Chapter 5 - Elections

Question 1

Where are the statutory references for School Board Elections found?

Answer 1

Statutory references for School Board Elections can be found in N.J.S.A 18A

Question 2

Where are the statutory references for non-partisan elections found

Answer 2

Statutory references for non-partisan elections can be found in N.J.S.A 40:45

Question 3

Where are the statutory references for the duties and responsibilities of a Municipal Clerk as regards elections held in New Jersey found.

Answer 3

Statutory references for the duties and responsibilities of a Municipal Clerk as regards elections held in New Jersey can be found in N.J.S.A 19

Question 4

When are School Board Elections held?

Answer 4

School Board Elections are held the third Tuesday in April or during the General Election.

Question 5

When are Non-partisan Municipal Elections held?

Answer 5

Non-partisan municipal elections are held on the second Tuesday in May.

Question 6

When are Fire District Elections held?

Answer 6

Fire District elections are held on the third Saturday of February.

Question 7

When are Non-partisan Municipal Run-off Elections held

Answer 7

Non-partisan municipal run-off elections are held when no candidate for a non-partisan municipal office succeeds in attaining a majority of votes cast 4 weeks after the municipal election (in June or in December)

Question 8

Define “non-partisan”.

Answer 8

Non-partisan means not affiliated with any political party.

Question 9

True or False:

Provisional voting permits voters to use voting machines.

Answer 9

False!

Provisional voting is by paper ballot.

Question 10

As part of the Fail Safe Voting procedure, if a voter’s registration can not be confirmed, what will be required of the voter in order to vote?

Answer 10

If a voter’s registration cannot be confirmed as part of the Fail Safe Voting procedure, voter must go to Superior Court in order to get a court order to vote.

Question 11

What is bracketing?

Answer 11

Candidates with a common designation may be grouped together, which is called bracketing.

Question 12

What is another name for irregular ballots?

Answer 12

Write in ballots is another name for irregular ballots.

Question 13

John and Mary are candidates for Dogcatcher and their names appears on the ballot for the General Election. John and Mary receive 413 and 410 votes respectively cast under their ballot position. John also receives an additional 6 write-in votes. Who wins and why?

Answer 13

Mary wins.

When a person whose name appears on the ballot at either the primary or general elections and receives irregular ballots, the irregular ballots will not be added to the person’s total votes.

Question 14

Define “electioneering”.

Answer 14

Electioneering is the interference with the conduct of an election.

Question 15

When is the deadline to register to vote?

Answer 15

The deadline to register to vote is 21 days before an election.

Question 16

What are the three requirements to register to vote.

Answer 16

The requirements to register to vote are
Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.
Residency: Must reside in NJ at least 30 days prior to the election .
Age: Must be 18 at time of the next ensuing election.

Question 17

How many members are there on a Board of Fire Commissioners?

Answer 17

Board of Fire Commissioners consists of five members.

Question 18

True or False:

All municipalities have fire districts.

Answer 18

False!

Not all municipalities have fire districts.

Question 19

What state agency is responsible for the enforcement of the NJ Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act?

Answer 19

NJ ELEC - New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is the state agency responsible for the enforcement of the NJ Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act

Question 20

Who may request a recount?

Answer 20

Any candidate and/or ten or more voters of any election who have reason to believe an error has been made in the counting of the vote may request a recount.

Question 21

What is the deadline for requesting a recount?

Answer 21

The deadline for requesting a recount is fifteen days after the election in question.

Question 22

Where must all recount requests be made?

Answer 22

All recount requests must be made by applying to a judge of Superior Court assigned to the county of that election.

Question 23

Define “spoiled ballot”.

Answer 23

A spoiled ballot is one that has been torn, marred and unable to be used.

Question 24

True or False:

Electioneering laws prohibit the display or distribution of any circular or printer matter, offer any suggestion, or solicit any support, for any candidate, party, or public question within a distance of 150 feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room.

