N.J. Stat. tit. 19, ch. 14

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-1 Copy for printer.

19:14-1. Every county clerk shall have ready for the printer on or before the 60th day prior to the primary election and on or before the 64th day prior to the general election a copy of the contents of official ballots as hereinafter required to be printed for use at such election. The county clerk shall also on or before that time place another copy of such contents on file in the county clerk's office and keep the same open to public inspection until the sample ballots hereinafter provided to be printed shall have been distributed. amended 1985, c.92, s.16; 2011, c.37, s.6; 2022, c.70, s.1; 2023, c.16, s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-2 Contents; names of candidates; public questions

There shall be a single or blanket form of ballot, upon which shall be printed the names of all the candidates of every party or group of petitioners having candidates to be voted for at such election. The name of a candidate nominated at the primary who shall fail to accept his nomination, or file the oath of allegiance executed, in the manner herein provided shall not be printed on the ballot. The name of a candidate whose nomination has been vacated as hereinbefore provided shall not be printed on the ballot. The name of a candidate shall appear but once upon the ballot for the same office. Except as to the requirements of section 19:14-15 of this Title as to State-wide propositions, any public question which is to be submitted to the people of the State, county or municipality at the general election, shall be printed in a separate space at the foot of the ballot with appropriate instructions to the voter. Amended by L.1949, c. 24, p. 75, s. 6.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-2.1 Inclusion on general election ballot of candidate with votes in primary by irregular ballot or write-in vote; requirements

The name of a person for whom votes are cast by irregular ballot or by write-in vote in a primary election to nominate candidates for elective office shall not be included on the ballot at the general election unless he received a number of irregular ballots or write-in votes for that office at the primary election at least equal to the number of signatures required on a petition to place upon the primary election ballot the name of a candidate for that office, pursuant to R.S. 19:23-8. L.1981, c. 264, s. 1, eff. Aug. 14, 1981.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-3 Detachable coupon; printing thereon

Each ballot shall have at the top a detachable coupon the width of the ballot above a perforated line not less than two inches from and parallel to the upper edge of the paper. These coupons shall be numbered consecutively from one to the number of ballots delivered to and received by the member or members of the district board for their respective election district. Upon the coupon and above the perforated line shall be the words: "Ballot No. (number in figures)" as near the center of the coupon as may be practical, and below said number, and above perforated line shall be printed the following words: "To be torn off by the member of the board of registry and election in charge of the ballot box on election day." "Fold to this line."

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-4 Official elections; ballots; specifications.

19:14-4. In the center of the ballot immediately below the perforated line shall be printed in bold-faced type the words "Official general election ballot." Below these words and extending across the ballot shall appear the words: "Name of (municipality), ...................... ward, .................... school district (if applicable), ........................fire district (if applicable),...................... election district, ...................... date of election, .................. John Doe, county clerk." The blank spaces shall be filled in with the name of the proper municipality, the ward and district numbers and the date of the election. For school and fire district elections, the name of the school district or the name and number of the fire district, and of the municipality or municipalities comprising the district, shall also be indicated thereon. The name of the county clerk shall be a facsimile of his signature. Below the last stated words extending across the ballot and at the extreme left shall be printed the words "Instructions to the voter," and immediately to the right there shall be a bracket embracing the following instructions numbered consecutively: (1) The only kind of a mark to be made on this ballot in voting shall be a cross x, plus + or check ?. (2) To mark a cross x, plus +, check ? or when writing a name on this ballot use only ink or pencil. (3) To vote for any candidates whose names are printed in any column, mark a cross x, plus + or check ? in the square at the left of the names of such candidates not in excess of the number to be elected to the office. (4) To vote for any person whose name is not printed on this ballot, write or paste the name of such person under the proper title of office in the column designated personal choice and mark a cross x, plus + or check ? in the square to the left of the name so written or pasted. (5) To vote upon any public question printed on this ballot if in favor thereof, mark a cross x, plus + or check ? in the square at the left of the word "Yes," and if opposed thereto, mark a cross x, plus + or check ? in the square at the left of the word "No." (6) Do not mark this ballot in any other manner than above provided for and make no erasures. Should this ballot be wrongly marked, defaced, torn or any erasure made thereon or otherwise rendered unfit for use return it and obtain another. In presidential years, the following instructions shall be printed upon the general election ballot: (7) To vote for all the electors of any party, mark a cross x, plus + or check ? in ink or pencil in the square at the left of the surnames of the candidates for president and vice-president for whom you desire to vote. Below the above-stated instructions and information and, except when compliance with R.S.19:14-13 as to Statewide propositions otherwise requires, three inches below the perforated line and parallel to it, there shall be printed a six-point diagram rule extending across the ballot to within not less than a half inch to the right and left edges of the paper. amended 1941, c.166, s.2; 1947, c.104, s.1; 1994, c.77, s.6; 1995, c.278, s.17; 2011, c.202, s.26; 2017, c.206, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-5 Printing body of ballot

