NJ Spotlight News
NJ lawmakers vote to reform primary ballot
Clip: 12/16/2024 | 4m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
Bill also lets county clerks reject slogans, allow appeals, but advocates want more
Lawmakers in Trenton voted unanimously to release an amended bill that would abolish New Jersey’s so-called county line primary ballot — long wielded as a political tool by party bosses who sometimes banished opponents to so-called "ballot Siberia." Instead, New Jersey voters would find candidates clearly grouped under the office they seek.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
NJ lawmakers vote to reform primary ballot
Clip: 12/16/2024 | 4m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
Lawmakers in Trenton voted unanimously to release an amended bill that would abolish New Jersey’s so-called county line primary ballot — long wielded as a political tool by party bosses who sometimes banished opponents to so-called "ballot Siberia." Instead, New Jersey voters would find candidates clearly grouped under the office they seek.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipAfter a high profile court case and days of testimony on how to remake New Jersey's primary ballot design, lawmakers have finally come to a decision.
They've moved a bill out of committee that would require ballots to have an office block style, where candidates are grouped under the office they are running for and no longer get ranked under the so-called county line.
But the bill does allow candidates to run together and to use slogans that some challenge are the very thing the court ruling meant to prohibit.
Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan was at the committee vote today and has more on what our primary ballots will look like.
Lawmakers voted unanimously to release an amended bill that would abolish New Jersey's so-called county line primary ballot, long wielded as a political tool by party bosses who sometimes banished opponents to so-called ballot Siberia.
Instead, new Jersey voters would find candidates clearly grouped under the office they seek.
But the devil is still in the details, especially over the use of ballot slogans.
We are sure there are other things that people think need to be considered on this issue.
However, I am proud of our measured approach in addressing something that need to be solved quickly.
I think after 6 or 7 hearings and meetings, after meetings that we are at a not perfect but definitely moving in the right direction.
I'm also proud that as a committee, we made a commitment to post this bill for the public to view and provide their thoughts on before we took action.
But the public did not get an immediate copy of the amendments.
They were read aloud this morning when the bipartisan Assembly Select Committee on ballot Design convened.
While the bill eliminates visual brackets and asterisks.
It does permit candidates to use the same six word slogan and name their party.
That still raises concerns.
Candidates could put endorsed by Mercer County Democrats, but I thought he said he didn't expect them to do.
But there's nothing in the bill that I could find that prohibits that.
And so it becomes a very visible cue on the ballot, which is the whole point of eliminating the county line.
The bill also lets county clerks reject unsuitable slogans, and candidates can appeal.
But advocates want more.
Six words or not an informed electorate.
What we need as Julius, as Ruben just said, what we need is a booklet with information about each candidate and or a website where information can be found.
But then we don't need those six words at all.
Trenton lawmakers rushed to redraw the primary ballot, according to the directions from a federal judge who agreed with then Senate candidate Andy Kim and other plaintiffs that the old county line ballot apparently put an unconstitutional thumb on the political scale.
The amended bill does allow running mates for the same office, like two Assembly candidates, to associate together on the ballot.
And the coveted placement order in each block is still randomly chosen by the county clerk, not allowing for computerized draw, essentially allowing clerks to continue to have, a box over their heads and sheet names up and pull them on the ballot.
And so those are our issues right now.
Meanwhile, the Senate hasn't convened a similar committee.
However, Assembly co-chair said there have been backdoor discussions all along.
I think they've had their input.
You know, with leadership and yeah, I mean, I chairs yeah, we've had conversations with, you know, Senate, Senate, members and I think any other concerns, I think we addressed.
I think that's all there is right now.
So you think that essentially there's going to be a Senate sponsor announced, and it's going to be pretty much what you've got here.
That's the plan.
Yeah, that's the plan.
Yeah.
Committee co-chairs say they expect this bill to be posted for a vote in the Assembly this week.
County clerks want a final decision by the end of March so they can prepare ballots for the June primary.
At the statehouse in Trenton, I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.
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