A 498 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires county boards of election to have bipartisan representation when opening and canvassing mail-in ballots; requires secure storage of mail-in ballots; upgrades penalties for certain election-related crimes.

This bill requires county election boards to have bipartisan representation (with members from both major political parties) when opening, handling, and canvassing mail-in ballots. It mandates secure storage for all mail-in ballots and increases penalties for crimes involving ballot tampering, unauthorized access to ballot storage areas, or interference with election processes. The bill also requires election officials to send "cure letters" to voters whose ballots are rejected due to signature issues, explaining the reason and providing a simple form to correct the issue. These changes directly affect county election boards, election officials, and voters participating in mail-in voting. The bill aims to enhance transparency and security in mail-in ballot processing.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
lower
2 primary · 2 co-sponsors

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