From each end of such six-point diagram rule there shall be printed a four-point diagram rule extending at right angles and from such six-point rule to within not less than a half inch of the lower edge of the paper. Between these four-point rules and parallel to them and beginning at the six-point rule there shall be printed eight-point diagram rules to divide the ballot into vertical columns.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-6 Column designations; accompanying instructions.

19:14-6. In each column, immediately below the six-point rule, shall be printed the proper word or words to designate the column, to be known as the "column designation." In the columns at the extreme left shall be printed the name of each of the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election every year, directly under which shall appear the words "to vote for any candidate whose name appears in the column below, mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square at the left of the name of such candidate. Do not vote for more candidates than are to be elected to any office." Such columns shall be three inches in width. The column next to the right of such columns shall be designated "personal choice, "under which shall appear the words" in the blank column below, under the proper title of office, the voter may write or paste the name of any person for whom he desires to vote, whose name is not printed on this ballot, and shall mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square at the left of such name. Do not vote for more candidates than are to be elected to any office." There shall also be the same instructions regarding electors of president and vice-president which now appear at the head of all other columns. This column shall be four inches in width. The remaining column or columns, as the case may be, shall each be designated "Nomination by Petition," under which shall be printed the words "to vote for any candidate whose name appears in the column below mark a cross x, plus + or check in the square at the left of the name of such candidate. Do not vote for more candidates than are to be elected to any office." These columns shall be four inches in width. Below the column designations and accompanying instructions and not more than one and one-half inches below the six-point diagram rule and parallel thereto, shall be printed a six-point diagram rule extending across the entire ballot from one four point rule to the other. amended 1947, c.104, s.2; 2005, c.136, s.22; 2011, c.134, s.20.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-7 Printed rulings on ballot

Below such six-point rule and parallel thereto, extending across the entire ballot from one four-point rule to the other, shall be printed two-point hair line rules approximately five-sixteenths inch and not over twenty-four points apart of a number sufficient to meet the requirements of the party columns. In place of the last two-point hair line rule there shall be printed a six-point diagram rule, extending across the entire ballot from one four-point rule to the other, at which the eight-point diagram rules dividing the ballot into vertical columns shall terminate.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-8 Arrangement of ballots.

19:14-8. In the columns of each of the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election to the general election and in the personal choice column, within the space between the two-point hair line rules, there shall be printed the title of each office to be filled at such election, except as hereinafter provided. Such titles of office shall be arranged in the following order: electors of President and Vice-President of the United States; member of the United States Senate; Governor; member of the House of Representatives; member of the State Senate; members of the General Assembly; county executive, in counties that have adopted the county executive plan of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.); sheriff; county clerk; surrogate; register of deeds and mortgages; county supervisor; members of the board of chosen freeholders; coroners; mayor and members of municipal governing bodies, and any other titles of office. Candidates for members of a school board and for members of a board of fire commissioners shall be listed in a section of the ballot that is separate from the section featuring other candidates whenever possible in a layout at the discretion of the county clerk. Above each of such titles of office, except the one at the top, shall be printed a two-point diagram rule in place of the two-point hair line rule. Below the titles of such offices shall be printed the names of the candidates for the offices. The arrangement of the names of candidates for any office for which more than one are to be elected shall be determined in the manner hereinafter provided, as in the case of candidates nominated by petition. When no nomination for an office has been made the words "No Nomination Made" in type large enough to fill the entire space or spaces below the title of office shall be printed upon the ballot. Immediately to the left of the name of each candidate, at the extreme left of each column, including the personal choice column, shall be printed a square, one-quarter of an inch in size, formed by two-point diagram rules. In the personal choice column no names of candidates shall be printed. To the right of the title of each office in the party columns and the personal choice column shall be printed the words "Vote for," inserting in words the number of persons to be elected to such office. amended 1951, c.315, s.1; 1995, c.191, s.1; 2005, c.136, s.23; 2011, c.134, s.21; 2011, c.202, s.27; 2017, c.206, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-8.1 Ballots for presidential electors

