New Jersey Senate Bill S3784

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/8/23
• Refer: 5/8/23

Caption

Establishes ranked-choice voting procedure for presidential primaries and general elections for electors for United States President and Vice-President.

Impact

The implementation of ranked-choice voting as outlined in S3784 would require changes to existing electoral laws by supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey. This transformation has the potential to change how elections are conducted across the state by ensuring that ballots reflect voters' preferences more comprehensively. Moreover, the bill directs the Secretary of State to create guidelines and regulations to facilitate the adoption of ranked-choice voting, thereby establishing a further framework for electoral processes in New Jersey.

Summary

Senate Bill S3784 aims to establish a ranked-choice voting (RCV) procedure for presidential primaries and general elections for electors voting for the President and Vice-President of the United States. This method allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, transforming the traditional first-past-the-post electoral system into a more nuanced approach that aims to capture voter sentiment more accurately. The bill is designed to improve electoral outcomes by enabling voters to express multiple preferences, which would be counted in rounds, ensuring that a candidate gains the majority support to win an election.

Contention

However, the bill may face contention among various stakeholders. Proponents argue that ranked-choice voting reduces the 'spoiler effect' in elections, thus allowing for a broader range of candidates without diluting voter choices. Critics may express concerns about the complexity of the new voting system and its implementation on existing voting machines. Additionally, there may be political arguments surrounding the practicality and efficacy of ranked-choice votes, particularly regarding how easily voters can adapt to ranking candidates rather than selecting a single option.

Notable_points

The bill specifies the director of elections must certify the voting machines' capability to support this new procedure before it goes into effect, indicating a phased approach to implementation. This not only highlights the technical considerations involved but also sets a timeline for possible election reforms on the local and state levels. Notably, by allowing voters to rank at least six candidates, including write-ins, the bill aims to encourage broader participation and greater diversity in candidate choice.