote any ballot except an official ballot as by this Title required.

No person shall on any pretext carry any official ballot from the polling room on any election day except such persons as may by this Title be authorized to do so.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 1940, c.199, s.4; 1948, c.438, s.13; 2005, c.154, s.27.

No election officer shall accept from any voter and deposit in the ballot box any sample primary ballot.

Any person who shall prompt a voter in answering any questions provided by this title shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.28.

If any person shall write, paste or otherwise place upon any official ballot any mark, sign or device of any kind as a distinguishing mark whereby to indicate to any member of any district board or other person how any voter has voted at any election, or if any person shall induce or attempt to induce any voter to write, paste or otherwise place on his ballot any mark, sign or device of any kind, as a distinguishing mark by which to indicate to any member of any district board or other person how such voter has voted, or shall enter into or attempt to form any agreement or conspiracy with any other person to induce or attempt to induce voters or any voter to so place any distinguishing mark, sign or device on his ballot, whether or not such act be committed or attempted to be committed, such person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.29.

Every person not entitled to vote who fraudulently votes, and every person who votes more than once at any one election; or knowingly hands in two or more ballots folded together; or changes any ballot after it has been deposited in the ballot box; or adds, or attempts to add, any ballot to those legally polled at any election, either by fraudulently introducing the same into the ballot box before or after the ballots therein have been counted; or adds to or mixes with, or attempts to add to or mix with, the ballots lawfully polled, other ballots while the same are being counted or canvassed, or at any other time, with intent to change the result of such election; or carries away or destroys, or attempts to carry away or destroy, any poll list, or ballots, or ballot box, for the purpose of breaking up or invalidating the election; or willfully detains, mutilates or destroys any election returns; or in any manner so interferes with the officers holding the election, or conducting the canvass, or with the voters lawfully exercising their rights of voting at the election, as to prevent the election or canvass from being fairly had and lawfully conducted, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 1940, c.199, s.5; 1948, c.438, s.14; 2005, c.154, s.30.

Every person not entitled to vote who fraudulently attempts to vote, or who being entitled to vote attempts to vote more than once at any election, or who personates or attempts to personate a person legally entitled to vote, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 1940, c.199, s.6; 1948, c.438, s.15; 2005, c.154, s.31.

a. Every inspector, judge or clerk of an election, who, previous to putting the ballot of an elector in the ballot box, attempts to find out any name on such ballot, or who opens or suffers the folded ballot of any elector which has been handed in to be opened or examined previous to putting the same in the ballot box, or who makes or places any mark or device on any folded ballot with the view to ascertain the name of any person for whom the elector has voted, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

b. Any person who is authorized to receive and canvass completed mail-in-ballots pursuant to P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-1) who knowingly discloses to the public the contents of a mail-in ballot prior to the time designated by law for the closing of the polls for each election shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 1940, c.199, s.7; 1948, c.438, s.16; 2005, c.154, s.32; 2020, c.72, s.4.

If a member of any district board has knowledge how any person has voted and shall reveal such knowledge to any other person, or shall fraudulently or corruptly disclose what other candidates were voted for on any ballot bearing a name not printed thereon, or fraudulently or corruptly gives any information concerning the appearance of any ballot voted, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.33.

19:34-15. If a person shall distribute or display any circular or printed matter or offer any suggestion or solicit any support for any candidate, party or public question within the polling place or room or within a distance of 100 feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room, or within 100 feet of a ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election, the person shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

Amended 1940, c.199, s.8; 1948, c.438, s.17; 2005, c.154, s.34; 2021, c.459, s.5.

A person who shall remove, destroy or mutilate any registry list or copy thereof, or who before an election closes shall remove, destroy or mutilate any list of voters posted in accordance with this title, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.35.

If a person shall rob or plunder any ballot box, or unlawfully and by stealth or violence take the same or remove therefrom any ballot or other paper, or exchange, alter or destroy any ballot or other paper contained therein, or if any person shall willfully and corruptly suppress, withhold, mutilate, destroy, alter or change any return, statement or certificate or any copy thereof, which shall have been made in pursuance of this title, and delivered to him to be filed, or which shall have been intrusted or delivered to him to be delivered or transmitted to any other person in pursuance of this title, every such person, his aiders, procurers and abettors, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

This section shall not apply to the destruction of ballots or the performance of other acts by officials when such acts are performed as prescribed in this title.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.36.

A person who shall willfully obstruct or interfere with the clerk or clerks on the way from the polls to the office of the city clerk shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.37.

No person shall display, sell, give or provide any political badge, button or other insignia to be worn at or within one hundred feet of the polls or within the polling place or room, on any primary, general or special election day or on any commission government election day, except the badge furnished by the county board as herein provided.

