New Jersey Assembly Bill A2236

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/7/22

Caption

Allows county boards of elections to begin canvassing early votes and mail-in ballots before election day under certain conditions.

Impact

The introduction of A2236 could lead to a more efficient electoral process by allowing the preliminary counting of ballots before election day, which might expedite the reporting of results. By easing the timeline for when votes can be canvassed, the bill is expected to enhance the preparedness of election boards. The Secretary of State will create guidelines to ensure that the canvassing process maintains the security and confidentiality of the votes, thus addressing necessary election integrity concerns.

Summary

Assembly Bill A2236 proposes to amend current voting laws in New Jersey by allowing county boards of elections to commence the canvassing of early votes and mail-in ballots prior to election day under specific conditions. Currently, early votes cannot be canvassed until election day, and mail-in ballots can only be canvassed on that day. The bill seeks to change this by permitting canvassing to start 24 hours after the conclusion of the early voting period for early votes, and up to ten days before election day for mail-in ballots. This adjustment aims to streamline the election process and potentially reduce the workload on election officials on polling day.

Contention

Despite the intended benefits, the bill may face opposition concerning the implications for voter privacy and the potential for premature disclosures of voting results. Critics could argue that canvassing before election day undermines the integrity of the voting process and could expose the election to manipulation or bias. Stakeholders in election security may express concerns over whether procedural safeguards are adequate to protect the confidentiality of early votes and mail-in ballots, thus raising crucial discussions about balancing efficiency with electoral integrity.