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S 3850

Relates to wrongful refusal of admission to and ejection from places of public entertainment and amusement

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hoylman-Sigal and 1 co-sponsor

Counties may expand no-electioneering zones to 200 feet around polling places and ballot drop boxes, with required conspicuous notice; penalties remain unchanged.

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Bill Summary · S 3850

Summary — S3850 (P.L.2025, c.92)

Title: Relates to wrongful refusal of admission to and ejection from places of public entertainment and amusement / electioneering (as enacted)

Note: Although introduced Oct. 28, 2024, Senate Bill No. 3850 was enacted as P.L.2025, c.92 (approved July 8, 2025). It was reported with technical committee amendments and is identical to Assembly Bill A5356 (1R).

Purpose

The bill amends New Jersey election law to give county boards of elections discretion to expand the zone around polling places, polling rooms, and ballot drop boxes in which electioneering is prohibited — from the current 100-foot radius to up to 200 feet — and to require prior, conspicuous notice of any expanded prohibition.

Key provisions

  • Permits each county board of elections to extend the existing electioneering prohibition from 100 feet to within 200 feet of:
    • the outside entrance to any polling place or room in use during an election, and
    • any ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election.
  • Requires county boards to place a clear and conspicuous notice outside the affected polling place/room or ballot drop box before the expanded prohibition takes effect. The notice must include the penalties for violations.
  • Provides that a person who violates an electioneering prohibition established by a county board under this law is guilty of a crime of the same degree as currently applies to violations of the 100-foot prohibition (the bill does not change the degree of the offense).
  • Committee amendments made technical updates to reflect current law; substantive effect centers on local discretion to expand the buffer and the signage requirement.

Who is affected

  • County boards of elections: gain authority and responsibility to set larger no-electioneering zones and to post required notices.
  • Voters and campaigners (candidates, volunteers, petitioners, political organizations): may encounter a larger restricted zone around polling places and drop boxes, limiting campaign or persuasive activity within that expanded area.
  • Law enforcement and poll officials: may bear enforcement responsibility for violations of the extended zones.
  • General public visiting polling places or drop boxes: must observe posted restrictions.

Implementation, timeline & fiscal impact

  • Enacted as P.L.2025, c.92 on July 8, 2025 (bill progressed through committees and both houses earlier in 2025).
  • The bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note; however, counties may incur minimal costs for additional signage and possible enforcement activity.

Related legislation

  • Companion/identical: A5356 (1R)
  • Related/prior: S2424; A6310

This change preserves the existing penalty structure while giving counties local flexibility to expand the protected zone around voting locations.

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

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