A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.38.

Whoever shall solicit the registering of his name on the registry list of any election district or precinct, knowing that he is not a legal voter in such district or precinct; or shall willfully counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet in the registering of the name of any other person on the registry list of any election district or precinct, knowing such other person is not entitled to vote therein; or at any election, knowing that he is not a qualified voter, votes thereat; or at any election votes or attempts to vote more than once on his own name; or at any election votes or attempts to vote in more than one election district or precinct; or at any election votes or attempts to vote upon any other name than his own; or knowingly casts or attempts to cast more than one ballot at one time by balloting; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person, knowing that he is not a qualified voter, to vote thereat; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person in voting in more than one election district or precinct; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person to vote or to attempt to vote upon any name other than his own, or knowingly cast or attempt to cast more than one ballot at one time of voting; or at any election shall in any way willfully mark or deface his ballot, or shall willfully counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet any person in the marking or defacing of a ballot; or at any election shall in any way counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet any official or person in any act which is contrary to the provisions of this title; or at any election shall in any way willfully hinder or prevent a voter from casting his legal vote, knowing such person to have a right to vote; or shall willfully tamper with, injure, mutilate, destroy or render unfit for use, any ballot box; shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.39.

A person who being a member of one political party shall vote in the ballot box used for the primary election of another political party shall in each case be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.40.

If a person not entitled to vote at any primary election as herein provided shall vote or offer to vote at such primary meeting or caucus knowing or having reason to believe himself not entitled to so vote, or if any person shall counsel or procure anyone to so vote, knowing or having reason to believe such voter not entitled to do so, or if any person having voted at any primary meeting held by any political party or organization to nominate candidates or to elect delegates to nominate candidates, to be voted for at any election, shall vote or offer to vote at the primary meeting held by any other political party or organization held to nominate candidates or to elect delegates to nominate candidates, to be voted for at the same election, such person shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.41.

If any judge, inspector, clerk or other officer of a primary election shall act in such capacity before taking and subscribing to the oath or affirmation required by this title, or shall willfully disregard or violate the provisions of any rule duly made by the party of which he is a member and for whom he is acting for the government of the primary elections of the party, or if any judge or inspector of any primary election shall knowingly reject the vote of any person entitled to vote under the rules of such party or shall knowingly receive the vote of any person not qualified, or if any judge, inspector, clerk or any other officer of a primary election shall commit any willful fraud in the discharge of his duties by destroying or marking any ballot in any way before such ballot is delivered to the voter or by defacing ballots, adding marks to the poll by false counting, making false returns or by any act or thing whatsoever, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.42.

No person shall make, lay or deposit any bet, wager or stake, to be decided by the result of any election, by the election or defeat of one or more persons at any election, or by any contingency connected with or growing out of any election. All contracts for or on account of any money, property or thing in action so bet, wagered or staked shall be void. Any person who shall pay, deliver or deposit any money, property or thing in action upon the event of any bet, wager or stake prohibited by this section, may sue for and recover the same from the winner or person to whom the same, or any part thereof, shall have been paid or delivered, or with whom the same, or any part thereof, shall have been deposited, whether he shall have been a stakeholder, or other person, whether or not the same shall have been paid over by such stakeholder, or whether or not such bet, wager or stake shall have been lost.

No candidate for public office, before or during an election, shall make any bet or wager with a voter, or take a share or interest in, or in any manner become a party to such bet or wager, or provide or agree to provide any money to be used by another in making such bet or wager, upon any event or contingency whatever. No person, directly or indirectly, shall make a bet or wager with a voter, depending upon the result of any election, with the intent thereby to procure the challenge of such voter, or to prevent him from voting at the election.

