Revises design of primary election ballots and certain primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; removes State committee members from primary process; requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections.*
What changed between versions
The prohibition on using a political party name in a candidate slogan or endorsement (unless the county political committee consents) is removed. It is replaced with a new standard: clerks may reject a slogan that is so substantially similar to another candidate's slogan that a reasonable voter could be misled into thinking the candidates are running together. An expedited appeal to Superior Court is added.
The requirement that the oval or marking space be to the left of the candidate name is changed to allow it to be to the left OR right, with new requirements that the name be aligned with the oval in a consistent manner that does not create visual distinction between candidates.
New subsection 2.a.(7) requires all office blocks on one ballot to be designed according to the same standards of design.
New subsection 2.a.(8) requires all spacing, ruling, and delineation of candidates to be consistent and uniform within each office block and across all office blocks, so as not to create a separation or visual distinction between candidate names.
New provision in R.S.19:23-17(b) allows a person or incorporated association to revoke their consent to be listed as an endorser by notifying the Secretary of State or clerk in writing before the ballot position draw date.
New provision in R.S.19:23-18(a) allows a candidate to modify, supplement, or revoke the terms of their association with other candidates by written notice to the county clerk before the ballot position draw date.
New subsection 3.e clarifies that nothing in the slogan/endorsement section prohibits using a single word referring to party membership or affiliation (such as 'Democrat' or 'Republican') in a candidate's slogan.
The provision allowing county clerks to indicate associations via common slogans is expanded from candidates for the same office to candidates 'for the same or different offices,' permitting cross-office slogan associations.
In R.S.19:23-18(b), the rule about two candidates selecting the same slogan is now limited to candidates 'seeking the same office,' narrowing when the last-filed-petition notification applies.
The ballot header requirements in R.S.19:23-24 are changed from referencing the municipal clerk to the county clerk, and 'name of county' is added to the information printed at the top of the ballot.
