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Bill > S585


NJ S585

NJ S585
Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill establishes "The Voter Convenience Act," to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. Under current law, a polling place is used by the voters of several election districts. When voters walk into their assigned polling place, they must then go to the table for their assigned election district, and vote on that district's voting machine. Under this bill, the Secretary of State in conjunction with all county clerks, county boards of elections, and superintendents of elections, are directed to develop uniform guidelines to enable a county board of elections and superintendent of elections, at their discretion, to implement a process by which the voters of each municipality in that county may be permitted to cast their vote at any polling place in their municipality on the day of any election. Under the bill, the district boards of elections at each polling place in a municipality would be organized at the polling place in a manner that permits any member of a district board to check-in any voter walking into the polling place within their municipality, using electronic poll books. Under this process, the voter would be able to vote at any voting machine at the polling place, using the correct ballot for that voter, which would identify the voter's election district. To the extent made possible by available technology, the requirement to issue a voting authority to each voter would be replaced by a suitable procedure. The bill would allow this process to also be used to establish countywide polling places, whereby a voter who is a resident of that county would be able to cast their vote. This bill also amends current law to allow the county boards of elections to determine the number of district board members needed at each polling place where the bill's provisions are implemented. The bill amends current law to include a website that lists the location of the polling places under the bill on the primary election and general election sample ballots.

AI Summary

This bill, known as "The Voter Convenience Act," aims to modernize voting by allowing registered voters to cast their ballots at any polling place within their municipality on election day, rather than being restricted to a specific assigned location. Under the current system, voters must go to their designated polling place and then find the table for their specific election district to vote. This new act directs the Secretary of State, in collaboration with county clerks and election officials, to create uniform guidelines for implementing this change. These guidelines will enable county election boards to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality, using electronic poll books to check in voters and ensure they receive the correct ballot for their election district, even if they are at a different polling place. The bill also allows for the possibility of countywide polling places where any resident of the county can vote at designated locations. Additionally, it grants county boards of elections the flexibility to determine the number of election workers needed at each polling place where these new provisions are in effect and requires that sample ballots for primary and general elections include a website listing all available polling places under this act.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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