19:34-25. a. If a person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give, lend or agree to give or lend, or shall offer, promise or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure, any money or other valuable consideration or thing to or for any voter, or to or for any person, in order to induce any voter to vote or refrain from registering for any election, or shall corruptly do or commit any of the acts in this section mentioned because of any such voter having voted or refrained from voting at an election, or registered or refrained from registering at an election, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Bribery of member of election board; acceptance. b. Whosoever shall, directly or indirectly, make or give any money or other thing of value to any member of the district board because of his membership on such board, or when it shall appear that such money or other thing of value is made or given to such member because of his membership on the board, except as hereinbefore provided as his legal compensation for service on the board, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Any member of a district board who shall, by himself, or by any other person in his behalf, receive any money or other thing of value because of his membership on such board, or when it shall appear that such money or other thing of value is accepted or received by such member because of his membership on the board, except as hereinbefore provided as his legal compensation for service on the board, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Promising office or employment. c. A person who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give or procure, or agree to give or procure or offer or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of such voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting, or to register or refrain from registering, or shall corruptly do any act as above because of any voter having voted or refrained from voting, or having registered or refrained from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Acceptance of bribe by voter. d. Any voter who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree or contract for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election, or for registering or agreeing to register, or for refraining or for agreeing to refrain from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Bribery of delegates. e. If a person shall, directly or indirectly, give, offer or promise to give any sum or sums of money or any valuable thing in action, victuals, drink or preferment or other considerations, by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, or other valuable present or reward to obtain, procure or influence the opinion, behavior, vote or abstaining from voting for the election of any delegate to any convention of any political party, to nominate any candidate for member of the legislature, for member of congress, for electors for president and vice president of the United States, for governor, or for any candidate for any office in any county or municipality; or if any person being a delegate to any political convention to nominate candidates for any of the offices named in this title shall directly or indirectly, ask for, accept, receive or take any sum or sums of money, or other valuable consideration by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, or other valuable consideration for the giving or refusing to give his vote at any such convention, the person so offering, asking, or receiving shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Bribery at election. f. Whoever shall, directly or indirectly, give, furnish, supply or promise, or cause to be given, furnished, supplied, offered or promised, to any person or persons, any money, service, preferment or valuable thing with the intent that such money or valuable thing or any other money, service, preferment or valuable thing shall be given, offered, promised or used, by any person or persons, by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, for giving or refusing to give any vote of any citizen, at any election of any public officer, state, county or municipal, to be held therein, or of any member of congress, of electors for president and vice president of the United States, or at any election of any delegate or delegates to any political convention to be held for the nomination of any of the officers above, or by way of gift, gratuity or reward, for giving or withholding the vote of any delegate at any such convention, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Inducing voters. g. A person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give, lend, or agree to give or lend, or procure, or agree to procure or offer or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure, any money or other valuable consideration or thing, or any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from registering or voting at any election, or shall corruptly do or commit any of the acts in this section mentioned, because of any voter having voted or refrained from voting or having registered or refrained from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Contributions for use in bribing. h. A person who shall give, advance or pay, or cause to be given, advanced or paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person, or to the use of any person, with the intent that such money or other valuable thing, or any part thereof, shall be expended, or used for bribery of voters, or for any other unlawful purpose at any election, or who shall knowingly pay, or cause to be paid money to any person wholly or in part expended in bribery of a voter at any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Receiving rewards. i. A person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree or contract for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election, or for registering or agreeing to register, or for refraining or for agreeing to refrain from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Gift, or promise of, for certain purposes. j. No person shall give or agree to give for the purpose of promoting or procuring or for the purpose of opposing or preventing the election of a candidate for public office, or for the purpose of promoting or procuring or for the purpose of opposing or preventing the nomination of any person as a candidate for public office, any money or any valuable thing to be used for any of the following purposes:

1. To provide or give or to pay, wholly or in part, the expense of giving or providing any meat, drink, entertainment or provision to or for any person for the purpose of influencing that person or any other person to give or refrain from giving his vote at any election, or because of any such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting.

2. To provide for the payment of rent for or for the purpose of providing and fitting up any clubroom for social or recreative purposes, or providing for uniforms for any organized club.

3. To provide for the payment for the insertion in any newspaper or magazine of any article tending to influence any person to give or refrain from giving his vote to any candidate or candidates at any election; or to provide for payment for the distribution of any newspaper or magazine wherein any such article is printed; or to provide for payment of the printing or of the distribution of any circular, handbill, card, pamphlet or statement tending to influence any person to give or refrain from giving his vote to any candidate at any election; but this prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit the printing and distribution of paid advertisements, which advertisements shall be indicated by the words "This advertisement has been paid for by " (inserting the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the same); nor shall it be construed to prohibit the printing and distribution of circulars, handbills, cards, pamphlets or statements which shall have printed on the face thereof the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the printing and distribution thereof, which fact shall be indicated by the words "The cost of the printing and distribution of this circular (or as the case may be) has been paid by " (inserting the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the same).

Accepting gifts. k. No person shall accept any money or other valuable thing, the payment of which is prohibited by paragraph "j" of this section.

Penalty. l. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of paragraphs "j" and "k" of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree, and shall for the first offense be disfranchised while serving a sentence of incarceration, and for any subsequent offense shall be disfranchised while serving a sentence of incarceration, and in addition thereto the court in which such conviction is obtained, may in case of a subsequent conviction, impose upon the person so convicted the punishment now prescribed by law for a crime of the second degree.

amended 2005, c.154, s.43; 2019, c.270, s.6.

