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Bill > A3666


NJ A3666

NJ A3666
Permits use of instant run-off voting in balloting for certain local elective public offices.


summary

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

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill permits the governing body of a municipality governed by the provisions of the "Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law," N.J.S.A.40:45-5 et seq., to allow the use of instant run-off voting in elections at which a candidate is to be elected to a local elective public office filled by one individual. Instant run-off voting is a system of voting which allows each voter to vote for the voter's preferred candidate as well as specific alternative choices from among the other candidates appearing on the ballot for that office in order of preference. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast for candidates for that office, the candidate receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated and the second choice votes for that candidate counted, with the process continuing until one candidate is a majority winner. The Secretary of State would be responsible for promulgating rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the bill's purposes. Instant run-off voting would not be implemented until the Secretary of State determines that voting equipment and ballots have been updated to accommodate this process.

AI Summary

This bill allows municipalities operating under the "Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law" to adopt a system called instant run-off voting for elections where only one candidate is to be elected to a local public office. Instant run-off voting, also known as ranked-choice voting, lets voters rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters' second choices. This process continues, eliminating the last-place candidate and reallocating their votes, until one candidate secures a majority. The Secretary of State is tasked with creating the necessary rules and regulations for this system, and it cannot be implemented until voting equipment and ballots are updated to support it.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

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

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