Elections Class Flashcards
What is the Elections Statute?
N.J.S.A. 19
What is the Non-Partisan Elections Statute?
N.J.S.A. 40:45
What is the School Board Elections Statute?
N.J.S.A 18A
The Statutory Duties of the Municipal Clerk: (N.J.S.A. 40A: 9-133)
- Chief Administrative Officer in all elections held in the municipality;
- Chief Registrar of Voters in the municipality (Subject to Title 19)
Core Duties of the Municipal Clerk:
- Voter Registration-qualifications, deadlines;
- Polling Places-Deadlines;
- Time polls open;
- Ballot-types;
- Dates of Primary, Municipal, General & School Board, Special;
- Petitions;
- Party Affiliation;
- Fail Safe Voters- Use of Provisional Ballot
The Statutory references for the Municipal Clerk for elections
- N.J.S.A. 19 (Title 19) (Voter’s Act)- Duties and Responsibilities as regards to elections held in New Jersey;
- N.J.S.A. 40:45- Non-Partisan Elections;
- N.J.S.A. 18A- School Board Elections
What is the “Chronological Index”?
A “handy reference guide,” which is posted annually on the New Jersey Division of Elections’ Website. (County Clerks will provide Municipal Clerks a calendar of dates)
What is the “Study Guide”?
Reference book which contains some of the duties/responsibilities of the Municipal Clerk regarding elections
NJ has taken several steps to insure and ease the path to the voting booth:
- Provisional Ballots;
- Emergency Ballots;
- Vote by Mail;
- Emergency Voting Order- Superior Court;
- Removed Resident- Presidential Election;
- Military Ballot;
- Overseas Federal Election Voter
Partisan?
- Belongs to a political party; Democrat or Republican;
- Affiliates when voting in Primary Election;
- Affiliation card must be completed at registration or 55 days prior to Primary Election
Non-Partisan?
- No affiliation with a political party;
- May elections, there is no primary. (P.L. 2009, Chapter 196 provides for this election to be held in November, at the time of the General Election if required Ordinance is past (Must wait ten (10) years to change back to May.*
- Main reason to save taxpayers
Who is eligible to register and vote? (N.J.S.A. 19:31.5)
- A person who will be eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of the next ensuing election;
- A person who is a US citizen;
- A person who is a resident of the State of NJ and the County at least thirty (30) days before the election
When to register? (N.J.S.A. 19:31-6.1)
The deadline to register is twenty-one (21) days before the election. A voter may register after the deadline, but should be advised that will not be able to vote in the election immediately forthcoming, but will be eligible to vote in elections held thereafter.
Is a voters’ registration permanent in NJ?
Yes, as long as the voter remains at the same address they are registered at. If a voter moves within the County they must file a change of address notice with the County Board of Elections. If the voter moves to another County or State a new registration must be completed.
A Paper Ballot usually means?
“A problem Ballot”
Who has to abide by Deadlines?
- Person(s) who want to register for the first time;
- Person(s) who move from one county to another before the close of the registration deadline;
- Person(s) who move from another state to NJ.
Provisional Voting:
Provisional Ballot + Affirmative Statement
is a means of voting by “Paper Ballot”, at the polls when there may be a question regarding voter eligibility; it is a means that allows for confirmation of registration, residency and eligibility before the vote is counted. Also known (AKA) as a “Fail Safe Voting”
Fail Safe Voting:
At the polls- a. The Voter will go to the polling place of the voting district to which the voter has moved to get permission to vote through the provisional voting procedure; b. The District Board Worker (DBW) shall receive verification from the Board of Elections or the Superintendent of Elections to confirm that the voter is indeed a registered voter in the county; c. If the Voter’s registration is confirmed: 1. Voter makes a written affirmation regarding the change of address; 2. DBW provides registrant with provisional ballot and affirmation statement; affirmation statement must be completed and returned with the completed provisional ballot to the DBW. The Affirmation Statement constitutes a transfer to the registrant’s new residency for any subsequent election; d. 1. If page in the registration book is flagged: If the voter has not moved, voter completes an Affirmation of address form and votes at the polls. 2. If a Voter
