New Jersey Assembly Bill A428

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

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

A428 amends existing statutes to require monthly death record reporting to both the commissioner of registration and the respective county clerk. As a result of this bill, local clerks will have increased responsibility and authority in handling voter registration records linked to deceased individuals. The intention is to minimize the risk of fraudulent voting by ensuring that those who have died are promptly removed from active voter registrations, ultimately promoting the integrity of the electoral process in New Jersey.

Summary

Assembly Bill A428 mandates that county clerks receive timely information regarding deaths within their jurisdiction, enhancing the process of maintaining the Statewide voter registration system's death file. Under the proposed legislation, the county clerk will become an active participant by investigating death records and reporting findings to the commissioner of registration. This process ensures that records of individuals who have passed are efficiently and accurately transferred to the death file, thereby streamlining voter registration maintenance practices.

Contention

The bill also introduces additional avenues for family members to facilitate the removal of deceased voters from the active file by allowing next of kin to submit a notarized form alongside the death certificate to the local officials. This provision could garner support as it involves families directly in the process but may also prompt debate regarding privacy and the administration of sensitive personal information. The use of notarized documents by funeral directors and nursing home administrators introduces another layer, potentially impacting operational protocols and resources in these settings.