N.J. Stat. tit. 19, ch. 34

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-1 False registration or transfer; penalties.

19:34-1. If any member of the district board shall willfully refuse to enter in the canvassing books or upon the registers the name of any person legally entitled to vote, or shall register the name of any person contrary to the provisions of this title, such member shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Any person who shall cause or procure his name to be registered in more than one election district, or shall cause or procure his name or that of any other person to be registered, knowing that he or such other person is not entitled to vote in the election district wherein such registry is made at the next election to be held therein, shall be punished for each such offense and shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. No district board shall execute or deliver to any voter any paper in the nature of a transfer, purporting to authorize him to vote in any other election district unless he is actually registered as now provided by law. Any officer or employee who shall willfully fail to perform or enforce any of the provisions of this title or who shall unlawfully or fraudulently remove any registration records, or who shall willfully destroy any record directed by this title to be kept, or any person who shall willfully or fraudulently register more than once, or register under any but his true name, or attempt to vote by impersonating another who is registered, or who willfully registers in any election district where he is not a resident at the time of registering, or who violates any of the provisions of this title, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.20.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-1.1 Crimes; election official defined.

43. a. Any person, other than an election official, who: (1) knowingly and willfully intimidates, threatens or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce, any person for registering to vote, voting or attempting to register to vote or vote, urging or aiding any person to register to vote, to vote or to attempt to register or vote or exercising any right under the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.); or (2) knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of this State of a fair and impartially conducted election by the procurement or submission of voter registration applications that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or the procurement, casting or tabulation of ballots that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, is guilty of a crime of the second degree. b. Any election official who: (1) knowingly and willfully intimidates, threatens or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce, any person for registering to vote, voting or attempting to register to vote or vote, urging or aiding any person to register to vote, to vote or to attempt to register or vote, or exercising any right under the provisions of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.19:31-6.11 et al.); or (2) knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of this State of a fair and impartially conducted election by the procurement or submission of voter registration applications that are known by the election official to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or the procurement, casting or tabulation of ballots that are known by the election official to be materially false, fictitious or fraudulent under the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, is guilty of a crime of the second degree and, in addition to any other penalties provided under the law, shall be permanently barred from serving as an election official. c. As used in this section, "election official" shall include, but not be limited to, any superintendent or deputy superintendent of elections, commissioner of registration, member of a county board of elections, county clerk, municipal clerk, member of a district board of elections, member of a board of county canvassers and member of a board of State canvassers. L.1994,c.182,s.43; amended 2005, c.154, s.21.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-2 Offenses concerning nomination certificates or petitions.

19:34-2. No person shall falsely make, falsely make oath to, or fraudulently deface or fraudulently destroy any certificate of nomination or petition, or any part thereof, or file, or receive for filing, any certificate of nomination or petition, knowing the same or any part thereof to be falsely made, or suppress any certificate of nomination or petition which has been duly filed, or any part thereof. A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Any person who, being a member of one political party, shall sign his name to any petition indorsing any person as a candidate for office of another political party, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.22.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-3 Ballots; offenses concerning printing, distribution, possession and forgery thereof.

19:34-3. If any printer employed by any county or municipal clerk to print official ballots, or any person engaged in printing the same, shall appropriate to himself or give or deliver or knowingly permit to be taken any of such ballots by any other person than such county or municipal clerk or his duly authorized agent, or shall print or cause to be printed any official ballot in any other form than that prescribed by the county or municipal clerk, or with any other names thereon, or with the names spelled or the names or printing thereon arranged in any other way than that authorized and directed by this title, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. If any person not authorized by the proper officers shall print or make any official or sample ballot provided for in this title, or on or prior to election day shall willfully have in his possession an official ballot without being authorized by this title to have charge or possession thereof, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. If any person shall forge or falsely make any ballot or the official indorsement thereof, the person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.23.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-4 Voting by incarcerated person, fourth degree crime.

19:34-4. If a person convicted of a crime which disfranchises him while serving a sentence of incarceration shall vote at any election, unless he shall have been pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage, he shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. amended 2005, c.154, s.24; 2019, c.270, s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-5 Interference with conduct of election.

19:34-5. No person shall, during an election, with intent to hinder or delay same, or to hinder or delay any voter in the preparation of his ballot, remove or destroy any of the ballots or pencils placed in the booths or compartments for the purpose of enabling the voter to prepare his ballot. Any person willfully violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. Amended 2005, c.154, s.25.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-6 Prohibited actions in polling place on election day; exception for simulated voting.