If a person shall be guilty of willful and corrupt false swearing or affirming, or by any means shall willfully and corruptly suborn or procure a person to swear or affirm falsely, in taking any oath, affirmation or deposition prescribed or authorized by this title, he shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the third degree, and be deemed to be an incompetent witness thereafter for any purpose within this State, until such time as he shall have been pardoned.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.44.

An employer of any workman, or any agent, superintendent or overseer of any company or corporation employing workmen, or any person who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf or by his direction, make use of or threaten to make use of any force, violence or restraint, or inflict or threaten to inflict by himself or by any other person any injury, damage, harm or loss against any person in his employ, in order to induce or compel such employee to vote or refrain from voting for any particular candidate at any election, or because of such employee having voted or refrained from voting for any particular candidate at any election, or who shall, by any duress, constraint or improper influence or by any fraudulent or improper device, contrivance or scheme, impede, hinder or prevent the free exercise of the franchise of any voter at any election, or shall thereby compel, induce or prevail upon any voter to vote for or against any particular candidate at any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.45.

No person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, make use of, or threaten to make use of, any force, violence or restraint, or inflict or threaten the infliction, by himself or through any other person, of any injury, damage, harm or loss, or in any manner to practice intimidation upon or against any person, in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election, or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting at any election.

Amended by L.1940, c. 199, p. 854, s. 9; L.1948, c. 438, p. 1705, s. 18.

No person shall by abduction, duress or any forcible or fraudulent device or contrivance whatever, impede, prevent or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise by any voter; or compel, induce or prevail upon any voter either to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election.

No employer, in paying his employees the salary or wages due them, shall inclose their pay in "pay envelopes" upon which there is written or printed the name of any candidate or any political motto, device or argument containing threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of such employees. Nor shall an employer, within ninety days of an election, put up or otherwise exhibit in his factory, workshop, or other establishment or place where his workmen or employees may be working, any handbill or placard containing any threat, notice or information that in case any particular ticket of a political party, or organization, or candidate shall be elected, work in his establishment will cease, in whole or in part, or his establishment be closed up, or the salaries or wages of his employees be reduced, or other threat, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of his employees.

Sections 19:34-27 to 19:34-30 of this title shall apply to corporations as well as individuals, and any person or corporation violating the provisions thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any corporation violating such provisions shall forfeit its charter.

No insurance corporation or association doing business in this state shall, directly or indirectly, pay or use, or offer, consent or agree to pay or use, any money or property for or in aid of any political party, committee, organization or corporation, or for or in aid of any candidate for political office, or for nomination for such office, or for any political purpose whatsoever, or for the reimbursement or indemnification of any person for money or property so used.

Any officer, director, stockholder, attorney or agent of any corporation or association which violates any of the provisions of this title, who participates in, aids, abets, or advises or consents to any such violation, and any person who solicits or knowingly receives any money or property in violation of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

No state, county or municipal committee or organization of any political party shall expend any money in aid of the candidacy of any candidate for election as a delegate at any national convention, or election to any party position, or for nomination as a candidate of a political party for public office.

No such party committee or organization, nor any committee of any group of petitioners, nor any other person shall expend any money in aid of any candidate for public office, except as herein otherwise provided.

Any person who shall expend, aid or assist in the expenditure of any such money for a purpose not authorized by this title, or for a purpose not named in the statement accompanying such contribution, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.46.

No person shall pay, lend or contribute, or offer or agree to pay, lend or contribute, any money or other valuable consideration to or for any person for any of the following:

a. The doing or procuring to be done of any act forbidden to be done by the laws relating to primary or general elections; or


b. The commission of any crime or offense against the elective franchise, or the encouragement or assistance of a person in the commission of a crime or offense against the elective franchise, or aiding or assisting any person charged with the commission of a crime against the elective franchise to evade arrest or to escape conviction and punishment; or

c. Providing, wholly or in part, directly or indirectly, for the expense of boarding, lodging or maintaining a person in any place of domicile in any election precinct or ward or district, with the purpose of securing the vote of such person, or of inducing such person to vote for himself, or any other person at an election; or

d. The hiring or employment of a person to take or maintain a place in, or to otherwise obstruct or hinder, or to prevent the forming of the line of voters awaiting their opportunity or time to enter the polling place or election booth of an election precinct; or

e. In consideration of any person withdrawing as a candidate for public office or presidential elector, at any election; or

f. To pay any person for loss or damage due to attendance at the polls at any primary or general or charter election, or any registry therefor, or for the purpose of such registration; or

g. For any purpose in contravention of the provisions of this Title; or

h. Making any payment except in the manner provided by this Title.

