Bill Text: NJ A4948 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Secretary of State to create quick reference code for voter information, including instructions for voting by mail.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A4948 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4948-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Secretary of State to create quick reference code for voter information, including instructions for voting by mail.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning voter information, and amending P.L.2009, c.79 and supplementing chapter 12 of Title 19 of the Revised Statues.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New Section) a. As used in this section,
"Mobile electronic communication device" means any mobile device capable of communication or other transmission of information, including, but not limited to, a cellular telephone, wireless tablet or other device with Internet capability, or other wireless communication device.
"Quick reference code" means a two-dimensional matrix bar code, which, upon being photographed or scanned by a mobile electronic communication device, may be used by a person to retrieve information from the Internet.
b. The Secretary of State shall create and maintain, and update as appropriate, a quick reference code for voter information. The quick reference code shall be printed on, or mailed with, the sample ballot or any official voting instructions posted by, or mailed from, the Secretary of State, a county clerk, or a county board of elections. The quick reference code shall provide, directly to a voter's mobile electronic communication device, access to the voter information notice established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.149 (C.19:12-7.1), and access to instructions on voting by mail, including information on completing, returning, and curing a mail-in ballot. The quick reference code shall link to voter information in both print and video form.
2. Section 12 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-12) is amended to read as follows:
12. Each county clerk shall send, with each mail-in ballot, printed directions for the preparation and transmitting of the ballots as required by this act. The directions shall include the quick reference code for voter information established pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The directions shall be printed in such manner and form as the Secretary of State shall require, together with two envelopes of such sizes that one will contain the other. The directions prepared by the Secretary of State shall inform the voter that the status of the voter's mail-in ballot may be checked using the free-access system provided in section 5 of P.L.2004, c.88 (C.19:61-5).
The outer envelope shall be
addressed to the county board of elections of the county in which is located
the home address of the
person to whom the mail-in ballot is sent, as certified by the county clerk. At the discretion of the county clerk, the outer envelope may be a postage paid return envelope. On the outside and front of each outer envelope, there shall be printed or stamped the following:
To protect your vote:
IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE EXCEPT YOU THE VOTER TO MAIL OR TRANSPORT THIS BALLOT UNLESS THE ENVELOPE IS SEALED AND THE FOLLOWING IS COMPLETED:
Ballot mailed or transported by
(signature of bearer)
(print name of bearer)
(address of bearer)
The reserve side of the outer envelope shall contain the following:
REMINDER
For your vote to count, you must:
1) Vote your ballot and place it in the inner envelope with the attached certificate.
2) Seal the envelope.
3) Place the envelope into the larger envelope addressed to the board of elections and seal that envelope.
4) If another person will be mailing your ballot or bringing it to the board of elections, MAKE CERTAIN THAT PERSON COMPLETES THE "BEARER PORTION" ON THE ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BEFORE THE BALLOT IS TAKEN FROM YOU. NO PERSON WHO IS A CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTION FOR WHICH THE VOTER REQUESTS THIS BALLOT IS PERMITTED TO SERVE AS A BEARER. NO PERSON IS PERMITTED TO SERVE AS A BEARER FOR MORE THAN THREE QUALIFIED VOTERS IN AN ELECTION, BUT A PERSON MAY SERVE AS SUCH FOR UP TO FIVE QUALIFIED VOTERS IN AN ELECTION IF THOSE VOTERS ARE IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS RESIDING IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS THE BEARER.
The Secretary of State is authorized to make such changes to the instructions for mail-in ballot materials as the Secretary of State deems necessary or as is mandated by federal or State law.
The inner envelope shall be so designed that it can be sealed after the mail-in ballot has been placed therein and the flap thereof shall be of such length and size as to leave sufficient margin, after sealing, for the printing thereon of the certificate hereinafter described. The flap shall be so arranged that, after the inner envelope has been sealed, the certificate can be contained, with the inner envelope, in the outer envelope, and that the margin containing the certificate can be detached without unsealing the inner envelope.
On the outside of each envelope in which a mail-in ballot is sent to a mail-in voter by the clerk, there shall be printed or stamped the words "Official Mail-In Ballot." In addition, there shall be printed or stamped the following:
To protect your vote:
IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE EXCEPT YOU THE VOTER TO OPEN, MARK, INSPECT OR SEAL THIS BALLOT.
However, a family member may assist you in doing so.
The reverse side of each inner envelope shall contain the following statement:
A PERSON MAY BE FINED AND IMPRISONED AND MAY ALSO LOSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNTIL RESTORED BY LAW if that person attempts to vote fraudulently by mail-in ballot, prevents the voting of a legal voter, certifies falsely any information, interferes with a person's secrecy of voting, tampers with ballots or election documents or helps another person to do so.
(cf: P.L.2020, c.71, s.10)
3. This act shall take effect 90 days next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Secretary of State to create and maintain, and update as appropriate, a quick reference code (commonly known as a "QR" code) for voter information. The bill requires that the quick reference code be printed on, or mailed with, the sample ballot or any official voting instructions posted by, or mailed from, the Secretary of State, a county clerk, or a county board of elections. The quick reference code would provide, directly to a voter's mobile electronic communication device, access to the voter information notice required by current law and access to instructions on voting by mail, including information on completing, returning, and curing a mail-in ballot. The quick reference code is required link to voter information in both print and video form.
The bill defines a "mobile electronic communication device" as any mobile device capable of communication or other transmission of information, including, but not limited to, a cellular telephone, wireless tablet or other device with Internet capability, or other wireless communication device. Under the bill, a "quick reference code" means a two-dimensional matrix bar code, which, upon being photographed or scanned by a mobile electronic communication device, may be used by a person to retrieve information from the Internet.
The bill would take effect 90 days next following the date of enactment.