19:34-6. a. If a person shall on election day tamper, deface or interfere with any polling booth or obstruct the entrance to any polling place, or obstruct or interfere with any voter, or loiter in or near the polling place, or, with the purpose to obstruct or interfere with any voter or to unduly delay other voters from voting, spend an inordinate amount of time in the polling booth, or do any electioneering within any polling place or within one hundred feet thereof, or within 200 feet thereof if the electioneering prohibition is extended at the discretion of a county board of elections, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. b. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a minor from entering a polling place on the day of an election to vote in a simulated election at that polling place, or persons from supervising or working at a polling place in a simulated election in which minors vote, provided that the county board of elections has determined that the polling place can accommodate simulated election activities without interfering with the orderly conduct of the official voting process. Amended 1940, c.199, s.3; 1948, c.438, s.12; 2000, c.173, s.2; 2005, c.154, s.26; 2025, c.92, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-7 Violation of ballot regulations.

19:34-7. No person shall within the polling room mark his ballot in a place other than in the polling booth or show his ballot, nor shall anyone request such person to show his ballot during the preparation thereof, nor shall any other person inspect such ballot during the preparation thereof or after it is prepared for voting in such a way as to reveal the contents, nor shall any person within the polling place or within a hundred feet thereof, loiter, electioneer, or solicit any voter, or electioneer within 200 feet of the polling place if the electioneering prohibition is extended at the discretion of a county board of elections. No voter, at any election where official ballots are used, shall knowingly vote or offer to vote any ballot except an official ballot as by this Title required. No person shall on any pretext carry any official ballot from the polling room on any election day except such persons as may by this Title be authorized to do so. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 1940, c.199, s.4; 1948, c.438, s.13; 2005, c.154, s.27; 2025, c.92, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-8 Sample ballot not to be accepted

No election officer shall accept from any voter and deposit in the ballot box any sample primary ballot.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-9 Prompting voter.

19:34-9. Any person who shall prompt a voter in answering any questions provided by this title shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. Amended 2005, c.154, s.28.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-10 Identifying or distinguishing marks on ballots.

19:34-10. If any person shall write, paste or otherwise place upon any official ballot any mark, sign or device of any kind as a distinguishing mark whereby to indicate to any member of any district board or other person how any voter has voted at any election, or if any person shall induce or attempt to induce any voter to write, paste or otherwise place on his ballot any mark, sign or device of any kind, as a distinguishing mark by which to indicate to any member of any district board or other person how such voter has voted, or shall enter into or attempt to form any agreement or conspiracy with any other person to induce or attempt to induce voters or any voter to so place any distinguishing mark, sign or device on his ballot, whether or not such act be committed or attempted to be committed, such person so offending shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.29.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-11 Fraudulent voting; interference with election or canvass; third degree crime.

19:34-11. Every person not entitled to vote who fraudulently votes, and every person who votes more than once at any one election; or knowingly hands in two or more ballots folded together; or changes any ballot after it has been deposited in the ballot box; or adds, or attempts to add, any ballot to those legally polled at any election, either by fraudulently introducing the same into the ballot box before or after the ballots therein have been counted; or adds to or mixes with, or attempts to add to or mix with, the ballots lawfully polled, other ballots while the same are being counted or canvassed, or at any other time, with intent to change the result of such election; or carries away or destroys, or attempts to carry away or destroy, any poll list, or ballots, or ballot box, for the purpose of breaking up or invalidating the election; or willfully detains, mutilates or destroys any election returns; or in any manner so interferes with the officers holding the election, or conducting the canvass, or with the voters lawfully exercising their rights of voting at the election, as to prevent the election or canvass from being fairly had and lawfully conducted, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 1940, c.199, s.5; 1948, c.438, s.14; 2005, c.154, s.30.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-12 Attempt to cast illegal vote; third degree crime.

19:34-12. Every person not entitled to vote who fraudulently attempts to vote, or who being entitled to vote attempts to vote more than once at any election, or who personates or attempts to personate a person legally entitled to vote, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 1940, c.199, s.6; 1948, c.438, s.15; 2005, c.154, s.31.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-13 Attempts to examine marked ballot, disclose content of mail-in ballot, third degree crime.

19:34-13. a. Every inspector, judge or clerk of an election, who, previous to putting the ballot of an elector in the ballot box, attempts to find out any name on such ballot, or who opens or suffers the folded ballot of any elector which has been handed in to be opened or examined previous to putting the same in the ballot box, or who makes or places any mark or device on any folded ballot with the view to ascertain the name of any person for whom the elector has voted, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. b. Any person who is authorized to receive and canvass completed mail-in-ballots pursuant to P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-1) who knowingly discloses to the public the contents of a mail-in ballot prior to the time designated by law for the closing of the polls for each election shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. amended 1940, c.199, s.7; 1948, c.438, s.16; 2005, c.154, s.32; 2020, c.72, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-14 Member of district board revealing knowledge of how voter voted.

19:34-14. If a member of any district board has knowledge how any person has voted and shall reveal such knowledge to any other person, or shall fraudulently or corruptly disclose what other candidates were voted for on any ballot bearing a name not printed thereon, or fraudulently or corruptly gives any information concerning the appearance of any ballot voted, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.33.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-15 Electioneering within or about polling place; disorderly persons offense.