Answer 24

False!

Electioneering laws prohibit the display or distribution of any circular or printer matter, offer any suggestion, or solicit any support, for any candidate, party, or public question within a distance of 100 feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room.

Question 25

What is an “chronological index”?

Answer 25

A chronological index is a election timeline issued by the Secretary of State.

Question 26

What is the term of a District board member?

Answer 26

District board members are appointed for a 1 year term (or until replaced).

Question 27

What title is given to the Chair of the District Board

Answer 27

The title of judge is bestowed on the Chair of the District Board.

Another member, who must be of the other party will receive the title of Inspector.

Question 28

What is the first thing you see when entering a polling place?

Answer 28

An American flag must be displayed at the outside entrance to each polling place during the hours of the election.

Question 29

Name five duties of a District Board members.

Answer 29

Duties of District Board workers include:

Arriving at least 45 minutes before the polls open to the public.

Prepare the polling place for voting.

Must open polls at 6am and closing at 8pm
(except school board elections) and keep them open during the hours of the election.

Verify voter registration.

Maintain order at the poll.

Picking up and returning signature copy registers.

Displaying Voting and Registration instructions. (Demonstrating voting process

Displaying the American flag

(In some municipalities it is the responsibility of the district board members to keep, store, repair and deliver polling booths.

Question 30

If a voter would like to vote by mail, who receives the application?

Answer 30

If a voter would like to vote by mail, the application is sent to the County Clerk.

Question 31

When is the deadline for a vote by mail application sent via regular mail?

Answer 31

Vote by mail applications must be received no later than 7 days prior to the election.

Question 32

What is the deadline for in-person vote by mail applications?

Answer 32

In-person vote by mail applications must be presented no later than 3pm on the day prior to the election.

Question 33

Name the three types of challengers.

Answer 33

The three types of challengers are authorized challengers for respective political parties, for candidates and opponents/proponents of a public question.

Question 34

Name the four powers of a challenger.

Answer 34

The four powers of a challenger is the power to challenge the right to vote of any person, May ask all necessary questions to determine the right to vote, may be present while votes are being counted, may challenge the counting.

Question 35

What is the deadline to file a change in party registration?

Answer 35

The deadline to file a change in party registration is 55 days prior to the Primary election.

Question 36

What is the deadline for the filing of petitions to run for non-partisan and partisan municipal office?

Answer 36

The deadline for the filing of petitions to run for office is 4 p.m. 64 days prior to the non-partisan municipal election and major party primary election.

Independents must file nominating petitions by 4pm on the date of major party primaries.

Question 37

Who receives nominating petitions for non partisan municipal elections?

Answer 37

The municipal clerk receives nominating petitions for non-partisan municipal elections.

Question 38

Who receives nominating petitions for partisan municipal elections?

Answer 38

The municipal clerk receives the nominating petitions for Republican and Democratic candidates.

The County Clerk receives the nominating petitions for Independent Canidates

Question 39

What are the three slogan limitations for non-partisan candidates?

Answer 39

Non-partisan slogans have the following limitations:

• no more than 6 words.
• may not indicate any party affiliation
• if two candidates choose the same slogan the first to file gets it. The other must choose another designation

Question 40

What is the deadline for the filing of petitions to run for school trustee?

Answer 40

The deadline for the filing of petitions to run for school board trustee is 4 p.m. 50 days prior to the school board election in April.

The deadline for the filing of petitions to run/ for school board trustee is 4 p.m. the last Monday in July for school board elections held in November.

Question 41

Who receives nominating petitions for school board elections?

Answer 41

School Board Secretary receives petitions for school board elections held in April.

County Clerks receive petitions for school board elections held in November.

Question 42

What is the deadline for the filing of petitions to run for fire district commissioner?

Answer 42

The deadline for filing petitions to run for fire district commissioner is 29 days prior to the election.

