New Jersey Assembly Bill A4846

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 9/23/24
• Refer: 9/23/24

Caption

Removes provisions for acceptance of mail-in ballots received after election day; increases penalties for violation of ballot messenger and bearer limits and candidate prohibition.

Impact

The proposed law seeks to enhance the integrity of the electoral process by eliminating potential ambiguities and extending timelines that could be exploited. Additionally, it amends the penalties for violations related to ballot messengers and bearers. Under the current law, these violations are classified as third-degree crimes; however, the new legislation escalates the consequences to second-degree crimes for individuals exceeding the permissible number of voters they can serve or for candidates acting as messengers or bearers, with penalties including potential disenfranchisement.

Summary

Assembly Bill A4846 proposes significant changes to the mail-in ballot acceptance process and increases penalties associated with specific electoral violations. The bill removes the existing provisions that permitted mail-in ballots postmarked by election day to be counted if received within a 144-hour timeframe after polls closed, as well as allowing those received within 48 hours without a postmark. Instead, mail-in ballots received after polls close would no longer be valid, effectively tightening the rules surrounding mail-in voting.

Contention

The changes proposed in A4846 have sparked debate regarding their implications for voter accessibility and election integrity. Proponents of the bill argue that reducing the acceptance window for mail-in ballots will minimize opportunities for fraud and ensure that all ballots cast are received in a timely manner. Conversely, critics contend that such restrictions disproportionately affect voters who rely on mail-in ballots, particularly the elderly and disabled, who may require more time to submit their votes. This balancing act between safeguarding election integrity and ensuring voter access is at the forefront of the discussion surrounding this legislation.