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Bill

Bill

A 902

Requires school districts to close schools on days of general and primary elections.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Carter and 3 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill requiring school districts to close all schools on general and primary election days to address facility and operational conflicts with voting.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
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Bill Summary · A 902

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 902 would mandate that New Jersey school districts close all schools on days when general or primary elections are held. This applies to both public and charter schools, creating a statewide policy requiring schools to shut down during voting periods.

Why is this important

Election days often serve as polling locations, creating operational challenges for schools that must accommodate voting while maintaining normal operations. Closing schools addresses concerns about school facilities being used as polling places, potential disruptions to instruction, and ensuring adequate space and resources for election administration.

Potential points of contention

  • Educational disruption: Mandatory closures result in lost instructional days, which may impact student learning and require districts to add makeup days or compress curricula, potentially affecting standardized testing schedules
  • Childcare burden: Parents would need alternative childcare arrangements on election days, creating hardship for working families who depend on schools for supervision
  • Cost and efficiency questions: Whether closing entire districts is necessary when only some schools serve as polling places; targeted closures of polling-location schools might address concerns without district-wide disruption
  • Election administration trade-offs: Polling places in schools provide communities with familiar, accessible voting locations; removing schools from this role could reduce polling accessibility in some areas

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

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