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Bill

A 4904

Requires county and municipal clerks to publish unofficial list of all persons who filed nominating petitions for primary election within five hours of deadline to file nominating petitions.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Gabe Rodriguez

A 4904 requires county and municipal clerks to publish an unofficial, near-immediate list of primary petition filers within five hours on official websites.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4904

Overview

A 4904 (New Jersey, Session 222) would require county clerks and municipal clerks to publish an unofficial list of all individuals who filed nominating petitions for a primary election within five hours after the filing deadline. The list must be posted on the official Internet site of the respective county or municipality. The act takes effect immediately.

Purpose and intent

  • Improve transparency and timeliness in disseminating information about who filed nominating petitions for a party’s primary election.
  • Ensure the public has near-immediate access to candidate filing information, reducing delays in obtaining petition data.

Key provisions

  • Publication deadline: Within five hours after the deadline for filing nominating petitions, the county clerk or municipal clerk must publish an unofficial list of all petition filers.
  • Platform: The list must be published on the official Internet site of the respective county or municipality.
  • Scope: Applies to nominating petitions filed for candidates to be voted for by voters of a political party in a primary election leading to a general election.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who/what is affected

  • County clerks and municipal clerks are responsible for compliance.
  • Voters, candidates, campaigns, and political organizations seeking timely information about who filed nominating petitions for primary elections will be impacted.
  • The public gains access to an unofficial but timely list of petition filers via official county or municipal websites.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Filing deadline context: Under current law, the nomination petition deadline for the primary election is before 4:00 p.m. on the 71st day preceding the general election date.
  • Publication timeline: The bill imposes a concrete five-hour posting window after the filing deadline.
  • Nature of the list: Described as an “unofficial” list, indicating it is not the final certified petition, but a contemporaneous record of those who filed.
  • Effective immediately: The law would apply to filings occurring after enactment without a transition period.

Potential implications

  • Accessibility: Easier public access to petition filer information in real time, potentially aiding journalists, campaigns, and voters.
  • Verification: Offers a rapid reference point prior to official certification, though users should still consult certified documents for official purposes.
  • Administrative burden: Requires clerks to coordinate rapid publication on official websites, possibly necessitating workflow adjustments.

Summary

Bill A 4904 would expedite and publicly publish, within five hours of nominating petition filing deadlines, an unofficial list of all petition filers for primary elections on each county or municipality’s official website. It targets enhanced transparency with immediate posting and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

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

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