New Jersey will see six days of early voting beginning this June, doubling the previous early-voting period in non-presidential years. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)
By NIKITA BIRYUKOV
Republished with permission from New Jersey Monitor
Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed a bill that will expand early in-person voting in New Jersey primaries, starting with June’s gubernatorial and Assembly races.
The bill, which passed both chambers of the Legislature in bipartisan votes in late February, allows for six days of early voting in New Jersey primary elections, beginning one week before Election Day and running through the Sunday before Election Day.
“Millions of voters in New Jersey have taken advantage of in-person early voting since its establishment just four years ago. This bill will give voters ample time to go to the polls to ensure their voices are heard by Election Day,” Murphy said.
The expansion follows a swell of early in-person voting in the 2024 general election after years that saw little voter enthusiasm to cast ballots early and in person. Nearly 1.2 million residents cast machine ballots ahead of Election Day in November, compared to just 213,919 early in-person votes the prior year.
Under previous law, New Jersey allowed three days of early in-person voting in most primaries, with five days allotted in presidential election years. The state’s nine-day early voting period for general elections is unchanged. The three-day early voting period allowed for May municipal elections also remains the same.
The lengthened early voting period will be in effect for the primaries on June 10, when voters will select nominees for governor and all 80 seats in the General Assembly. Six Democrats and at least five Republicans are vying for a spot on November’s ballot to succeed Murphy, who cannot seek a third term this year.
New Jersey first allowed early in-person voting in 2021’s general election under a bill signed that year.
“This law reflects our unwavering commitment to strengthening voter access and modernizing our election system, and I am proud to see it become a reality for the people of our state,” bill sponsor Sen. Brian Stack, D-Hudson, said in a statement.
The law appropriates $6 million for the early voting expansion and allows the Treasury to appropriate additional funds as needed to meet local and county governments’ early-voting expenses.
