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Bill > A1555

NJ A1555

NJ A1555
Allows voter to cure mail-in ballot due to certain envelope deficiencies or missing certificate, and to vote by provisional ballot following receipt of cure letter.

summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
01/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
01/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill allows a voter to cure the voter's mail-in ballot if the voter failed to insert the voted mail-in ballot in the inner envelope, if the voter failed to sign or complete the certificate on the inner envelope, if the inner or outer envelope is missing or unsealed, or if the seal appears to be tampered with. Under current law, each mail-in voter is required to complete the voter's mail-in ballot and insert it in the inner envelope, which includes the Certificate of Mail-in Voter that is attached to the flap of the inner envelope. The voter must seal the inner envelope, sign the certificate, and then place the inner envelope containing the mail-in ballot inside the outer envelope for mailing to the county board of elections. Under current law, when a ballot would be disqualified because of a missing or discrepant signature, the voter is permitted to cure that defect. Under current law, ballots are disqualified if they arrive at the county board of elections without being enclosed inside the inner envelope, if the certificate is not signed, if the inner or outer envelope is missing or unsealed, or if the seal appears to be tampered with. Voters who return mail-in ballots with these deficiencies are not given the opportunity to cure their ballots in order to have them counted. Only voters whose ballots are disqualified on the basis of a missing or discrepant signature are currently allowed to cure their ballots. The bill would give the voter the opportunity to submit a new mail-in ballot if the voter failed to enclose the ballot in the inner envelope, sign the certificate, if the voter failed to provide or properly seal the inner or outer envelope, or if the seal appears to be tampered with. The county board of elections is directed to provide the voter with a new ballot and a cure letter informing the voter of the defect. Under the bill, the voter has the opportunity to cure the defect by submitting the new completed ballot by mail, returning it to the county board of elections in person, or placing it into a ballot drop box, in accordance with the same timeframes applicable to the return of completed mail-in ballots provided under current law. The bill would also permit a voter who receives a cure letter as a result of such defects, or due to a missing or discrepant signature, in the submitted mail-in ballot to vote in-person either during the early voting period or on election day using a provisional ballot instead of submitting a new mail-in ballot.

AI Summary

This bill expands the opportunities for voters to correct errors on their mail-in ballots, ensuring that minor mistakes don't prevent their vote from being counted. Previously, only voters with signature discrepancies could "cure" their ballots, meaning they could correct the issue to have their vote counted. Now, voters can also cure their mail-in ballots if they failed to insert the ballot into the inner envelope, did not sign or complete the required certificate on the inner envelope, or if the inner or outer envelope is missing, unsealed, or appears to have been tampered with. In such cases, election officials will send the voter a new ballot and a "cure letter" explaining the problem, and the voter can then submit the corrected ballot by mail, in person, or via a ballot drop box within the same deadlines as regular mail-in ballots. Furthermore, if a voter receives a cure letter for any of these issues, or for a signature problem, they now have the option to vote in person using a provisional ballot, either during early voting or on Election Day, instead of having to fix their mail-in ballot. A provisional ballot is a temporary ballot cast when there's a question about a voter's eligibility at the polling place, which is later reviewed to determine if it should be counted.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.322. (on 01/13/2026)
(2 Companion Bills)

bill text

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1555
BillText https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A2000/1555_I1.HTM
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