Caldwell Ballots Will Look Different For 2024 Primary Election

CALDWELL, NJ — Essex County has released its sample ballots for the 2024 primary election, including Caldwell. And longtime residents in the borough will notice something different when they cast their votes this year.

This year’s primary election will see a significant change due to a lawsuit against a controversial political ballot design known as “the party/county line.” Under the old layout, most counties in New Jersey organized their ballots around a slate of party-endorsed candidates, instead of designing them around the office being sought. According to advocates, voters often had a hard time determining which candidates were running for each office – giving a huge advantage to those who land on the county line.

A recent court ruling has put the kibosh on the use of the party line for Democratic candidates in this year’s primary election, although a federal judge said it doesn’t apply to Republican Party candidates – a decision that some GOP pundits have criticized.

Now, county clerks are required to use an “office block” design, which advocates say is fairer for all candidates. See Related: Demise Of ‘The Line’: Essex County Politicos React To Landmark Ruling

It’s worth noting that despite the change to this year’s ballot layout, the candidates who have earned the endorsement of the Essex County Democratic Committee each appear across the first boxes – putting the party-chosen candidates atop the ballot.

See a 2024 sample primary ballot for Caldwell below, or view it online here.

See a 2023 primary ballot in Caldwell for comparison below, or view it online here.

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