19:34-15. a. If a person shall distribute or display any circular or printed matter or offer any suggestion or solicit any support for any candidate, party or public question within the polling place or room or within a distance of 100 feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room, or within 100 feet of a ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election, the person shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. b. Each county board of elections shall have the discretion to extend the prohibition against electioneering provided under subsection a. of this section to be within a distance of 200 feet of the outside entrance to a polling place or room, or of a ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election within the county. Each county board of elections shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice of the electioneering prohibition outside the polling place, room, or ballot drop box prior to placing the prohibition into effect, including the penalties for any violation of that prohibition. A person who violates an electioneering prohibition established by a county board of elections pursuant to this subsection shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. Amended 1940, c.199, s.8; 1948, c.438, s.17; 2005, c.154, s.34; 2021, c.459, s.5; 2025, c.92, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-16 Removal, destruction, mutilation of registry, voters' lists.

19:34-16. A person who shall remove, destroy or mutilate any registry list or copy thereof, or who before an election closes shall remove, destroy or mutilate any list of voters posted in accordance with this title, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.35.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-17 Unlawfully taking ballot box or removing contents; destroying ballots; willfully suppressing records.

19:34-17. If a person shall rob or plunder any ballot box, or unlawfully and by stealth or violence take the same or remove therefrom any ballot or other paper, or exchange, alter or destroy any ballot or other paper contained therein, or if any person shall willfully and corruptly suppress, withhold, mutilate, destroy, alter or change any return, statement or certificate or any copy thereof, which shall have been made in pursuance of this title, and delivered to him to be filed, or which shall have been intrusted or delivered to him to be delivered or transmitted to any other person in pursuance of this title, every such person, his aiders, procurers and abettors, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. This section shall not apply to the destruction of ballots or the performance of other acts by officials when such acts are performed as prescribed in this title. Amended 2005, c.154, s.36.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-18 Interfering with return of ballot boxes.

19:34-18. A person who shall willfully obstruct or interfere with the clerk or clerks on the way from the polls to the office of the city clerk shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.37.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-19 Insignia at polls.

19:34-19. No person shall display, sell, give or provide any political badge, button or other insignia to be worn at or within one hundred feet of the polls or within the polling place or room, on any primary, general or special election day or on any commission government election day, except the badge furnished by the county board as herein provided. A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. Amended 2005, c.154, s.38.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-20 Soliciting or procuring or assisting unlawful registration and other violations of election law.

19:34-20. Whoever shall solicit the registering of his name on the registry list of any election district or precinct, knowing that he is not a legal voter in such district or precinct; or shall willfully counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet in the registering of the name of any other person on the registry list of any election district or precinct, knowing such other person is not entitled to vote therein; or at any election, knowing that he is not a qualified voter, votes thereat; or at any election votes or attempts to vote more than once on his own name; or at any election votes or attempts to vote in more than one election district or precinct; or at any election votes or attempts to vote upon any other name than his own; or knowingly casts or attempts to cast more than one ballot at one time by balloting; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person, knowing that he is not a qualified voter, to vote thereat; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person in voting in more than one election district or precinct; or at any election counsels, procures, aids, advises, assists or abets any person to vote or to attempt to vote upon any name other than his own, or knowingly cast or attempt to cast more than one ballot at one time of voting; or at any election shall in any way willfully mark or deface his ballot, or shall willfully counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet any person in the marking or defacing of a ballot; or at any election shall in any way counsel, procure, aid, advise, assist or abet any official or person in any act which is contrary to the provisions of this title; or at any election shall in any way willfully hinder or prevent a voter from casting his legal vote, knowing such person to have a right to vote; or shall willfully tamper with, injure, mutilate, destroy or render unfit for use, any ballot box; shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.39.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-21 Voting in wrong party ballot box.

19:34-21. A person who being a member of one political party shall vote in the ballot box used for the primary election of another political party shall in each case be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.40.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-22 False voting at primary.

19:34-22. If a person not entitled to vote at any primary election as herein provided shall vote or offer to vote at such primary meeting or caucus knowing or having reason to believe himself not entitled to so vote, or if any person shall counsel or procure anyone to so vote, knowing or having reason to believe such voter not entitled to do so, or if any person having voted at any primary meeting held by any political party or organization to nominate candidates or to elect delegates to nominate candidates, to be voted for at any election, shall vote or offer to vote at the primary meeting held by any other political party or organization held to nominate candidates or to elect delegates to nominate candidates, to be voted for at the same election, such person shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.41.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-23 Primary election officials acting before taking oath; willfully disregarding or violating rules.