Amended by L.1940, c. 199, p. 854, s. 10; L.1948, c. 438, p. 1705, s. 19; L.1963, c. 57, s. 1.

No person directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:

Inducing voters.

a. Shall pay, lend or contribute, or offer or promise to pay, lend or contribute, money or other valuable consideration to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or persons, or to induce such voter to come to or remain away from the polls at such election, or because of such voter having voted or refrained from voting or having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person, or having come to or remained away from the polls at such election.

Employment purposes.

b. Shall give, offer or promise any office, place or employment, or to promise to procure or endeavor to procure any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or persons.

Gifts or other inducements.

c. Shall make any gift, loan, promise, offer, procurement or agreement, to, for or with any person, in order to induce him to procure, or endeavor to procure, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at any election.

Procuring votes.

d. Shall procure, or engage, promise or endeavor to procure, in consequence of any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at such election.

Furnishing means for bribery.

e. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used in bribery at any election, or to knowingly pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person in discharge or repayment of any money, wholly or in part, expended in bribery at any election.

Assist in evading arrest.

f. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used to aid or assist any person to evade arrest who is charged with the commission of a crime against the elective franchise.

Indorsement of candidates.

g. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, in consideration of being selected or indorsed as the candidate of any convention, organized assemblage of delegates, or other body representing, or claiming to represent, a political party or principle, or any club, society or association, for a public office, or in consideration of the selection or indorsement of any other person as a candidate for a public office, or in consideration of any member of a convention, club, society or association, having voted to select or indorse any person as a candidate for a public office.

Withdrawal of candidates.

h. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to or for the use of any other person, in consideration of a person withdrawing as a candidate for a public office.

No person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:

Voting or agreeing to vote.

a. Shall receive, agree or contract for, before or during an election, any money, gift, loan or other valuable consideration, office, place or employment, for himself or any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for coming or agreeing to come to the polls, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting, or for voting or agreeing to vote, or refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election.

Voting or refraining from voting.

b. Shall receive any money or other valuable thing during or after an election, because of himself, or any other person, having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person or persons at such election, or because of himself, or any other person having come to the polls or remained away from the polls at such election, or because of having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons, or to come to or remain away from the polls at such election.

Securing delegates or indorsements.

c. Shall receive any money or other valuable thing before, during or after an election, because of himself, or any other person having voted to secure the election or indorsement of any other person as the nominee or candidate of any convention, organized assemblage of delegates or other body, representing, or claiming to represent, a political party or principle, or any club, society or association, or because of himself or any other person having aided in securing the selection or indorsement of any other person as a nominee or candidate as above.

No person shall make any payment of his money, or of the money of any other person, in connection with any nomination or election in any other name than that of the person who actually supplies such money, nor shall any person knowingly receive such money, or thing of value, and enter it in his accounts or deposit it in any bank or trust company, in any other name than the name of the person who actually supplies the same.

No holder of a public office or position shall demand payment or contribution from another holder of a public office or position for the campaign purposes of any candidate or for the use of any political party.

Amended by L.1975, c. 70, s. 1, eff. April 24, 1975.

The Secretary of State shall, during the week of the third Monday in January of every year, send written notification to each State employee and each county and municipal clerk of the prohibitions of this act, and shall at the same time publicize such written notification.

L.1975, c. 70, s. 2, eff. April 24, 1975

Section 1 of this act shall be subject to the penalty provisions of R.S. 19:34-35, but no penalty shall be imposed pursuant to any section of law amended herein for violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act.

L.1975, c. 70, s. 3, eff. April 24, 1975.

No person shall demand, solicit, ask or invite any payment or contribution for any religious, charitable or other cause or organization supposed to be primarily for the public good, from any candidate for nomination or election.

No person shall demand, solicit, ask or invite any candidate for nomination or election to public office or party position to subscribe for the support of any club or organization, or to buy tickets to any entertainment or ball, or to pay for space in any book, program, periodical or publication.

This prohibition shall not apply to the solicitation of business advertising in periodicals in which the candidate was a regular advertiser prior to his candidacy, nor to ordinary business advertising, nor to the regular payments to any organizations, religious, charitable or otherwise, of which he was a member, or to which he was a contributor for more than six months before his candidacy, nor to any ordinary contributions at church services.

