Coronavirus Alters NJ Election Procedure, Moves Election Dates

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy issued an executive order designed to mitigate the spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 while ensuring voters can exercise their right to vote without risking their health and safety.

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“As the coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold, we must take aggressive and swift action to help mitigate further spread and flatten the curve,” said Murphy. “My top priority is to keep New Jerseyans healthy and safe during this pandemic, and these new measures will ensure that all New Jersey voters are able to safely exercise their right to vote and be engaged in our democracy.”

The executive order temporarily changes certain election procedures and changes the date of upcoming elections in an effort to protect voters and ensure fairness to candidates during this unprecedented crisis.

The changes are as follows:

• Candidates filing petitions for the March 30 deadline shall be able to submit their petitions online, in addition to in person, and the Secretary of State shall create an online form that allows voters to submit their signatures on petitions electronically.
• The March 21 special election in Fire District 1 for the Township of Old Bridge and the March 31 special elections in the Township of West Amwell and Atlantic City shall be postponed until May 12, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
• The school board elections scheduled for April 21 shall also be postponed until May 12, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
• All elections scheduled for May 12, both before and after this Order takes effect, shall be conducted solely via vote-by-mail ballots.

Election rules have been modified during prior emergencies, including by Governor Kean in 1982 during a severe winter storm and by the Christie Administration in 2012 in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

"The actions we are taking today protect our voters, election workers, and election security,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “Postponing these upcoming local elections and rescheduling them on May 12th, when they will be conducted exclusively using vote by mail, will reduce the potential risk to health and safety while ensuring that every New Jersey voter has fair and free access to the ballot box. As we continue to face this public health crisis, our team at the Division of Elections is working every day with our local, county, state, and federal partners to protect New Jersey voters and our democracy."

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