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S 4142

Revises design of primary election ballots and certain primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; removes State committee members from primary process; requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Bucco and 1 co-sponsor

Standardizes NJ primary ballots into office-block format with uniform design to reduce confusion and removes state party committee selection from the primary.

Substituted by A5116 (3R)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4142

Summary — S-4142 (substituted by A5116, 3R)

Status: Introduced Feb 3, 2025; reported with committee amendments (Senate Judiciary, 2/20/25); substituted by A5116 (3R) 2/25/25. Primary sponsor: Sen. Kevin S. Parker.

Purpose / Intent

To standardize and revise New Jersey primary election ballot design and some primary procedures to (1) replace the prior “bracketing”/separation practices that led to litigation, (2) improve voter comprehension and uniformity across counties, and (3) alter how State party committee members are selected. The bill also requires a post‑implementation evaluation and creates expedited judicial review rights for certain nominating petition disputes.

Key provisions

  • Ballot format — office block:

    • Requires primary ballots to present candidates grouped by office in an “office block” format (all candidates for the same office listed together and separated from other offices).
    • Office blocks ordered from highest federal offices down to party offices; delegates/alternates may be placed near the presidential block.
    • County clerks may design ballots in portrait or landscape orientation.

  • Uniform design standards:

    • Ovals/spaces for marking must be aligned flush with candidate names and not create visual separations.
    • Plain-language text; consistent spacing, ruling and delineation across all office blocks.
    • Candidate draw positions labeled with a letter+number (e.g., “1A”) next to the name.

  • Candidate slogans/associations:

    • Allows a slogan/endorsement (up to six words) next to/below candidate names in same color/font but smaller (not bold/italic).
    • Candidates for the same office with multiple seats may associate and use a common slogan; candidates for different offices may also use the same slogan if requested.
    • If duplicate or substantially similar slogans are claimed, the later filer must choose a different slogan.

  • Prohibitions:

    • Ballots may not separate a candidate from others seeking the same office, place candidates for one office among candidates for another, or position candidates based on a draw for a different office (i.e., end bracketing).

  • Party committee selection:

    • Removes selection/election of State political party committee members from the primary ballot/process. State committee members will instead be selected by their respective county party committees at a time and manner determined by each party.

  • Division of Elections report:

    • The Division must collect data on implementation and submit a report studying the two primaries after enactment (including whether changes increased confusion or administrative burden, and costs). The Division must file the report within 180 days after the date of the second primary following enactment.

  • Judicial review:

    • Explicitly grants candidates the right to appeal certain nominating petition decisions to the Superior Court in the county where the petition was filed; appeals to be heard on an expedited basis.

  • Repeals:

    • Repeals several statutory provisions tied to prior bracketing rules and prior inoperative rules governing party committee elections.

Who is affected

  • County clerks and county election administrators — must redesign ballots and implement standards.
  • Division of Elections / Department of State — to promulgate uniform guidelines and prepare the post‑implementation report.
  • Candidates and political parties — rules on slogans, associations, and State party committee selection change.
  • Voters — ballot presentation altered; intended to reduce confusion/improve usability.
  • Judiciary — may see expedited appeals related to nominating petitions.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Office of Legislative Services estimates indeterminate one‑time expenditure increases for counties to redesign ballots and for the Department of State to collect data and prepare the report. Potential periodic costs to the Judiciary associated with expedited appeals are indeterminate. The OLS lacked data to quantify costs.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Report by the Division of Elections due within 180 days after the second primary election following enactment (the report will use data from those two primaries).
  • Committee amendment removed a county clerk ability to modify spacing/delineation to highlight associated candidates (ensuring uniformity).

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

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