No corporation carrying on the business of a bank, savings bank, co-operative bank, trust, trustee, savings indemnity, safe deposit, insurance, railroad, street railway, telephone, telegraph, gas, electric light, heat or power, canal or aqueduct company, or having the right to condemn land, or to exercise franchises in public ways granted by the state or any county or municipality, and no corporation, person, trustee or trustees, owning or holding the majority of stock in any such corporation, shall pay or contribute money or thing of value in order to aid or promote the nomination or election of any person, or in order to aid or promote the interests, success or defeat of any political party.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any corporation carrying on the business of a co-generation facility, as defined in subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c.156 (C.54:15B-2.2), or to any corporation carrying on the business of a retail seller that extends credit, pursuant to the provisions of the "Retail Installment Sales Act of 1960" P.L.1960, c.40 (C.17:16C-1 et seq.), or to any corporation, person, trustee or trustees, owning or holding the majority of stock in either such corporation.

Amended 2001, c.384, s.1.

In addition to any penalties provided for violation of any of the provisions of this title, the court imposing such penalty may add thereto that such offender be thenceforth disfranchised as a voter while serving a sentence of incarceration and disqualified to hold any office of trust or profit within this state for such length of time as such court deems proper.

Amended 2019, c.270, s.7.

A person who, having once been convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this title, shall again be convicted of a violation of any of its provisions, whether such conviction be for the same offense or not, shall on such second conviction, be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, without eligibility for parole, of one year for a crime of the fourth degree, of two years for a crime of the third degree and of five years for a crime of the second degree, unless the provisions of any other law provide for a higher mandatory minimum term.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.47.

Every person charged with the performance of any duty under the provisions of any law of this State relating to elections who willfully neglects or refuses to perform it, or who, in his official capacity, knowingly and fraudulently acts in contravention or violation of any of the provisions of such laws, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.48.

Any candidate who procures, aids, assists, counsels, advises or knowingly permits any person to violate this title shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.49.

Any person chosen as member of the state committee, county committee, or any municipal committee of any political party who shall sit or perform any duty, or exercise any functions as a member of such committee after his election thereto shall have been declared null and void, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and each member of any such committee who shall vote to recognize any such member after such election shall have been declared null and void shall likewise be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Any delegate at large or district delegate to any national convention who shall fail to surrender such certificate of election forthwith after the same has been declared null and void, or who shall use such certificate of election, or who shall present such certificate of election as a credential at any such convention, or to any committee on credentials at such convention, or who shall leave the limits of this state with such certificate in his possession with intent to use the same as a credential for admission to any political convention, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

No state, county or municipal committee of any political party shall prior to any primary election indorse the candidacy of any candidate for a party nomination or position.

Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this title or to exhibit the records, papers or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.50.

Any person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the county clerk, municipal clerk, or county board and made returnable by such clerk or board, or refuses to testify under oath before such clerk or board, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.51.

Any person who makes any false statement under oath before the county clerk, municipal clerk or county board shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

Amended 2005, c.154, s.52.

Every person upon whom a subpoena issued under and by virtue of this Title shall have been served, and to whom the lawful fees shall have been paid or tendered, shall obey the command of such subpoena, under the penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00), to be sued for and recovered, with costs, in a civil action, before any court of competent jurisdiction, by the person on whose application such subpoena shall have been issued; but no person shall in any case be required to attend any such examination as a witness out of the county in which he resides.

If any person so duly subpoenaed shall neglect or refuse to obey the command of such subpoena, any judge of the Superior Court may, on due proof by affidavit of the service of the subpoena on such witness, and of the payment of his legal fees and of his refusal or neglect to obey the command of the subpoena, issue an attachment against the person to bring him before such judge; and the judge shall have power to proceed against such witness as for a contempt of court.

Amended 1953, c.19, s.54; 1991,c.91,s.258.

If proof be made before any judge of the Superior Court or municipal court of facts constituting probable cause for believing that this Title has been violated, and that any person other than the accused has knowledge of the circumstances connected therewith, such judge shall issue process of subpoena for the appearance of such person before him, to be examined touching the same. The lawful expenses of such subpoena and examination shall be paid by the applicant therefor, and such evidence shall be filed with the clerk of the county, to be used before the grand jury. No such process of subpoena shall be issued or served nor any such examination held on the day of election.

Amended 1953, c.19, s.55; 1991,c.91,s.259.

If the prosecutor of the pleas of the county shall be notified of any violation of any of the provisions of this title, he shall forthwith diligently inquire into the facts, and if there is reasonable ground for instituting a prosecution, such prosecutor of the pleas shall present the charge, with all the evidence which he can procure, to the grand jury of the county. Nothing herein contained shall justify any such prosecutor in counties of the first class in exercising the powers conferred upon the superintendent of elections in such counties.

Any citizen may employ an attorney to assist the prosecutor of the pleas to perform his duties under this title, and such attorney shall be recognized by the prosecutor of the pleas and the court as associate counsel in the proceedings.