Question 43

Who receives nominating petitions for fire district elections?

Answer 43

The Clerk of the Board of Fire District Commissioners receives the petitions for fire district elections.

Question 44

True or false:

All petitions for public office are single spaced.

Answer 44

False!

All petitions for public office are double spaced.

Question 45

True or False:

A petitioner filing a petition with less than the required amount of signature shall be afforded 3 days to cure the shortage.

Answer 45

False!

Once filed the number of signatures cannot be changed.

Question 46

Name three reasons for holding a special election.

Answer 46

The following are reason why a special election might be held:

Fill vacancies
Recall elections
Initiatives
Referendum
Create Fire Districts
Exceed budget cap
Abandonment of current form of government

Question 47

Name the three matters not subject to initiative or referendum.

Answer 47

The annual budget, matters over which the governing body has no control and matters which would permanently tie the hands of the governing body are matters outside the bounds of initiative and referendum.

Question 48

Define “Recall Election Official”

Answer 48

The Recall Election Official authorized by law to receive nominating petition for an elected office.

Question 49

True or False:

All municipalities have the power of the recall.

Answer 49

True!

All municipalities have the power of the recall.

Question 50

Who draws up the ward boundaries?

Answer 50

Ward boundaries are drawn by the Board of Ward Commissioners.

Question 51

Who makes up the Board of Ward Commissioners?

Answer 51

The Board of Ward Commssioners are made up of the County Board of Elections and the Municipal Clerk.

Question 52

What are the three requirements for ward boundaries?

Answer 52

The three requirement for ward boundaries are:

They must be compact.
They must be contiguous.
They must equalize population. (10% difference between the most populous ward and the least populous ward.

Question 53

When are ward boundaries redrawn?

Answer 53

Ward boundaries are redrawn within three months of official promulgation by the Governor of the decennial census.

Question 54

Who draws up the polling district lines?

Answer 54

The polling district boundaries are drawn by the County Board of Elections.

Question 55

When does law mandate the redrawing of poling district boundaries?

Answer 55

Whenever, in two consecutive more than 750 or less than 250 votes are cast.

Question 56

During what period are the redrawing of polling district boundaries prohibited?

Answer 56

During the period commencing 75 days before a primary through the general election the redrawing of polling district boundaries are prohibited.

Question 57

Spell out the timeline for a recall

Answer 57

Recall timeline is as follows:

Recalls are permitted after the 50th day preceding the elected official 1st year of their current term.

Notice of Intention is filed with the Recall Election official.

Recall Election official has three days to review Notice of Intention.

Upon approval, Recall Election Official has five days to notify elected official to be recalled

Within 5 day Election official acknowledges the notice served and may choose to answer.

Within two days of the expiration time period, Recall Election official shall certify that no such answer was filed

Within two weeks of approval, REO must publish NOI

REO has ten business days to certify the validity of the NOI.

Within 9 days after the fifth business day following the service of NOI certification, parties man nominate by petition candidate to succeed the official being recalled.

Challenges by the elected official or the recall committee are permitted within ten days of the certification.

Petitioners have 160 days from the date of certification of the NOI to collect signatures.

Question 58

Name the four duties of a Recall Election Official

Answer 58

The four duties of a REO are:

• Review NOI for compliance.
• Calculate cost of a special election.
• If NOI is in compliance, return certified copy to recall committee.
• If not in compliance return NOI with explanation of reasons.

Question 59

How many members sit on a Charter Study Commission?

Answer 59

Five members sit on a Charter Study Commission?

Question 60

What are the two methods to create a Charter Study Committee?

Answer 60

Charter Study Commissions may be created by ordinance or by direct petition

Question 61

What are four duties of a Charter Study Commissioner?

Answer 61

The four duties of a Charter Study Commissioner are:

• Study the form of government
• Compare it with other available forms.
• Determine if the government can be made more responsive.
• Determine if a new form would be more economical.