Bill Text: NJ A946 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Permits county boards of chosen freeholders to serve as tie breaker for county boards of election in certain circumstances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A946 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A946-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 946

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK

District 18 (Middlesex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Permits county boards of chosen freeholders to serve as tie breaker for county boards of election in certain circumstances.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning county boards of election and amending R.S.19:6-29.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    R.S.19:6-29 is amended to read as follows:

     19:6-29.  a.  A decision of the major part of the members thereof, who shall be present at a meeting, shall be deemed to be the decision of such board.  If any member shall dissent from a decision of the board, and shall desire to protect himself against any consequences which may result from such decision, he shall state his dissent in writing, and deliver the same in the case of the state board of canvassers to the secretary of state and in all other cases to the clerk of the county, who shall file the same in his office.

     b.    Except as otherwise provided in law, if the vote of a county board of elections on an administrative matter results in a tie, the matter shall be referred to the county board of chosen freeholders. The county board of chosen freeholders may decide the matter by a majority vote of its full membership.

(cf: R.S.19:6-29)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would permit a county board of chosen freeholders to serve as a tie breaker in the event that a vote by the county board of elections results in a tie. Current law states that a decision of the majority of the members of a county board of elections is required to render a decision. This bill would provide recourse in the event that a vote regarding an administrative matter results in a tie. If a majority of the members of a county board of elections cannot reach an agreement, a majority vote by the county board of chosen freeholders may break the tie.