No prosecution, action or proceeding shall be dismissed without notice to, or against the objection of, such associate counsel until the reasons of the prosecutor of the pleas for such dismissal, together with the objections thereto of such associate counsel, shall have been filed in writing, argued by counsel and considered by the court, with such limitation as to the time of filing such reasons and objections as the court may impose.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Fair Campaign Practices Act."

L.1975, c. 190, s. 1, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

No person shall perform any function in the campaign of a candidate for public office or party position for the purpose of impeding the campaign of such candidate while concealing that he is actually acting under the instructions of, or on behalf of, another candidate or such other candidate's paid or volunteer campaign staff.

L.1975, c. 190, s. 2, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

No person shall knowingly produce, transmit or disseminate any election advertisement, literature or other mass communication in any medium, including but not limited to newspapers, magazines, printed circulars, television, radio, movies, telephone, telegraph, billboards and signs, which purports to or appears to originate from, or be on behalf of, the campaign of a candidate for public office or party position, for the purpose of impeding the campaign of such candidate while failing to reveal specifically in such communication that he is acting under the instructions of, or on behalf of, another candidate or such other candidate's paid or volunteer campaign staff; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any owner, manager, editor, publisher, reporter or employee of any newspaper, magazine, periodical or other publication or of any radio or television station who, in the course of his duties, publishes or broadcasts any such advertisement, literature or mass communication.

L.1975, c. 190, s. 3, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

No person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person acting in his behalf, knowingly give, lend, or agree, offer or promise to give or lend, any money or other valuable consideration, office, place, employment or thing to any person to induce him to violate section 2 or section 3 of this act.

L.1975, c. 190, s. 4, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act shall be a disorderly person.

L.1975, c. 190, s. 5, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

The electors of president and vice president shall convene at the State House at Trenton, or in another State building within the State House Complex at Trenton, or the War Memorial at Trenton, on the day appointed by congress for that purpose, at the hour of three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, and constitute an electoral college. In any year in which, on July 20, the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement, the electors for president and vice president shall be those electors certified as the elector slate in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4).

Amended 2007, c.334, s.4; 2008, c.103, s.1.

a. When a vacancy shall happen in the college of electors, or when an elector shall fail to attend, by the hour of three o'clock in the afternoon of the day fixed by congress for the meeting of the college of electors, at the place of holding such meeting, those of such electors who shall be assembled at the hour and place shall immediately proceed to fill by a majority of votes such vacancy.

b.If the members of the electoral college shall have been nominated and elected as representing different political parties, any vacancy occurring shall be filled by the elector or electors representing the same political party as the absent elector; and if there shall be no elector present representing the same political party as the absent elector, then such vacancy shall be filled by a majority of the electors present, who shall choose some person of the political party which the absent elector represents.

c.Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. and b. of this section, in any year in which, on July 20, the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement, any vacancy in the college of electors shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act, P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4).

Amended 2007, c.334, s.5.

After choosing a president and secretary from their own body, such electors shall proceed to perform the duties required of them by the constitution and laws of the United States, and in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act, P.L.2007, c.334 (C.19:36-4) in any year in which, on July 20, the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" is in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, and the State of New Jersey remains a member of that agreement.

Amended 2007, c.334, s.6.

1.The State of New Jersey hereby enacts into law and enters into the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" as set forth in this section, and substantially as follows:
a.Article I-Membership

Any State of the United States and the District of Columbia may become a member of this agreement by enacting this agreement.

b.Article II-Right of the People in Member States to Vote for President and Vice President.

Each member state shall conduct a statewide popular election for President and Vice President of the United States.

c.Article III-Manner of Appointing Presidential Electors in Member States

(1)Prior to the time set by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, the chief election official of each member state shall determine the number of votes for each presidential slate in each State of the United States and in the District of Columbia in which votes have been cast in a statewide popular election and shall add such votes together to produce a "national popular vote total" for each presidential slate.

(2)The chief election official of each member state shall designate the presidential slate with the largest national popular vote total as the "national popular vote winner."
(3)The presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment in that official's own state of the elector slate nominated in that state in association with the national popular vote winner.

(4)At least six days before the day fixed by law for the meeting and voting by the presidential electors, each member state shall make a final determination of the number of popular votes cast in the state for each presidential slate and shall communicate an official statement of such determination within 24 hours to the chief election official of each other member state.

(5)The chief election official of each member state shall treat as conclusive an official statement containing the number of popular votes in a state for each presidential slate made by the day established by federal law for making a state's final determination conclusive as to the counting of electoral votes by Congress.

(6)In event of a tie for the national popular vote winner, the presidential elector certifying official of each member state shall certify the appointment of the elector slate nominated in association with the presidential slate receiving the largest number of popular votes within that official's own state.

