New Jersey Senate Bill S2820

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/9/22
• Refer: 6/9/22

Caption

Requires appropriate official file information on deaths in county with county clerk; provides additional ways for transferring deceased voter's record to Statewide voter registration system's death file.

Impact

The implementation of S2820 is expected to improve the accuracy of the Statewide voter registration system by creating a more robust and efficient process for tracking deceased voters. By facilitating communication between county clerks and the commissioner of registration regarding death records, the bill seeks to ensure that voter registration lists are consistently updated, thus helping to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. This move also emphasizes the importance of involving local authorities in the management of voter registration, potentially leading to more localized oversight of voter data.

Summary

Senate Bill S2820, introduced in New Jersey, aims to enhance the process of updating the Statewide voter registration system by ensuring that county clerks receive timely information regarding the deaths of registered voters. The bill modifies the current reporting requirements for deaths by adding that the county clerk must also be informed when a resident dies. Previously, municipal health officers or other officials would file death records solely with the commissioner of registration. This amendment to the law aims to streamline the transfer of deceased voters from active voter rolls to the designated death file, reducing potential discrepancies in voter registration records.

Contention

While the bill is primarily designed to improve administrative efficiency, there may be some concerns related to privacy and the handling of sensitive information about deceased individuals. Stakeholders may debate the adequacy of safeguards in place to protect this information during the transition process. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the potential administrative burden on county clerks who will now have increased responsibilities in investigating and transferring deceased voters' records, necessitating further resources or training to handle these new tasks.