When Presidential Electors are to be elected, their names shall not be printed upon the ballot, either paper or voting machine, but in lieu thereof, the names of the candidates of their respective parties or political bodies for President and Vice-President of the United States shall be printed together in pairs under the title "Presidential Electors for." All ballots marked for the candidates for President and Vice-President of a party or political body, shall be counted as votes for each candidate for Presidential Elector of such party or political body. L.1944, c. 16, p. 41, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-9 Duplicate nominations for same office; selection of column and designation

A candidate who receives more than one nomination for the same office, either from more than one political party or from more than one group of petitioners, or from one or more political parties and one or more groups of petitioners, shall have his name printed on the official general election ballot in only one column to be selected by him from among the columns to which his nominations entitle him, and shall have such designations after his name as he shall select, consisting of the names of the political parties nominating him, with the words "Indorsed By" , if he so desires, and the several designations to which he is entitled by the other nominations, if any, and printed in such order as he shall select. The candidate shall file with the secretary of state or county clerk, as the case may be, his selection of his column, and the designations to follow his name and their order. Unless such selection is so filed within seven days after the primary election, the secretary of state or county clerk, as the case may be, shall determine in what column and with what designations his name shall be printed. The designations shall be printed in small type, and if necessary, in several lines or in a line below his name and may be abbreviated.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-10 Nominations by petition.

19:14-10. In the column or columns designated as nominations by petition, within the space between the two-point hair line rules, there shall be printed the title of each office for which nominations by petition have been made. Such titles of office shall be arranged in the following order: electors of President and Vice-President of the United States; member of the United States Senate; Governor and Lieutenant Governor; member of the House of Representatives; member of the State Senate; members of the General Assembly; county executive, in counties that have adopted the county executive plan of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.); sheriff; county clerk; surrogate; register of deeds and mortgages; county supervisor; members of the board of chosen freeholders; coroners; mayor and members of municipal governing bodies; members of the school board, when appropriate; members of the board of fire commissioners, when appropriate; and any other titles of office. Above each of the titles of office, except the one on the top, shall be printed a two-point diagram rule in place of the two-point hair line rule. Below the titles of each of the offices shall be printed the names of each of the candidates for each of such offices followed by the designation or designations mentioned in the petitions filed. Immediately to the left of the name of each candidate, at the extreme left of the column, shall be printed a square, one-quarter of an inch in size formed by two-point diagram rules. The names of candidates for any office for which more than one are to be elected shall be arranged in groups as presented in the several certificates of nominations or petitions, which groups shall be separated from other groups and candidates by two two-point hair line rules. To the right of the title of each office shall be printed the words "Vote for" inserting in words the number of candidates to be elected to such office. amended 1951, c.315, s.2; 1995, c.191, s.2; 2009, c.66, s.3; 2011, c.202, s.28; 2017, c.206, s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-12 Procedure for determining position on ballot.