19:34-23. If any judge, inspector, clerk or other officer of a primary election shall act in such capacity before taking and subscribing to the oath or affirmation required by this title, or shall willfully disregard or violate the provisions of any rule duly made by the party of which he is a member and for whom he is acting for the government of the primary elections of the party, or if any judge or inspector of any primary election shall knowingly reject the vote of any person entitled to vote under the rules of such party or shall knowingly receive the vote of any person not qualified, or if any judge, inspector, clerk or any other officer of a primary election shall commit any willful fraud in the discharge of his duties by destroying or marking any ballot in any way before such ballot is delivered to the voter or by defacing ballots, adding marks to the poll by false counting, making false returns or by any act or thing whatsoever, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.42.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-24 Betting on election

No person shall make, lay or deposit any bet, wager or stake, to be decided by the result of any election, by the election or defeat of one or more persons at any election, or by any contingency connected with or growing out of any election. All contracts for or on account of any money, property or thing in action so bet, wagered or staked shall be void. Any person who shall pay, deliver or deposit any money, property or thing in action upon the event of any bet, wager or stake prohibited by this section, may sue for and recover the same from the winner or person to whom the same, or any part thereof, shall have been paid or delivered, or with whom the same, or any part thereof, shall have been deposited, whether he shall have been a stakeholder, or other person, whether or not the same shall have been paid over by such stakeholder, or whether or not such bet, wager or stake shall have been lost. No candidate for public office, before or during an election, shall make any bet or wager with a voter, or take a share or interest in, or in any manner become a party to such bet or wager, or provide or agree to provide any money to be used by another in making such bet or wager, upon any event or contingency whatever. No person, directly or indirectly, shall make a bet or wager with a voter, depending upon the result of any election, with the intent thereby to procure the challenge of such voter, or to prevent him from voting at the election.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-25 Bribery.

19:34-25. a. If a person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give, lend or agree to give or lend, or shall offer, promise or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure, any money or other valuable consideration or thing to or for any voter, or to or for any person, in order to induce any voter to vote or refrain from registering for any election, or shall corruptly do or commit any of the acts in this section mentioned because of any such voter having voted or refrained from voting at an election, or registered or refrained from registering at an election, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Bribery of member of election board; acceptance. b. Whosoever shall, directly or indirectly, make or give any money or other thing of value to any member of the district board because of his membership on such board, or when it shall appear that such money or other thing of value is made or given to such member because of his membership on the board, except as hereinbefore provided as his legal compensation for service on the board, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Any member of a district board who shall, by himself, or by any other person in his behalf, receive any money or other thing of value because of his membership on such board, or when it shall appear that such money or other thing of value is accepted or received by such member because of his membership on the board, except as hereinbefore provided as his legal compensation for service on the board, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Promising office or employment. c. A person who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give or procure, or agree to give or procure or offer or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of such voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting, or to register or refrain from registering, or shall corruptly do any act as above because of any voter having voted or refrained from voting, or having registered or refrained from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Acceptance of bribe by voter. d. Any voter who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree or contract for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election, or for registering or agreeing to register, or for refraining or for agreeing to refrain from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Bribery of delegates. e. If a person shall, directly or indirectly, give, offer or promise to give any sum or sums of money or any valuable thing in action, victuals, drink or preferment or other considerations, by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, or other valuable present or reward to obtain, procure or influence the opinion, behavior, vote or abstaining from voting for the election of any delegate to any convention of any political party, to nominate any candidate for member of the legislature, for member of congress, for electors for president and vice president of the United States, for governor, or for any candidate for any office in any county or municipality; or if any person being a delegate to any political convention to nominate candidates for any of the offices named in this title shall directly or indirectly, ask for, accept, receive or take any sum or sums of money, or other valuable consideration by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, or other valuable consideration for the giving or refusing to give his vote at any such convention, the person so offering, asking, or receiving shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Bribery at election. f. Whoever shall, directly or indirectly, give, furnish, supply or promise, or cause to be given, furnished, supplied, offered or promised, to any person or persons, any money, service, preferment or valuable thing with the intent that such money or valuable thing or any other money, service, preferment or valuable thing shall be given, offered, promised or used, by any person or persons, by way of fee, reward, gift or gratuity, for giving or refusing to give any vote of any citizen, at any election of any public officer, state, county or municipal, to be held therein, or of any member of congress, of electors for president and vice president of the United States, or at any election of any delegate or delegates to any political convention to be held for the nomination of any of the officers above, or by way of gift, gratuity or reward, for giving or withholding the vote of any delegate at any such convention, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Inducing voters. g. A person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, give, lend, or agree to give or lend, or procure, or agree to procure or offer or promise to procure, or endeavor to procure, any money or other valuable consideration or thing, or any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from registering or voting at any election, or shall corruptly do or commit any of the acts in this section mentioned, because of any voter having voted or refrained from voting or having registered or refrained from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Contributions for use in bribing. h. A person who shall give, advance or pay, or cause to be given, advanced or paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person, or to the use of any person, with the intent that such money or other valuable thing, or any part thereof, shall be expended, or used for bribery of voters, or for any other unlawful purpose at any election, or who shall knowingly pay, or cause to be paid money to any person wholly or in part expended in bribery of a voter at any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Receiving rewards. i. A person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree or contract for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election, or for registering or agreeing to register, or for refraining or for agreeing to refrain from registering for any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Gift, or promise of, for certain purposes. j. No person shall give or agree to give for the purpose of promoting or procuring or for the purpose of opposing or preventing the election of a candidate for public office, or for the purpose of promoting or procuring or for the purpose of opposing or preventing the nomination of any person as a candidate for public office, any money or any valuable thing to be used for any of the following purposes: 1. To provide or give or to pay, wholly or in part, the expense of giving or providing any meat, drink, entertainment or provision to or for any person for the purpose of influencing that person or any other person to give or refrain from giving his vote at any election, or because of any such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting. 2. To provide for the payment of rent for or for the purpose of providing and fitting up any clubroom for social or recreative purposes, or providing for uniforms for any organized club. 3. To provide for the payment for the insertion in any newspaper or magazine of any article tending to influence any person to give or refrain from giving his vote to any candidate or candidates at any election; or to provide for payment for the distribution of any newspaper or magazine wherein any such article is printed; or to provide for payment of the printing or of the distribution of any circular, handbill, card, pamphlet or statement tending to influence any person to give or refrain from giving his vote to any candidate at any election; but this prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit the printing and distribution of paid advertisements, which advertisements shall be indicated by the words "This advertisement has been paid for by " (inserting the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the same); nor shall it be construed to prohibit the printing and distribution of circulars, handbills, cards, pamphlets or statements which shall have printed on the face thereof the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the printing and distribution thereof, which fact shall be indicated by the words "The cost of the printing and distribution of this circular (or as the case may be) has been paid by " (inserting the true name and address of the person or persons paying for the same). Accepting gifts. k. No person shall accept any money or other valuable thing, the payment of which is prohibited by paragraph "j" of this section. Penalty. l. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of paragraphs "j" and "k" of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree, and shall for the first offense be disfranchised while serving a sentence of incarceration, and for any subsequent offense shall be disfranchised while serving a sentence of incarceration, and in addition thereto the court in which such conviction is obtained, may in case of a subsequent conviction, impose upon the person so convicted the punishment now prescribed by law for a crime of the second degree. amended 2005, c.154, s.43; 2019, c.270, s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-26 Perjury; subornation of perjury.

