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S 3617

Establishes a community wind energy pilot program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Sanders

Requires counties to mail a mail-in ballot application to 17-year-olds who will turn 18, with state reimbursement for mailing costs (cap: a 2-ounce first-class piece).

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 3617

Summary — S 3617 (1R): Mail‑in ballot applications for 17‑year‑old registered voters

Note: The bill title provided with the request ("Establishes a community wind energy pilot program") appears to be inconsistent with the bill text. The text of S 3617 concerns mailing mail‑in ballot applications to 17‑year‑old registered voters who will turn 18; the summary below reflects the bill text.

Main purpose

Require county clerks to send an application for a mail‑in ballot to each registered voter who is 17 years old when they reach their 18th birthday, and require the State to reimburse counties for the additional direct mailing cost (limited by committee amendment).

Key provisions

  • County clerk duty: Upon a voter’s 18th birthday, the county clerk must transmit an application for a mail‑in ballot to any person who is 17 and already registered to vote in that county pursuant to R.S.19:31‑5 (i.e., 17‑year‑olds who will be 18 by the next general election).
  • State reimbursement: The State shall reimburse counties for additional direct expenditures necessary to implement the requirement. Committee amendments cap the reimbursement at no more than the cost of mailing a standard two‑ounce piece of first‑class mail per mail‑in ballot application.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimate:
    • Annual State expenditure increase: about $86,000 (to reimburse counties).
    • Annual county expenditure increase: about $86,000 in postage plus additional staff time for mailing operations.
    • Annual county revenue increase: about $86,000 (via State reimbursement).
  • Basis of estimate: ~121,000 individuals turn 18 annually in NJ (ACS data); assuming a 70.5% voter registration rate → ~85,000 mailings. USPS rate for a standard two‑ounce first‑class mail piece estimated at $1.01 → ~ $86,000.

Who is affected

  • Primary: 17‑year‑old registered voters (who will turn 18) who would receive mail‑in ballot applications.
  • Administrative: County clerks (additional mailing and staff workload); State (costs to reimburse counties).
  • Counties will receive reimbursement revenues to offset mailing costs.

Legislative status and timeline

  • Introduced: September 19, 2024.
  • Committee action: Reported favorably with amendments by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (Dec 16, 2024).
  • Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (Dec 16, 2024).
  • Later referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications (Jan 29, 2025).
  • Effective immediately upon enactment if passed.

Related legislation

  • Companion: A4849
  • Prior‑session related bills: S2122, S3774, S4639, S5660, S6396, S7441

This measure is intended to increase access to mail‑in voting for newly eligible voters while providing limited state reimbursement to counties for mailing costs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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