19:14-12. The county clerk shall draw lots in his county to determine which columns the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election shall occupy on the ballot in the county. The name of the party first drawn shall occupy the first column at the left of the ballot, and the name of the party next drawn shall occupy the second column, and so forth. The position which the names of candidates, and bracketed groups of names of candidates nominated by petitions for all offices, shall have upon the general election ballot, shall be determined by the county clerks in their respective counties. The manner of drawing the lots shall be as follows: paper slips with the names of each political party written thereon shall be placed in capsules of the same size, shape, color, and substance and then placed in a covered box with an aperture in the top large enough to admit a man's hand and to allow the capsules to be drawn therefrom. The box shall be well shaken and turned over to thoroughly intermingle the capsules. The county clerk or his deputy shall, at his office, draw from the box each capsule separately without knowledge on his part as to which capsule he is drawing. The person making the drawing shall open the capsule and shall make public announcement, at the drawing of each name, the order in which name is drawn and the office for which the drawing is made. Where there is but one person to be elected to an office, the names of the several candidates who have filed petitions for such office shall be written upon paper slips and placed in separate capsules of the same size, shape, color, and substance. The capsules shall be placed in a covered box with an aperture in the top large enough to admit a man's hand and to allow the capsules to be drawn therefrom. The box shall be turned and shaken thoroughly to mix the capsules and the capsules shall be withdrawn one at a time. When there is more than one person to be elected to an office where petitions have designated that certain candidates shall be bracketed, the position of such bracketed names on the ballot (each bracketed group to be treated as a single name), together with individuals who have filed petitions for such office, shall be determined as above described. Any legal voter of the county or municipality, as the case may be, shall have the privilege of witnessing the drawing. The name or names of the candidate or bracketed group of candidates first drawn from the box shall be printed directly below the proper title of the office for which they were nominated, and the name or names of the candidate or bracketed group of candidates next drawn shall be printed next in order, and so on, until the last name or bracketed group of names shall be drawn from the box. The arrangement of names of any bracketed group of candidates for any office for which more than one are to be elected shall be printed in the same order on the ballot as they were arranged on the petition of nomination. The drawing for the positions which the names of candidates and bracketed groups of names of candidates, nominated by petition for office, and for the columns which the political parties which made nominations at the next preceding primary election and for the general election shall occupy upon the general election ballot, shall be held at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the eighty-fifth day prior to the day of the general election, except that in the case of a special election to fill a vacancy in any office, the drawing for the positions which the names of candidates shall occupy upon the special election ballot shall be held as soon as practicable following the special primary election for the special election, or the nomination of candidates by the respective political parties pursuant to R.S.19:13-20, as appropriate, provided that the public shall be given sufficient notice to witness the drawing. amended 1942, c.50, s.7; 1948, c.2, s.21; 1949, c.207; 1968, c.226, s.1; 1977, c.431, s.1; 2005, c.136, s.24; 2011, c.134, s.22; 2025, c.275, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-13 Arrangement of public questions

All public questions to be voted upon by the voters of the entire State shall be placed first and shall be printed in the order as certified by the Secretary of State. All public questions to be voted for by the voters of a municipality shall be placed second and shall be printed in the order as determined by the drawing of lots by the county clerk. All public questions to be voted for by the voters of a county shall be placed last and shall be printed in the order as determined by the drawing of lots by the county clerk. The county clerk shall draw lots in substantially the same manner as the drawing is made for the arrangement of candidates' names upon the ballot. Amended by L.1979, c. 191, s. 1, eff. Sept. 13, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-14 Public questions at foot of ballot; instructions to voters

Immediately below the six-point diagram rule to be printed in place of the last two-point hair line rule across the entire ballot, from one four-point rule to the other, shall be printed as near to the center of the ballot as possible the following words: "Public Questions to be voted upon" . Below these words and above the first public question, beginning one and one-half inches to the right of the four-point rule at the left of the ballot and extending to not more than one and one-half inches from the four-point rule at the right of the ballot, shall be printed in one line, if possible, the following instructions: "To vote upon the Public Questions printed below, if in favor thereof mark a cross x or plus + in the square at the left of the word "Yes', and if opposed thereto, mark a cross x or plus + in the square at the left of the word "No'," underscored with a two-point diagram rule. Below and flush with the left end of said two-point diagram rule shall be printed two separate squares, one under the other, three-eighths of an inch in size formed by two-point diagram rules. Immediately to the right of the upper square shall be printed the word "Yes" , and immediately to the right of the lower square shall be printed the word "No" . To the right of the words "Yes" and "No" shall be printed a bracket embracing these words and to the right of the bracket shall be printed across the ballot, to not nearer than one and one-half inches from the four-point diagram rule at the right of the ballot, each public question to be voted upon. Below each such public question shall be printed two-point diagram rule beginning one and one-half inches to the right of the four-point rule at the left of the ballot and extending to not nearer than one and one-half inches from the four-point rule at the right of the ballot. In place of the last two-point diagram rule there shall be printed a four-point diagram rule extending across the entire ballot not less than a half inch from the lower edge of the paper and terminating at the lower ends of the four-point diagram rules at either side of the ballot. Amended by L.1947, c. 104, p. 522, s. 3; L.1979, c. 191, s. 2, eff. Sept. 13, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-16 Style of type, rulings and spacing.

