New Jersey Senate Bill SCR36

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Proposes constitutional amendment to provide registered voters with right to cast ballot in person at polling place on election day; requires mail-in ballot request before voter receives mail-in ballot.

Impact

The implications of SCR36 are significant, as it would amend Article II, Section I of the New Jersey Constitution to embed these voting rights into the fabric of state law. By doing so, the amendment would serve to enhance voter engagement by safeguarding the option for in-person voting and clearly delineating the process for mail-in ballots. This could lead to increased attendance at polling places, as voters would have constitutional backing to vote in-person, potentially impacting election results by increasing participation from demographics that favor this method.

Summary

SCR36, also known as the Voting Rights Constitutional Amendment, proposes to amend the New Jersey Constitution by granting registered voters the explicit right to cast their ballots in person on election day at their designated polling places. This amendment aims to reinforce the in-person voting tradition and ensure that qualified voters are guaranteed the opportunity to participate in elections without constraints that may arise from potential future legislation or executive orders. Another crucial provision of SCR36 is that mail-in ballots will only be distributed to voters who submit a formal request, thereby eliminating the option for automatic ballot mailings to all registered voters.

Contention

Notably, the bill aims to prevent the state legislature or the governor from limiting or denying the right to vote in person or from automatically sending mail-in ballots without a formal request. This introduces a contentious debate over voter accessibility, particularly in the context of ongoing discussions about election integrity and the varying state laws governing voting procedures. Critics might argue that the restrictions on mail-in voting could disenfranchise those who rely on mail-in ballots due to their circumstances, such as geographic location or health issues, thus sparking discussions about the balance between securing electoral integrity and ensuring broad voter access.