The New Jersey Working Families Party has raised alarms over a new bill aimed at addressing the state’s long-standing ballot design issues.

Instead of solving the problem, this legislation entrenches party control, creating even bigger challenges for voters and candidates alike.

Recent events paint a troubling picture: after gutting campaign finance laws and undermining the Open Public Records Act, both major parties are now targeting the ballot to further consolidate their power. Despite their claimed “great relationships” with state and county officials, local representatives have failed to inform residents about these critical developments.

Here’s a breakdown of the most pressing concerns:

Bracketing of Running Mates

What It Does:

Allows candidates running for the same office to bracket together in office block format (horizontally or vertically).

Why It’s Problematic:

Vague details on how this will be executed.

Silent on requiring individual voting for bracketed candidates.

No other state permits bracketing for positions with multiple representatives.

Recommendation:

Eliminate bracketing provisions and ensure all candidates are listed individually for fair competition.

Restrictions on Slogans

What It Does:

Requires candidates to get permission from county party committees to use a party’s name in slogans and prohibits slogans referencing other candidates.

Why It’s Problematic:

Restricts candidates not backed by party leadership from using party identifiers like “Democrat” or “Republican,” raising First Amendment concerns.

Prevents legitimate use of endorsements and lawful slogans.

Recommendation:

Remove these restrictions and allow all candidates equal access to party identifiers in slogans.

Lack of Computerized Ballot Drawings

What It Does:

Maintains manual ballot drawings, despite evidence of manipulation and unfairness.

Why It’s Problematic:

Manual processes, like the “golden arm” effect, have been shown to favor certain candidates.

Computerized randomization would ensure impartiality and fairness.

Recommendation:

Include provisions for computerized ballot position draws to eliminate bias.

Additional Provisions

Office Block Ballot Design

Organizes candidates by office with simple, lowercase, sans-serif font text (12-point minimum).

Ballot Standards

Ensures text is left-aligned, clear, and readable.

Places voting ovals to the left of candidates’ names to avoid confusion.

Prohibited Practices

Prevents mixing candidates for different offices in the same grouping or using one race’s draw position to influence another.

Reporting and Data Collection

Requires the Division of Elections to study the impacts of the new ballot design on voters and election administration, with findings reported within 180 days after two primaries.

Election Design Study

Mandates a one-time report to analyze the new procedures and provide recommendations for improving future elections.

The Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design hearing and vote will occur this Monday – 12/16/2024 at 10am at the State House Annex in Trenton. If you are unable to attend please consider submitting written testimony to [email protected]

This bill, disguised as a reform measure, reinforces party control at the expense of fairness and transparency. It’s a blatant attempt to rig the system in favor of entrenched political machines while leaving voters in the dark.

Another rushed bill, pushed through during a time when most people are distracted and not paying attention.

New Jersey deserves better.

Some Background on this Issue

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