19:14-16. The words to be printed on the perforated coupon shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters and the figures in eighteen and twenty-two-point bold-faced type. At the head of the ballot the words "Official General Election Ballot" shall be printed in at least thirty-point bold-faced capital letters. The name of municipality, ward, school district, fire district, election district, and date, as appropriate, shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters. For a fire district election, the number of the fire district shall also be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters. The words "Instructions to the voter" shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capitals and small letters, while the instructions embraced within the brackets shall be printed in eight-point bold-faced capital and small letters. The column designations shall be printed in eighteen-point bold-faced capital letters and the accompanying instructions shall be printed in eight-point capitals and small letters. The titles of office and accompanying instructions shall be printed in ten-point bold-faced capital and small letters. When there is no nomination made at the primary for an office, the title shall be printed in the space where such title should appear, and the words "No Nomination Made" in type large enough to fill the entire space or spaces shall be printed therein. The names of all candidates shall be printed in ten-point capital letters. The designations following the candidates' names in the nomination by petition column or columns shall be printed in ten-point capitals and small letters, except that where they overrun the space within the column the designations may be abbreviated, and all spaces between the two-point hair line rules not occupied by the titles of office and names of candidates shall be printed in with scroll or filling to guide the voter against wrongly marking the ballot. On the foot of the ballot the words "Public Questions to be Voted Upon" shall be printed in eighteen-point bold-faced capital letters. The accompanying instructions shall be printed in eight-point capital and small letters. The public questions to be voted upon shall be printed in ten-point capital and small letters, and the words "Yes" and "No" shall be printed in twelve-point bold-faced capital letters. amended 2011, c.202, s.29; 2017, c.206, s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-18 Number of ballots on hand

Not later than noon of the fifth day preceding the general election the county clerk shall have printed and on hand in his office one and one-fifth times as many official ballots for each election district in each municipality in the county as there are voters registered in such election district.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-19 Custody of printed ballots

The county clerk shall keep such ballots in his custody and be responsible therefor until they shall be delivered to the municipal clerks as hereinafter provided.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-20 Correction of errors

When it shall appear that an error or omission has occurred in the copy prepared by the county clerk for the printer or in the printing of the ballots by any county clerk, any voter resident in the county may present to a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the county a verified petition setting forth such error or omission; and such judge being satisfied thereof, shall thereupon summarily, by his order, require the county clerk to correct such error or show cause before the judge at the shortest possible day, why same should not be corrected. The county clerk shall correct the same by causing new ballots to be immediately printed in place of those found to be inaccurate or incomplete; and those found to be inaccurate or incomplete shall be immediately destroyed. Amended by L.1953, c. 19, p. 330, s. 15.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-21 Preparation; delivery of sample ballots and envelopes to municipal clerk or commissioner of registration.

19:14-21. The county clerk shall cause samples of the official general election ballot to be printed in English, but for each election district within the county in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, shall cause samples of the official general election ballot to be printed bilingually in English and Spanish. a. In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, the county clerk not later than noon of the eighth day prior to the start of the early voting period for the general election shall furnish to the municipal clerk of each municipality in his county one and one-tenth times as many such sample ballots and stamped envelopes as there are voters registered, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, to enable each municipal clerk to mail one of such sample ballots to each voter who is registered in the municipality, except those voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, for such election and shall take a receipt for the same from each of the municipal clerks, which receipt shall indicate the number of such sample ballots and stamped envelopes delivered by the county clerk and the date and hour of their delivery. b. In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections may have the equipment or facilities to prepare a properly stamped envelope addressed to each registered voter in the county for mailing, the county clerk, not later than the eighth day preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election, shall furnish to the commissioner of registration located in his county one and one-tenth times as many stamped envelopes as there are registered voters in the county, less the number of voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, and not later than noon of the seventh day preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election shall furnish to the commissioner of registration located in the county, one and one-tenth times as many sample ballots as there are registered voters in the county to enable the commissioner of registration of the county to mail one of such sample ballots to each voter registered in the county, except those voters who have been sent a confirmation notice pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.19:31-15 and have not responded, for such election and shall take a receipt for the same from the commissioner of registration, which receipt shall indicate the number of such sample ballots and stamped envelopes delivered by the county clerk and the date and hour of their delivery. County boards of elections which elect to operate under the provisions of this paragraph shall notify their county clerk in sufficient time to enable him to make the necessary arrangements the first year. c. The county clerk in counties having a superintendent of elections shall also deliver to the county board not later than the seventh day preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election 10 such sample ballots of each election district of each municipality in the county. d. During the early voting period for the general election, the county clerk may provide for the electronic display of sample ballots at each early voting location. If a county clerk elects to provide for the electronic display of sample ballots at each early voting location, at a minimum, the electronic display shall provide the sample ballot in the languages required by Title 19 of the Revised Statutes or federal law as applicable to the county. amended 1941, c.275, s.1; 1946, c.261, s.1; 1947, c.168, s.3; 1974, c.30, s.2; 2009, c.110, s.1; 2021, c.40, s.10.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-21.1 Information sent to newly-registered voters for general election.

