N.J. lawmakers eye election reform ahead of summer recess

“Vote-by-mail has turn into so standard and it’s overwhelming a whole lot of the workers within the Board of Elections workplaces,” Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) stated. “And the longer you are taking to supply outcomes, the extra suspicious individuals turn into. And when it’s important to wait weeks, and in some circumstances a month, to assemble the outcomes from the election individuals suppose there’s ‘hanky panky’ happening.”

It was obvious throughout final week’s public listening to that some have been involved concerning the potential for election consequence leaks if the state permits election staff to canvass mail-in ballots earlier than polls shut on election night time.

The committee additionally cleared payments that might permit sure New Jersey residents who reside abroad to vote in state and federal elections, develop the hours by which minors are permitted to function ballot staff, change sure mail-in poll deadlines, and require the state to bear the prices of a brand new election “if the State is at fault for errors throughout preliminary election that requires new election to be held.”

Some members of the general public additionally urged lawmakers to contemplate eradicating state and county residency necessities for ballot staff. At the moment, individuals can solely function ballot staff within the county by which they’re registered to vote.