19:34-26. If a person shall be guilty of willful and corrupt false swearing or affirming, or by any means shall willfully and corruptly suborn or procure a person to swear or affirm falsely, in taking any oath, affirmation or deposition prescribed or authorized by this title, he shall be deemed guilty of a crime of the third degree, and be deemed to be an incompetent witness thereafter for any purpose within this State, until such time as he shall have been pardoned. Amended 2005, c.154, s.44.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-27 Improperly influencing or intimidating employees.

19:34-27. An employer of any workman, or any agent, superintendent or overseer of any company or corporation employing workmen, or any person who shall directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf or by his direction, make use of or threaten to make use of any force, violence or restraint, or inflict or threaten to inflict by himself or by any other person any injury, damage, harm or loss against any person in his employ, in order to induce or compel such employee to vote or refrain from voting for any particular candidate at any election, or because of such employee having voted or refrained from voting for any particular candidate at any election, or who shall, by any duress, constraint or improper influence or by any fraudulent or improper device, contrivance or scheme, impede, hinder or prevent the free exercise of the franchise of any voter at any election, or shall thereby compel, induce or prevail upon any voter to vote for or against any particular candidate at any election, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.45.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-28 Threatening or intimidating voters

No person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, make use of, or threaten to make use of, any force, violence or restraint, or inflict or threaten the infliction, by himself or through any other person, of any injury, damage, harm or loss, or in any manner to practice intimidation upon or against any person, in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election, or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting at any election. Amended by L.1940, c. 199, p. 854, s. 9; L.1948, c. 438, p. 1705, s. 18.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-29 Obstructing or interfering with voter

No person shall by abduction, duress or any forcible or fraudulent device or contrivance whatever, impede, prevent or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise by any voter; or compel, induce or prevail upon any voter either to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-30 Influencing of vote by employer; placards for such purpose

No employer, in paying his employees the salary or wages due them, shall inclose their pay in "pay envelopes" upon which there is written or printed the name of any candidate or any political motto, device or argument containing threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of such employees. Nor shall an employer, within ninety days of an election, put up or otherwise exhibit in his factory, workshop, or other establishment or place where his workmen or employees may be working, any handbill or placard containing any threat, notice or information that in case any particular ticket of a political party, or organization, or candidate shall be elected, work in his establishment will cease, in whole or in part, or his establishment be closed up, or the salaries or wages of his employees be reduced, or other threat, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of his employees.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-31 Violation by person or corporation; misdemeanor; forfeiture of charter

Sections 19:34-27 to 19:34-30 of this title shall apply to corporations as well as individuals, and any person or corporation violating the provisions thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any corporation violating such provisions shall forfeit its charter.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-32 Contributions by insurance corporations

