New Jersey Assembly Bill A3701

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/22
• Refer: 3/24/22

Caption

Requires Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform audit of voter registration records in Statewide Voter Registration System.

Impact

This legislation has implications for state laws relating to voter registration and election management. By requiring a systematic audit of the voter registration system, A3701 seeks to enhance the reliability of voter records and reduce the potential for ineligible individuals to participate in elections. The audit results will enable state officials to evaluate and improve existing procedures aimed at removing ineligible registrants, thereby reinforcing the notion of fair elections and electoral integrity. This move aligns with ongoing national discussions regarding the need for stronger checks within voter registration systems across various states.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3701, introduced on March 24, 2022, mandates that the New Jersey Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration conduct an audit of voter registration records in the Statewide Voter Registration System. This audit must be performed within 90 days of the bill's effective date and aims to identify any records of individuals who are ineligible to vote, as well as instances of attempts to register by such individuals, whether successful or not. This requirement reflects a broader effort to ensure the integrity of voter registration processes in New Jersey.

Contention

The bill may face contention from various stakeholders. Proponents, including supporters of election integrity initiatives, favor the audits as a necessary step to ensure that only eligible voters are registered and that the electoral process is not compromised. Conversely, critics may argue that such audits could lead to disenfranchisement of eligible voters, particularly if the audit processes are not clearly defined and communicated. There is concern that the implementation could disproportionately affect certain demographics if ineligible registrations are conflated with the legitimate attempts of eligible residents, creating a potential for controversy within the community.