Now that the general election is over, lawmakers in the state are setting their focus on the state's ballot design, which became a key issue during the primaries.

A special assembly committee held its second meeting on the topic this week and a senior correspondent, Brenda Flanagan, reports there's concern over whether any new designs being proposed are fair.

This conversation on ballot design really comes at a crucial time when many voters feel very uncertain about the future of our democracy.

Folks still reeling from Tuesday's election got in a virtual line to testify before a special assembly committee.

Their mission to design a better ballot for New Jersey.

But some speakers, mostly from good government advocacy groups, criticized both the format and the timing.

News stories with Jersey's Institute for Social Justice.

Are giving inadequate notice for both hearings so far and holding the first hearing with public participation.

Less than two days after one of the most consequential elections of our times is undemocratic and does not inspire confidence.

People are touchy.

It took a grassroots movement and court battles to deep six New Jersey's County line ballot.

A federal judge agreed with critics.

Jersey's party line ballot system is unfair because it empowers party bosses to give favored candidates preference shill ballot positions in primary elections.

Andy Kim also challenged the county line ballot in court, and he won.

He's now New Jersey Senator elect.

Young people are not dumb.

They have real concerns that party bosses and outside business interests have an outsized affect on really important parts of our democracy, like ballot design.

A fair ballot design should protect voter choice, not the choice of politically connected insiders and party bosses.

New Jersey Democrats used office block ballots for the primary.

It simply lists candidates under the offers they seek.

But should redesigned ballots include a slogan?

Can a slate grouped together?

Should incumbents be identified?

And who gets the preferred top spot on the list?

Advocates sometimes disagreed on details.

We want to be clear that the starting point for the fairness of the of ballot design has to really be about ensuring that there is no extra weight on the scale one way or the other, that the ballot points to to give an advantage to one candidate over any.

Other anything that is not a clean ballot in terms of just a list of candidates in an office block style with nothing, differentiating them is not ideal, right?

Anything that puts a thumb on the scale is not a fair ballot.

Again, lawmakers questioned whether voters would be able to figure out a new ballot design, particularly in neighborhoods where English as a second language.

But to use the fear of confusion to hold us back on making this change is a little disingenuous.

We have changed.

Confusion is not a reason not to have a fair ballot.

The Select committee scheduled its next hearing for Tuesday at NJT and promised to hold an evening hearing so more New Jersey residents can make their voices heard.

County clerks say they need a new ballot template by next March to hit their election deadlines.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ.

Spotlight News.