Bill

Bill > A4963


NJ A4963

NJ A4963
Requires outer envelope for mailing of voted mail-in ballot by voter to include postage prepaid.


summary

Introduced
01/28/2019
In Committee
01/28/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2020

Introduced Session

2018-2019 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires that the cost of mailing a voted mail-in ballot by a voter to cast a vote during any election be paid for by the county and reimbursed to the county by the State. Under current law, a voter who votes by mail using a mail-in ballot is required to affix the proper postage to the outer envelope containing the inner envelope, the voted ballot, and the required certification. Counties are permitted under current law to supply a postage prepaid outer envelope, but are not required to do so. This bill would require the county clerk to affix the proper and necessary first-class or air-mail prepaid postage to the outer envelopes used by the voters to return the voted mail-in ballot prior to mailing the ballots to the voters. To avoid an unfunded mandate and a challenge under Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution, the bill requires that these costs be reimbursed to the county by the State upon application for reimbursement to the Secretary of State and approval of the application by the Department of the Treasury.

AI Summary

This bill requires the cost of mailing a voted mail-in ballot by a voter during any election to be paid for by the county and reimbursed by the state. Under current law, voters must affix the proper postage to the outer envelope containing their mail-in ballot, but counties are permitted to provide a postage prepaid outer envelope, though not required to do so. This bill would mandate that county clerks affix the necessary first-class or air-mail prepaid postage to the outer envelopes used by voters to return their voted mail-in ballots. To avoid an unfunded mandate, the bill requires the state to reimburse counties for these postage costs and any additional costs incurred upon application for reimbursement to the Secretary of State and approval by the Department of the Treasury.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/28/2019)

bill text


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