New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A1829 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	ASSEMBLY, No. 1829 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
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3	3	ASSEMBLY, No. 1829
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7	7	STATE OF NEW JERSEY
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9	9	221st LEGISLATURE
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13	13	PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
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17	17	Sponsored by: Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR. District 7 (Burlington) SYNOPSIS Directs Secretary of State to establish grant program for counties to improve paper ballot counting process; appropriates $10 million. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
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21	21	Sponsored by:
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23	23	Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
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25	25	District 7 (Burlington)
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35	35	SYNOPSIS
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37	37	Directs Secretary of State to establish grant program for counties to improve paper ballot counting process; appropriates $10 million.
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41	41	CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
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43	43	Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
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47	47	An Act establishing a grant program for improving the State's vote-by-mail process and making an appropriation. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. The Secretary of State shall establish a temporary program to provide grants to county boards of elections. The purpose of the grant program shall be for improving that county board's paper ballot counting capabilities, including the counting of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots. b. In establishing the grant program pursuant to this section, the Secretary of State shall: (1) survey each county board of elections to collect information regarding procedural and technological problems incurred during the 2020 General Election hindering the paper ballot counting process; (2) analyze the results of the survey and develop a plan to address the shortcomings that identifies concrete categories of improvement areas that can be undertaken to improve the vote-by-mail process; (3) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications; (4) establish terms and conditions for the awarding of a grant under this section, and monitor grant recipients' compliance with the terms and conditions; and (5) require the recipient of a grant to report to the secretary information relating to its use of grant funds. c. No later than three years after the effective date of this act, the Secretary of State shall submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, on the effectiveness of the grant program in improving paper ballot counting capabilities in the State. 2. There is appropriated from the State General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $10,000,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill). 3. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire upon the submittal by the secretary of the report required pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of this act. STATEMENT This bill directs the Secretary of State to establish a temporary grant program for improving the vote-by-mail process in the State. The purpose of the grant program would be for improving a county board's paper ballot counting capabilities, including the counting of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots. Under the bill, in establishing the grant program, the Secretary of State is required to: (1) survey each county board of elections to collect information regarding procedural and technological problems incurred during the 2020 General Election hindering the paper ballot counting process; (2) analyze the results of the survey and develop a plan to address the shortcomings that identifies concrete categories of improvement areas that can be undertaken to improve the vote-by-mail process; (3) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications; (4) establish terms and conditions for the awarding of a grant under this section, and monitor grant recipients' compliance with the terms and conditions; and (5) require the recipient of a grant to report to the secretary information relating to its use of grant funds. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the grant program in improving paper ballot counting capabilities in the State. Under the bill, $10,000,000 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of State to effectuate the provisions of the bill.
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49	49	An Act establishing a grant program for improving the State's vote-by-mail process and making an appropriation.
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53	53	Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
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57	57	1. a. The Secretary of State shall establish a temporary program to provide grants to county boards of elections. The purpose of the grant program shall be for improving that county board's paper ballot counting capabilities, including the counting of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots.
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59	59	b. In establishing the grant program pursuant to this section, the Secretary of State shall:
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61	61	(1) survey each county board of elections to collect information regarding procedural and technological problems incurred during the 2020 General Election hindering the paper ballot counting process;
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63	63	(2) analyze the results of the survey and develop a plan to address the shortcomings that identifies concrete categories of improvement areas that can be undertaken to improve the vote-by-mail process;
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65	65	(3) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications;
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67	67	(4) establish terms and conditions for the awarding of a grant under this section, and monitor grant recipients' compliance with the terms and conditions; and
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69	69	(5) require the recipient of a grant to report to the secretary information relating to its use of grant funds.
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71	71	c. No later than three years after the effective date of this act, the Secretary of State shall submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, on the effectiveness of the grant program in improving paper ballot counting capabilities in the State.
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75	75	2. There is appropriated from the State General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $10,000,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
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79	79	3. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire upon the submittal by the secretary of the report required pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of this act.
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85	85	STATEMENT
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89	89	This bill directs the Secretary of State to establish a temporary grant program for improving the vote-by-mail process in the State. The purpose of the grant program would be for improving a county board's paper ballot counting capabilities, including the counting of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots.
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91	91	Under the bill, in establishing the grant program, the Secretary of State is required to:
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93	93	(1) survey each county board of elections to collect information regarding procedural and technological problems incurred during the 2020 General Election hindering the paper ballot counting process;
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95	95	(2) analyze the results of the survey and develop a plan to address the shortcomings that identifies concrete categories of improvement areas that can be undertaken to improve the vote-by-mail process;
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97	97	(3) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications;
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99	99	(4) establish terms and conditions for the awarding of a grant under this section, and monitor grant recipients' compliance with the terms and conditions; and
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101	101	(5) require the recipient of a grant to report to the secretary information relating to its use of grant funds.
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103	103	The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the grant program in improving paper ballot counting capabilities in the State.
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105	105	Under the bill, $10,000,000 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of State to effectuate the provisions of the bill.