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Bill > S3207
NJ S3207
NJ S3207Permits members of NJ National Guard to be election workers under certain circumstances.
summary
Introduced
01/28/2026
01/28/2026
In Committee
01/28/2026
01/28/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill permits members of NJ National Guard to be members of a district board of elections, also known as election workers, under certain circumstances. Under the bill, the Secretary of State and Adjutant General are required to enter into a memorandum of understanding or other written agreement for the purposes of permitting any member of the NJ National Guard to serve as an election worker. The bill provides that the memorandum of understanding or other written agreement required under the bill would be revised and updated as necessary, on at least an annual basis. Under the bill, if within three weeks of a general election or a primary election for a general election a county board of elections determines that the required number of members of a district board would not be met pursuant to the provisions of R.S.19:6-1, the county board of elections may submit a request to the Department of Military Affairs for members of the New Jersey National Guard to serve as members of a district board. Upon the request from a county board of elections for members of the New Jersey National Guard to serve as members of a district board, the Department of Military Affairs may solicit members of the New Jersey National Guard who are willing to serve as a member of a district. Under the bill, the process for submitting a request and for soliciting National Guard members would be in accordance with the memorandum of understanding or other written agreement by the Secretary of State and the Adjutant General. The bill prohibits any member of the New Jersey National Guard serving as a member of a district board under the bill from being in uniform and requires the member to be in civilian clothing while carrying out the duties and responsibilities of a district board member. The bill provides that, in addition to the regular compensation of a member of the NJ National Guard, a member of the National Guard serving as an election worker under the memorandum of understanding or other written agreement by the Secretary of State and the Adjutant General would receive the election worker payment amount under current law. The bill also clarifies that nothing in the bill is to be interpreted to prohibit a member of the NJ National Guard to serve as an election worker in a personal capacity and in accordance with the qualifications provided in current law.
AI Summary
This bill allows members of the New Jersey National Guard to serve as election workers, also known as members of a district board of elections, under specific conditions. The Secretary of State and the Adjutant General (the commanding officer of the National Guard) must create a formal agreement, updated at least annually, to facilitate this. If a county election board anticipates not having enough workers for an upcoming general or primary election, they can ask the Department of Military Affairs for National Guard members to fill the roles. The process for requesting and finding volunteers will follow the agreement between the Secretary of State and the Adjutant General. Importantly, any National Guard member serving as an election worker must do so in civilian clothing, not their uniform, and will receive their regular National Guard pay plus the standard election worker compensation, without this extra pay affecting their unemployment insurance benefits. This bill also clarifies that National Guard members can still work as election officials in their personal capacity, as long as they meet the existing qualifications.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/28/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3207 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3500/3207_I1.HTM |
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