No insurance corporation or association doing business in this state shall, directly or indirectly, pay or use, or offer, consent or agree to pay or use, any money or property for or in aid of any political party, committee, organization or corporation, or for or in aid of any candidate for political office, or for nomination for such office, or for any political purpose whatsoever, or for the reimbursement or indemnification of any person for money or property so used. Any officer, director, stockholder, attorney or agent of any corporation or association which violates any of the provisions of this title, who participates in, aids, abets, or advises or consents to any such violation, and any person who solicits or knowingly receives any money or property in violation of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-33 Contributions by state, county or municipal committees

No state, county or municipal committee or organization of any political party shall expend any money in aid of the candidacy of any candidate for election as a delegate at any national convention, or election to any party position, or for nomination as a candidate of a political party for public office.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-34 Expenditures by party committee or organization or petitioners

No such party committee or organization, nor any committee of any group of petitioners, nor any other person shall expend any money in aid of any candidate for public office, except as herein otherwise provided.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-35 Other contributions and expenditures.

19:34-35. Any person who shall expend, aid or assist in the expenditure of any such money for a purpose not authorized by this title, or for a purpose not named in the statement accompanying such contribution, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.46.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-38 Certain expenditures prohibited

No person shall pay, lend or contribute, or offer or agree to pay, lend or contribute, any money or other valuable consideration to or for any person for any of the following: a. The doing or procuring to be done of any act forbidden to be done by the laws relating to primary or general elections; or b. The commission of any crime or offense against the elective franchise, or the encouragement or assistance of a person in the commission of a crime or offense against the elective franchise, or aiding or assisting any person charged with the commission of a crime against the elective franchise to evade arrest or to escape conviction and punishment; or c. Providing, wholly or in part, directly or indirectly, for the expense of boarding, lodging or maintaining a person in any place of domicile in any election precinct or ward or district, with the purpose of securing the vote of such person, or of inducing such person to vote for himself, or any other person at an election; or d. The hiring or employment of a person to take or maintain a place in, or to otherwise obstruct or hinder, or to prevent the forming of the line of voters awaiting their opportunity or time to enter the polling place or election booth of an election precinct; or e. In consideration of any person withdrawing as a candidate for public office or presidential elector, at any election; or f. To pay any person for loss or damage due to attendance at the polls at any primary or general or charter election, or any registry therefor, or for the purpose of such registration; or g. For any purpose in contravention of the provisions of this Title; or h. Making any payment except in the manner provided by this Title. Amended by L.1940, c. 199, p. 854, s. 10; L.1948, c. 438, p. 1705, s. 19; L.1963, c. 57, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-39 Other expenditures prohibited

No person directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person: Inducing voters. a. Shall pay, lend or contribute, or offer or promise to pay, lend or contribute, money or other valuable consideration to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or persons, or to induce such voter to come to or remain away from the polls at such election, or because of such voter having voted or refrained from voting or having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person, or having come to or remained away from the polls at such election. Employment purposes. b. Shall give, offer or promise any office, place or employment, or to promise to procure or endeavor to procure any office, place or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or persons. Gifts or other inducements. c. Shall make any gift, loan, promise, offer, procurement or agreement, to, for or with any person, in order to induce him to procure, or endeavor to procure, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at any election. Procuring votes. d. Shall procure, or engage, promise or endeavor to procure, in consequence of any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at such election. Furnishing means for bribery. e. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used in bribery at any election, or to knowingly pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person in discharge or repayment of any money, wholly or in part, expended in bribery at any election. Assist in evading arrest. f. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used to aid or assist any person to evade arrest who is charged with the commission of a crime against the elective franchise. Indorsement of candidates. g. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, money or other valuable thing, to or for the use of any other person, in consideration of being selected or indorsed as the candidate of any convention, organized assemblage of delegates, or other body representing, or claiming to represent, a political party or principle, or any club, society or association, for a public office, or in consideration of the selection or indorsement of any other person as a candidate for a public office, or in consideration of any member of a convention, club, society or association, having voted to select or indorse any person as a candidate for a public office. Withdrawal of candidates. h. Shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to or for the use of any other person, in consideration of a person withdrawing as a candidate for a public office.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-40 Receipts for certain purposes prohibited

No person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person: Voting or agreeing to vote. a. Shall receive, agree or contract for, before or during an election, any money, gift, loan or other valuable consideration, office, place or employment, for himself or any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for coming or agreeing to come to the polls, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting, or for voting or agreeing to vote, or refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election. Voting or refraining from voting. b. Shall receive any money or other valuable thing during or after an election, because of himself, or any other person, having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person or persons at such election, or because of himself, or any other person having come to the polls or remained away from the polls at such election, or because of having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons, or to come to or remain away from the polls at such election. Securing delegates or indorsements. c. Shall receive any money or other valuable thing before, during or after an election, because of himself, or any other person having voted to secure the election or indorsement of any other person as the nominee or candidate of any convention, organized assemblage of delegates or other body, representing, or claiming to represent, a political party or principle, or any club, society or association, or because of himself or any other person having aided in securing the selection or indorsement of any other person as a nominee or candidate as above.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-41 Payments and bank deposits in name of another

