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A 4223

Provides that absentee ballots shall not be mailed or delivered to a voter unless such voter has specifically requested to receive an absentee ballot

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dave McDonough

Absentee ballots may only be mailed to voters who explicitly request them, forcing opt-in and reducing unsolicited mail, with offices updating systems to enforce it.

REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4223

Summary of Bill A 4223

Overview

  • Bill number: A 4223
  • Title: Provides that absentee ballots shall not be mailed or delivered to a voter unless such voter has specifically requested to receive an absentee ballot
  • Status: Referred to Election Law
  • Introduced: January 31, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: David McDonough
  • Related bills (prior-session): A 4569, A 3985

This bill would change the default practice for sending absentee ballots by requiring voters to affirmatively request an absentee ballot before it is mailed or delivered.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibition on automatic mailing: Absentee ballots may not be mailed or delivered to a voter unless the voter has explicitly requested to receive an absentee ballot.
  • Affimative request: The bill requires an explicit action or request by the voter to obtain an absentee ballot. The text provided does not specify the mechanism (online portal, mail-in request, in-person request, etc.), deadlines, or polling-eligibility requirements beyond the affirmative request standard.
  • Scope and implementation details: The material provided does not outline which elections (general, primary, special), or whether provisional ballots, security envelopes, or voter registration status affect eligibility. It also does not detail administrative processes for officials to implement the opt-in requirement.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Voters: Individuals would need to opt-in to receive an absentee ballot. Those who do not submit a request would not receive ballots by mail or delivery, potentially reducing unsolicited ballot mailings.
  • Election officials: Municipal or state election offices would need to modify mailing lists, voter contact systems, and procedures to ensure ballots are only mailed to those who have requested them. This could involve changes to forms, databases, and outreach workflows, as well as potential adjustments to deadlines and certification processes.
  • Administrative costs: Potential savings from reduced mailings, offset against the costs of implementing and maintaining an opt-in system and enforcing adherence across elections.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Current status places A 4223 in the Election Law committee for consideration. No additional dates, hearing schedules, or floor action are provided in the information available.
  • Next steps in a typical legislative path would include committee hearings, potential amendments, floor votes in the Assembly, and passage to the Senate (if applicable), followed by reconciliation and signing, depending on the jurisdiction’s process.

Related Legislation

  • A 4569 and A 3985 (prior-session) are listed as related bills, suggesting a pattern of proposals concerning absentee ballot procedures or mailings. Details would require review of those texts to understand overlaps or differences.

Considerations and Questions

  • What specific methods will voters use to request absentee ballots (online portal, mail-in form, in-person request, phone)?
  • Are there defined deadlines by which requests must be submitted to receive ballots for a given election?
  • How will the opt-in requirement interact with provisional ballots, military/voter-absentee accommodations, or early voting options?
  • How will changes be communicated to voters to avoid inadvertent disenfranchisement?

This summary presents the bill’s core intent and potential effects based on the available text. Further details from the bill’s full language would clarify procedural specifics.

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

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