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Bill

Bill

S 2077

Establishes pilot project to permit voters in military service on active duty overseas, and their eligible family members, to vote in certain elections using the Internet; makes appropriation.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Paul Moriarty

New Jersey pilot program permits overseas active-duty military and families to vote in elections via internet, with appropriated funding for implementation and cybersecurity infrastructure.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2077

Legislative bill overview

S 2077 creates a pilot program allowing active-duty military personnel stationed overseas and their eligible family members to cast votes in New Jersey elections via the internet. The bill includes a financial appropriation to fund the program's implementation and testing.

Why is this important

Military voters overseas currently face significant barriers to participation, relying on paper ballots sent through mail that may not arrive in time. An internet voting system could increase voter participation among this demographic while streamlining administration, though it introduces new cybersecurity considerations for electoral systems.

Potential points of contention

  • Cybersecurity risks: Internet voting raises concerns about hacking, foreign interference, and system vulnerabilities that could compromise election integrity, requiring robust security protocols that may be costly and technically complex
  • Verification and authentication: Establishing secure identity verification for remote voters without in-person polling place safeguards requires careful protocol design to prevent fraud while maintaining voter privacy
  • Pilot scope and scalability: The effectiveness and cost of a pilot program may not translate to full-scale implementation, and pilot results could be disputed based on differing security and accessibility standards
  • Federal law constraints: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) governs military voting; any state program must comply with federal requirements, potentially limiting implementation flexibility

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

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