Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Overhauling New Jersey’s Primary Ballot Design
Trenton, NJ – March 6, 2025
Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law a significant overhaul of New Jersey’s primary ballot system, aiming to eliminate the longstanding county-line format that has been criticized for favoring party-endorsed candidates. The new legislation mandates that county clerks print ballots grouping candidates by the office they seek, a move intended to promote a more equitable electoral process. (newjerseymonitor.com)
The county-line system, which aligned candidates from various offices under a single party endorsement, has been a contentious issue. Critics argued that it provided an undue advantage to party-backed candidates, often relegating their opponents to less favorable positions on the ballot. This practice was challenged in court, leading to a federal judge’s ruling that the system was likely unconstitutional. (newjerseymonitor.com)
While the shift to an office-block ballot design has been lauded by voting rights advocates, some provisions in the new law have raised concerns. Notably, the legislation allows candidates to include a six-word slogan or endorsement message on the ballot. This provision has been criticized for potentially enabling party organizations to maintain influence over the ballot, despite the move away from the county-line system. (newjerseymonitor.com)
The law also introduces changes to the selection process for state committee members, transferring their election from a public vote to selection by partisan county committee members. Additionally, it prohibits candidates from using the name of a candidate for a separate office in their campaign slogans, a measure seen as targeting specific political figures. (newjerseymonitor.com)
These reforms are set to take effect immediately, with county clerks required to implement the new ballot design for the upcoming primaries in June 2025, which will include the governor’s race and all 80 Assembly seats. (newjerseymonitor.com)
The move represents a significant shift in New Jersey’s electoral landscape, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance the fairness and transparency of the state’s voting system.
Governor Murphy Signs Primary Ballot Overhaul into Law:
- Governor Murphy signs bill revamping design of primary ballots • New Jersey Monitor
- A revamped ballot design jumpstarts democracy in New Jersey • New Jersey Monitor
- March 10, 2025 – New Jersey State Policy Updates – New Jersey State Policy Lab
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