Bill Text: NJ ACR231 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Proposes constitutional amendment to allocate this State's electoral votes using Congressional District Method.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [ACR231 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-ACR231-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 231

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 20, 2019

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  BETTYLOU DECROCE

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes constitutional amendment to allocate this State's electoral votes using Congressional District Method.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article II of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new Section III.

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

 

     1.    The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     Amend Article II by adding a new SECTION III to read as follows:

 

SECTION III

 

     1.    The electors for President and Vice President of the United States shall allocate one electoral vote for each Congressional District in this State to the winner of the popular vote in each district and two electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in the entire State.

 

     2.    When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

 

     3.    This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form:

     There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

     a.     In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question as follows:

     If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (a) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (a) in the square opposite the word "No."

     b.    In every municipality the following question:

 

 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE ALLOCATION OF ELECTORAL VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

 

 

YES

 

 

 

 

     Do you approve amending the Constitution to award one electoral vote for President and Vice President to the winner in each congressional district? The remaining two votes would be awarded to the winner Statewide. Currently, the winner Statewide is awarded all of the electoral votes.

 

 

INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT

 

 

NO

 

 

 

This constitutional amendment changes how electoral votes for President and Vice President are awarded from this State. Currently, all of New Jersey's fourteen electoral votes are awarded to the winner of the popular vote in this State. This amendment requires one electoral vote to be awarded to the winner of the popular vote in each of the State's twelve congressional districts. The remaining two votes would be awarded to the winner of the popular vote in the State.  

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This constitutional amendment changes how electoral votes for President and Vice President are allocated from the State of New Jersey. Currently, all of New Jersey's fourteen electoral votes are allocated to the winner of the popular vote in the State, which is known as the "Winner-Take-All" method. This amendment would require the electoral votes to be allocated using the "Congressional District Method," with one electoral vote allocated to the winner of the popular vote in each of the State's twelve congressional districts. The remaining two electoral votes would be awarded to the winner of the popular vote in the State.

     The Congressional District Method is used in the states of Maine and Nebraska to allocate those states' electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States.

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