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Bill

A 4960

Establishes municipal election mobile voting pilot program.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Gabe Rodriguez

Establishes a time-limited municipal mobile voting pilot to test security, accessibility, and reliability of casting ballots on mobile devices.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
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Bill Summary · A 4960

Summary of New Jersey Assembly Bill A-4960 (Session 222)

Title

Establishes municipal election mobile voting pilot program.

Primary Purpose

To authorize and establish a pilot program allowing municipal elections to offer mobile voting as a method for participating in local elections. The bill aims to test the feasibility, security, accessibility, and reliability of mobile voting within selected municipalities before considering broader adoption.

Key Provisions

  • Pilot Program Authorization

    • Creates a defined, time-limited pilot program to implement mobile voting in selected New Jersey municipalities.
    • The bill outlines eligibility criteria and process for designating participating municipalities.

  • Scope of Mobile Voting

    • Allows eligible voters to cast ballots using mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets) for municipal elections conducted under the pilot.
    • Specifies the type of elections covered (municipal elections) and may include constraints on ballot types (e.g., full ballots vs. certain contest types) as defined by the implementing rules.

  • Security and Integrity Measures

    • Establishes requirements for authentication, ballot integrity, and security protocols to protect against tampering, fraud, and vote manipulation.
    • May include end-to-end verifiability, encryption standards, and secure transmission/storage of ballots.
    • Requires assurance of voter secrecy and protection of personal information.

  • Accessibility and Inclusivity

    • Aims to enhance accessibility for voters with mobility or travel limitations, possibly including accommodations for voters with disabilities.
    • Ensures compliance with applicable accessibility standards and nondiscrimination requirements.

  • Oversight and Governance

    • Designates oversight by a state or municipal elections authority, board of elections, or a jointly empowered body.
    • Requires regular reporting on pilot outcomes, including participation rates, security assessments, and any incidents.

  • Evaluation and Reporting

    • Mandates evaluation of pilot results, focusing on security, reliability, usability, cost, and impact on turnout.
    • Requires periodic reporting to the Legislature with findings and recommendations.

  • Duration and Sunsetting

    • Establishes a defined end date or review period for the pilot.
    • Provides a framework for whether the program can be expanded, modified, or terminated based on evaluation outcomes.

  • Funding and Resources

    • Addresses potential funding sources or budgetary appropriations to implement and sustain the pilot.
    • May authorize allocation of technical resources, training, and public information campaigns.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Voters in Participating Municipalities

    • Eligible voters in pilot municipalities could vote via mobile devices in municipal elections under the pilot guidelines.

  • Municipal Clerks and Election Officials

    • Responsible for implementing, validating, and supervising mobile voting processes within the pilot.
    • Require training and adherence to security and certification standards.

  • State/Local Election Authorities

    • Oversee compliance, security auditing, reporting, and evaluation of the pilot’s outcomes.

  • Vendors and Service Providers

    • May include vendors supplying secure mobile voting applications, authentication, ballot delivery, and vote counting capabilities.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Implementation Timeline

    • The bill outlines steps to designate participating municipalities, implement the technical infrastructure, and begin voting under the pilot by a specified date.

  • Reporting Schedule

    • Requires periodic progress reports to be submitted to the Legislature, with final evaluation and recommendations at the conclusion of the pilot period.

  • Sunset and Review

    • Includes a mechanism to reassess or terminate the program after the pilot period, potentially guiding future policy decisions on mobile voting.

Notes

  • Specific statutory language, definitions, and the exact scope (e.g., eligible voters, ballot formats, security standards) would be detailed in the bill’s text and implementing regulations.
  • Co-sponsor: Gabe Rodriguez. The presence of a single co-sponsor suggests sponsor alignment but does not by itself determine policy outcomes.

If you’d like, I can pull the bill’s official text to extract precise definitions, timelines, and any numerical requirements (e.g., deadlines, procurement thresholds) for a deeper, line-by-line breakdown.

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

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