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a voter who registers after the 29th day prior to a general election and who is eligible to participate in that election may be sent, instead of a sample ballot, notice of the voter's polling place, information on where to obtain a sample ballot prior to the election, a statement indicating that a sample ballot will be available at the polling place on the day of the election, and, if applicable, information on a county website where a sample ballot may be viewed. L.2005,c.139,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-22 Form and contents; color of paper.

19:14-22. The official general election sample ballots shall be as nearly as possible facsimiles of the official general election ballot to be voted at such election and shall have printed thereon, after the words which indicate the number of the election district for which such sample ballots are printed, the name of the school district, when appropriate, the number or name and municipality or municipalities of the fire district, when appropriate, the street address or location of the polling place in the election district, and the hours between which the polls shall be open. Such sample ballots shall be printed on paper different in color from the official general election ballot, and have the following words printed in large type at the top: "This ballot cannot be voted. It is a sample copy of the official general election ballot used on election day." The sample ballot shall also state clearly the days, hours and places at which early voting shall be available in the county. amended 1959, c.139; 2011, c.202, s.30; 2017, c.206, s.7; 2021, c.40, s.11.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-23 Envelopes for mailing official general election sample ballots

The stamped envelopes shall be of sufficient size and have sufficient postage to enable the official general election sample ballots and anything else required to be enclosed therewith to be mailed therein. On the face of each of the envelopes shall be printed the words "Official General Election Sample Ballot" in large type and in small type in the upper left-hand corner, the words: "If not delivered in two days return to the "Superintendent of Elections' " in counties having a superintendent of elections and to the "Commissioner of Registration" in all other counties and in the lower left-hand corner shall be printed the words "Municipality" followed by a line " ," "Ward" followed by a line " ," and "district" followed by a line " ," arranged in three lines one under the other. Amended by L.1947, c. 168, p. 742, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-24 Delivery by municipal clerks to district boards.

19:14-24. The municipal clerk to whom the sample ballots and stamped envelopes have been so delivered by the county clerk shall deliver the same at his office, or in any other way he sees fit, on or before noon of the Tuesday preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election, to a member or members of each district board, and shall take a receipt for the same from the member or members of the district boards of such municipality, which receipt shall indicate the number of sample ballots and stamped envelopes delivered by the municipal clerk and the date and hour of their delivery. amended 2021, c.40, s.12.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-25 Mailing by district board or commissioner of registration; county board of elections; duties of.

19:14-25. In counties not having a superintendent of elections where the county board of elections does not have the equipment or facilities to address and mail sample ballot envelopes, the municipal clerk shall prepare and deposit in the post office, on or before 12 noon on Wednesday preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the sample ballot printed in English, addressed to each registered voter in the district of such board at the address shown on the register, except that for districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the bilingual sample ballot, addressed to each registered voter in the district of such board at the address shown on the register shall be prepared and deposited. The board shall also post the appropriate sample ballots in the polling place in its district. The board shall return to the municipal clerk all ballots and envelopes not mailed or posted by it, with a sworn statement in writing signed by a majority of the board that all the remainder of such ballots and envelopes had been mailed. In counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b. of section 19:14-21 of this Title, the commissioner of registration shall prepare and deposit in the post office on or before 12:00 o'clock noon, on the Wednesday preceding the start of the early voting period for the general election, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the sample ballot printed in English addressed to each registered voter in the county at the address shown on the registry, except that for districts in which the primary language of 10% or more of the registered voters is Spanish, a properly stamped envelope containing a copy of the bilingual sample ballot, addressed to each registered voter in the district of such board at the address shown on the register shall be prepared and deposited. The commissioner of registration shall return to the county clerk all ballots and envelopes not mailed or posted by him, with a sworn statement in writing signed by him that all the remainder of such ballots and envelopes have been mailed. The county board of elections, in all counties having a superintendent of elections, and in other counties where the county board of elections shall elect to operate under the provisions of subsection b. of section 19:14-21 of this Title, shall, not later than the start of the early voting period for the election, deliver to the members of the district board three appropriate sample ballots for their respective election district. The board shall post the appropriate sample ballots in the polling place in its district. amended 1941, c.275, s.2; 1946, c.261, s.2; 1947, c.168, s.5; 1952, s.61, s.1; 1974, c.30, s.3; 2021, c.40, s.13.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-25.1 Sample ballot not required to be sent under certain circumstances.