No person shall make any payment of his money, or of the money of any other person, in connection with any nomination or election in any other name than that of the person who actually supplies such money, nor shall any person knowingly receive such money, or thing of value, and enter it in his accounts or deposit it in any bank or trust company, in any other name than the name of the person who actually supplies the same.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-42 Demand of contributions by office holders from other office holders

No holder of a public office or position shall demand payment or contribution from another holder of a public office or position for the campaign purposes of any candidate or for the use of any political party. Amended by L.1975, c. 70, s. 1, eff. April 24, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-42.1 Annual notice

The Secretary of State shall, during the week of the third Monday in January of every year, send written notification to each State employee and each county and municipal clerk of the prohibitions of this act, and shall at the same time publicize such written notification. L.1975, c. 70, s. 2, eff. April 24, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-42.2 Violations; penalty

Section 1 of this act shall be subject to the penalty provisions of R.S. 19:34-35, but no penalty shall be imposed pursuant to any section of law amended herein for violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act. L.1975, c. 70, s. 3, eff. April 24, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-43 Soliciting for religious and charitable organizations

No person shall demand, solicit, ask or invite any payment or contribution for any religious, charitable or other cause or organization supposed to be primarily for the public good, from any candidate for nomination or election.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-44 Solicitation of candidates for contributions

No person shall demand, solicit, ask or invite any candidate for nomination or election to public office or party position to subscribe for the support of any club or organization, or to buy tickets to any entertainment or ball, or to pay for space in any book, program, periodical or publication. This prohibition shall not apply to the solicitation of business advertising in periodicals in which the candidate was a regular advertiser prior to his candidacy, nor to ordinary business advertising, nor to the regular payments to any organizations, religious, charitable or otherwise, of which he was a member, or to which he was a contributor for more than six months before his candidacy, nor to any ordinary contributions at church services.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-45 Contributions by certain corporations.

19:34-45. No corporation carrying on the business of a bank, savings bank, co-operative bank, trust, trustee, savings indemnity, safe deposit, insurance, railroad, street railway, telephone, telegraph, gas, electric light, heat or power, canal or aqueduct company, or having the right to condemn land, or to exercise franchises in public ways granted by the state or any county or municipality, and no corporation, person, trustee or trustees, owning or holding the majority of stock in any such corporation, shall pay or contribute money or thing of value in order to aid or promote the nomination or election of any person, or in order to aid or promote the interests, success or defeat of any political party. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any corporation carrying on the business of a co-generation facility, as defined in subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c.156 (C.54:15B-2.2), or to any corporation carrying on the business of a retail seller that extends credit, pursuant to the provisions of the "Retail Installment Sales Act of 1960" P.L.1960, c.40 (C.17:16C-1 et seq.), or to any corporation, person, trustee or trustees, owning or holding the majority of stock in either such corporation. Amended 2001, c.384, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-46 Disenfranchisement as additional penalty.

19:34-46. In addition to any penalties provided for violation of any of the provisions of this title, the court imposing such penalty may add thereto that such offender be thenceforth disfranchised as a voter while serving a sentence of incarceration and disqualified to hold any office of trust or profit within this state for such length of time as such court deems proper. amended 2019, c.270, s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-47 Second offense; punishment.

19:34-47. A person who, having once been convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this title, shall again be convicted of a violation of any of its provisions, whether such conviction be for the same offense or not, shall on such second conviction, be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, without eligibility for parole, of one year for a crime of the fourth degree, of two years for a crime of the third degree and of five years for a crime of the second degree, unless the provisions of any other law provide for a higher mandatory minimum term. Amended 2005, c.154, s.47.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-48 Neglect of duties.

19:34-48. Every person charged with the performance of any duty under the provisions of any law of this State relating to elections who willfully neglects or refuses to perform it, or who, in his official capacity, knowingly and fraudulently acts in contravention or violation of any of the provisions of such laws, shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.48.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-49 Abetting violations of title.

19:34-49. Any candidate who procures, aids, assists, counsels, advises or knowingly permits any person to violate this title shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.49.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-50 Committeemen acting after their election voided

Any person chosen as member of the state committee, county committee, or any municipal committee of any political party who shall sit or perform any duty, or exercise any functions as a member of such committee after his election thereto shall have been declared null and void, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and each member of any such committee who shall vote to recognize any such member after such election shall have been declared null and void shall likewise be guilty of a misdemeanor.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-51 Failure of delegate to national convention to surrender void certificate

Any delegate at large or district delegate to any national convention who shall fail to surrender such certificate of election forthwith after the same has been declared null and void, or who shall use such certificate of election, or who shall present such certificate of election as a credential at any such convention, or to any committee on credentials at such convention, or who shall leave the limits of this state with such certificate in his possession with intent to use the same as a credential for admission to any political convention, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-53 Failure to supply information.

