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Bill > S2241


NJ S2241

NJ S2241
Provides police officers may be present at senior residential center or school being used as polling place under certain circumstances; requires school to establish election day security plan.


summary

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

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill provides that one or more police officers may be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place or school if there is a request by the center or school. This bill clarifies that the officers must be in plain clothes in both senior residential centers and schools. Under current law, police officers are permitted to be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place. The provision of current law that prohibits any such officer from interfering with any person present at the location for the purpose of voting will remain in place. This bill also requires the center notify the district board if the center requests a police officer, the district board then will notify the county board of elections or superintendent of elections who will notify the Secretary of State. This bill requires all schools serving as polling places to develop security plans to prevent voters from having access to or the ability to interact with students. The security plan would include a designated area in which voting must take place that must be locked and separate from the rest of the school if school is in session during the time an election is being held, provided the school has the ability to fulfil the mandate. This bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Secretary of State to notify schools of the new mandate as soon as the bill becomes law. Under the bill, the requirement for a security plan would take effect beginning for the first election occurring after the bill's enactment, and for all elections thereafter.

AI Summary

This bill allows police officers to be present at senior residential centers or schools that are being used as polling places, but only if the center or school requests their presence, and these officers must be in plain clothes and cannot interfere with voters. If a senior residential center requests an officer, it must notify the local election board, which then informs higher election officials up to the Secretary of State. For schools serving as polling places, this bill mandates the creation of security plans to keep voters separate from students, including designating a locked voting area if school is in session and the school can accommodate this. The Secretaries of Education and State will inform schools of this new requirement, which will apply to all elections after the bill becomes law.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

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

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