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NJ A1935

NJ A1935
Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State.


summary

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

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any financial ties prior to approval by the Secretary of State. As amended, the bill would require those vendors to report significant changes in ownership or shareholder status on an ongoing basis. Currently, voting system vendors must meet a number of requirements prior to approval and certification of voting systems in the State. However, the vendors are not required to disclose financial and investment ties. This bill would require voting system vendors to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies, or in the vendor's parent company. The bill would also require changes of five percent or greater in ownership or shareholder status to be reported. This bill is a response to the recent elections security issues. Several states have taken steps to address potential security risks. In Maryland, the state moved to require voting system vendors to disclose its investment ties following the revelation that a former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, owned the firm which financed the buyout of Maryland's voting system vendor. In June of 2019, North Carolina's State Board of Elections voted unanimously for each vendor seeking certification in the state to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies or in the vendor's parent company. This bill draws on the actions of these states to ensure the security of the elections of the State of New Jersey.

AI Summary

This bill requires companies that provide electronic voting systems to disclose their ownership structure before their systems can be approved by the Secretary of State, a process currently in place but without this financial disclosure requirement. Specifically, vendors must reveal any owners or shareholders who hold a five percent or greater stake in the company, its subsidiaries, or its parent company. Furthermore, vendors must continuously report any significant changes, also of five percent or greater, in their ownership or shareholder status. This measure, which defines an "electronic voting system vendor" as any entity seeking certification for such systems in the state, is a response to recent election security concerns and follows similar actions taken by other states like Maryland and North Carolina to address potential risks.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (5)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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