19:34-53. Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required or authorized by this title or to exhibit the records, papers or documents herein authorized to be inspected, or which are required to be exhibited, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.50.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-54 Failure to obey subpoena or refusal to testify.

19:34-54. Any person who shall omit, neglect or refuse to obey a subpoena attested in the name of the county clerk, municipal clerk, or county board and made returnable by such clerk or board, or refuses to testify under oath before such clerk or board, shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.51.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-55 False statements under oath.

19:34-55. Any person who makes any false statement under oath before the county clerk, municipal clerk or county board shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Amended 2005, c.154, s.52.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-56 Disobedience of subpoena, penalty

19:34-56. Every person upon whom a subpoena issued under and by virtue of this Title shall have been served, and to whom the lawful fees shall have been paid or tendered, shall obey the command of such subpoena, under the penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00), to be sued for and recovered, with costs, in a civil action, before any court of competent jurisdiction, by the person on whose application such subpoena shall have been issued; but no person shall in any case be required to attend any such examination as a witness out of the county in which he resides. If any person so duly subpoenaed shall neglect or refuse to obey the command of such subpoena, any judge of the Superior Court may, on due proof by affidavit of the service of the subpoena on such witness, and of the payment of his legal fees and of his refusal or neglect to obey the command of the subpoena, issue an attachment against the person to bring him before such judge; and the judge shall have power to proceed against such witness as for a contempt of court. Amended 1953, c.19, s.54; 1991,c.91,s.258.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-57 Subpoena to issue, expenses

19:34-57. If proof be made before any judge of the Superior Court or municipal court of facts constituting probable cause for believing that this Title has been violated, and that any person other than the accused has knowledge of the circumstances connected therewith, such judge shall issue process of subpoena for the appearance of such person before him, to be examined touching the same. The lawful expenses of such subpoena and examination shall be paid by the applicant therefor, and such evidence shall be filed with the clerk of the county, to be used before the grand jury. No such process of subpoena shall be issued or served nor any such examination held on the day of election. Amended 1953, c.19, s.55; 1991,c.91,s.259.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-62 Prosecutor of pleas to present violations to grand jury

If the prosecutor of the pleas of the county shall be notified of any violation of any of the provisions of this title, he shall forthwith diligently inquire into the facts, and if there is reasonable ground for instituting a prosecution, such prosecutor of the pleas shall present the charge, with all the evidence which he can procure, to the grand jury of the county. Nothing herein contained shall justify any such prosecutor in counties of the first class in exercising the powers conferred upon the superintendent of elections in such counties.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-63 Assistant for prosecutor; employment by citizens

Any citizen may employ an attorney to assist the prosecutor of the pleas to perform his duties under this title, and such attorney shall be recognized by the prosecutor of the pleas and the court as associate counsel in the proceedings. No prosecution, action or proceeding shall be dismissed without notice to, or against the objection of, such associate counsel until the reasons of the prosecutor of the pleas for such dismissal, together with the objections thereto of such associate counsel, shall have been filed in writing, argued by counsel and considered by the court, with such limitation as to the time of filing such reasons and objections as the court may impose.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-64 Short title

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Fair Campaign Practices Act." L.1975, c. 190, s. 1, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-65 Person performing function in campaign of candidate for purpose of impeding campaign

No person shall perform any function in the campaign of a candidate for public office or party position for the purpose of impeding the campaign of such candidate while concealing that he is actually acting under the instructions of, or on behalf of, another candidate or such other candidate's paid or volunteer campaign staff. L.1975, c. 190, s. 2, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-66 Knowing production, transmittal or dissemination of mass communication which appears to originate from or be on behalf of campaign of candidate for purpose of impeding campaign

No person shall knowingly produce, transmit or disseminate any election advertisement, literature or other mass communication in any medium, including but not limited to newspapers, magazines, printed circulars, television, radio, movies, telephone, telegraph, billboards and signs, which purports to or appears to originate from, or be on behalf of, the campaign of a candidate for public office or party position, for the purpose of impeding the campaign of such candidate while failing to reveal specifically in such communication that he is acting under the instructions of, or on behalf of, another candidate or such other candidate's paid or volunteer campaign staff; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any owner, manager, editor, publisher, reporter or employee of any newspaper, magazine, periodical or other publication or of any radio or television station who, in the course of his duties, publishes or broadcasts any such advertisement, literature or mass communication. L.1975, c. 190, s. 3, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-67 Payment of or lending money or other valuable consideration to person to induce violation of act

No person shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person acting in his behalf, knowingly give, lend, or agree, offer or promise to give or lend, any money or other valuable consideration, office, place, employment or thing to any person to induce him to violate section 2 or section 3 of this act. L.1975, c. 190, s. 4, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 19:34-68 Violators; disorderly persons

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act shall be a disorderly person. L.1975, c. 190, s. 5, eff. Aug. 16, 1975.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026