TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — The New Jersey General Assembly is trying to increase participation in and security of future elections with a package of bills that passed this week.
People who choose to vote by mail would have ballots automatically sent to their house for all future elections, and they would not be removed from the mailing list unless they were to request it in writing or if they failed to vote in four consecutive general elections.
Another bill requires unaffiliated voters to pick a party in order to get a primary election mail-in ballot.
Another bill would ensure greater cooperation with health department death records and voter registration to make sure ballots aren’t being sent to people who have died.
Under one of the bills, 16- and 17-year-olds can be poll workers, and college students can earn credit for doing the job.
Another bill allows for the opening and canvassing of mail-in-ballots prior to Election Day. In the last governor’s race, results were too close to call and Jack Ciattarelli didn’t concede for nine days as votes were still being counted.
All of these bills passed the assembly with widespread, bipartisan support, with nearly all 80 assembly members voting yes and just a handful of no votes. Each will now be considered in the Senate.