(7)If, for any reason, the number of presidential electors nominated in a member state in association with the national popular vote winner is less than or greater than that state's number of electoral votes, the presidential candidate on the presidential slate that has been designated as the national popular vote winner shall have the power to nominate the presidential electors for that state and that state's presidential elector certifying official shall certify the appointment of such nominees. The chief election official of each member state shall immediately release to the public all vote counts or statements of votes as they are determined or obtained.

(8)This article shall govern the appointment of presidential electors in each member state in any year in which this agreement is, on July 20, in effect in states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes.

d.Article IV-Other Provisions

(1)This agreement shall take effect when states cumulatively possessing a majority of the electoral votes have enacted this agreement in substantially the same form and the enactments by such states have taken effect in each state.

(2)Any member state may withdraw from this agreement, except that a withdrawal occurring six months or less before the end of a President's term shall not become effective until a President or Vice President shall have been qualified to serve the next term.

(3)The chief executive of each member state shall promptly notify the chief executive of all other states of when this agreement has been enacted and has taken effect in that official's state, when the state has withdrawn from this agreement, and when this agreement takes effect generally.

(4)This agreement shall terminate if the electoral college is abolished.

(5)If any provision of this agreement is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

e.Article V-Definitions

For purposes of this agreement:

"Chief executive" means the Governor of a State of the United States or the Mayor of the District of Columbia;

"Elector Slate" means a slate of candidates who have been nominated in a state for the position of presidential elector in association with a presidential slate;

"Chief Election Official" means the state official or body that is authorized to certify the total number of popular votes for each presidential slate;

"Presidential Elector" means an elector for President and Vice President of the United States;

"Presidential Elector Certifying Official" means the state official or body that is authorized to certify the appointment of the state's presidential electors;

"Presidential Slate" means a slate of two persons, the first of whom has been nominated as a candidate for President of the United States and the second of whom has been nominated as a candidate for Vice President of the United States, or any legal successors to such persons, regardless of whether both names appear on the ballot presented to the voter in a particular state;

"State" means a State of the United States and the District of Columbia; and

"Statewide Popular Election" means a general election in which votes are cast for presidential slates by individual voters and counted on a statewide basis.

L.2007, c.334, s.1.

When the governing body of any municipality or of any county desires to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof, and there is no other statute by which the sentiment can be ascertained by the submission of such question to a vote of the electors in the municipality or county at any election to be held therein, the governing body may adopt at any regular meeting an ordinance or a resolution requesting the clerk of the county to print upon the official ballots to be used at the next ensuing general election a certain proposition to be formulated and expressed in the ordinance or resolution in concise form. Such request shall be filed with the clerk of the county not later than 88 days previous to the election.

amended 1942, c.50, s.13; 1967, c.101, s.1; 1985, c.92, s.29; 2011, c.37, s.22; 2023, c.124, s.6.

2. Whenever a governing body of a municipality has adopted an ordinance or resolution pursuant to section 19 :37-1 of the Revised Statutes, upon the presentation to the governing body of such municipality of a petition signed by 10% or more of the voters registered and qualified to vote at the last general election in such municipality, requesting the governing body of such municipality to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof that is reasonably related to any proposition formulated and expressed in such ordinance or resolution, such governing body of the municipality shall thereupon adopt at its next regular meeting following the presentation of such petition a resolution requesting the clerk of the county to print upon the official ballots to be used at the next ensuing general election a certain proposition as formulated and expressed in the petition. Such request shall be filed with the clerk of the county not later than the 74th day previous to the election.

L.1967, c.101, s.2; amended 1985, c.92, s.30; 2011, c.37, s.23; 2023, c.124, s.7.

If a copy of the ordinance or resolution certified by the clerk or secretary of the governing body of any such municipality or county is delivered to the county clerk not less than 74 days before any such general election, he shall cause it to be printed on each sample ballot and official ballot to be printed for or used in such municipality or county, as the case may be, at the next ensuing general election.

amended 1947, c.69; 1971, c.217, s.3; 2011, c.37, s.24; 2023, c.124, s.8.

The ballots so cast for or against such public question shall be counted and the result thereof returned by the election officers and a canvass of such election had and announced in the manner now provided by law.

Such result shall not bind the governing body from which the ordinance or resolution emanated, nor be taken or construed as other than an expression of sentiment by the voters, to be followed or disregarded by the governing body in its discretion.

The submission of a public question in the manner herein provided shall not become operative in any municipality or county until the governing body thereof shall by ordinance or resolution duly passed declare its desire to submit any question or questions in this manner.