9. A county clerk shall not be required to send a sample ballot for any election to a voter who has been sent a mail-in ballot for that election, pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-3), and whose voted ballot has been received by the county board of elections prior to the transmission of sample ballots to voters required by R.S.19:14-25. A county may send an acknowledgment to a voter when his or her mail-in ballot has been received by the board. L.2018, c.72, s.9.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-26 Preservation of envelopes and ballots returned by postmaster

The county board, commissioner, or superintendent, as the case may be, shall preserve all envelopes and sample ballots which shall have been mailed by the district boards but returned to it or him by the postmasters of the various municipalities of the county, for the space of six months and the same shall be open to public inspection for the space of three months after the primary or the general or other election, as the case may be.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-27 Inclusion with sample ballot; other arrangements in certain counties

Except as provided by section 19:14-33 of this Title, when any question or proposition shall be submitted to the people of the State at any general election or at any election held to vote on a constitutional amendment, there shall be mailed to each registered voter in the same envelope with the sample ballot a printed copy of the act of the Legislature or constitutional amendment which is so submitted; provided, however, in counties where sample ballots are so folded that they can be mailed to the registrants without being inserted in envelopes, as permitted by section 19:49-4 of this Title, the commissioner of registration shall make such arrangements for mailing the printed copy of the act of the Legislature or constitutional amendment as are practical to enable each registrant to receive a copy thereof. Amended by L.1947, c. 53, p. 188, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-28 Descriptive marks in case of amendments

When an amendment to the constitution or to a statute is so mailed, such part thereof as is new and not contained in the existing constitution or statute shall be underscored, and if any portion of the existing law or constitution is to be omitted in the proposed amendment, such portion shall be enclosed in brackets in the printed copies of the existing law or constitution so mailed, and there shall be annexed a note explaining the significance of the brackets and underscoring.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-29 Relation to statute or constitution made clear

When a copy of an act of the legislature is required by section 19:14-27 of this title to be printed and mailed to each registered voter, and such act is an amendment or supplement to a statute of this state, there shall be printed and mailed to each registered voter as hereinbefore provided, in addition to the copy of the act submitted, such portion of the statute to which the same is an amendment or supplement as shall be necessary clearly to disclose to the voter the relation of the act submitted to the existing statute law. When a copy of a constitutional amendment is required by said section 19:14-27 to be printed and mailed, then in addition to the copy of the constitutional amendments submitted, there shall be printed and mailed to each registered voter as hereinbefore provided, such portion of the constitution as shall be necessary clearly to disclose to the voter the relation of the amendment submitted to the existing constitution.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-30 Attorney general to designate information to be sent

When under the provisions of this title it shall be necessary to mail to the voters any portion of the statute law of the state or any portion of the state constitution, the attorney general shall designate by writing filed with the secretary of state what portion of the statute law or state constitution shall be so printed and mailed.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-31 Summary statement sufficient

The attorney general, in place of or in addition to designating any portion of the statute law or state constitution to be so printed and mailed, may, if he deems proper, make a summary statement of the existing law or constitutional provisions upon the subject so far as necessary to inform the voters of the effect which the adoption or rejection of the question or proposition submitted to them will have upon such statute law or state constitution, and the mailing of such summary statement shall be a compliance with the provisions of this title.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-32 Printing and delivery by secretary of state

When by section 19:14-27 of this title copies of an act of the legislature or of a constitutional amendment are required to be printed and mailed, the secretary of state shall cause to be printed and, at least twenty days before the election at which the question or proposition is to be submitted, shall deliver to each county clerk a number of copies of the printed matter to be mailed as hereinbefore required, at least twenty per cent greater than the number of registered voters in the county.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-33 When referendum notices unnecessary

It shall not be necessary for the secretary of state, or any other official, to cause notice to be published of any state-wide proposition directed by the legislature to be submitted to the people, nor shall it be necessary for the secretary of state, or any other official, to cause to be printed and mailed to the registered voters copies of the act or acts to be voted upon.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-34 County clerks to municipal clerks; packages sealed; record of delivery; receipts

The county clerks of the several counties, not later than three days prior to the general election shall cause to be delivered to the clerk of each municipality within their respective counties, the number of ballots hereinbefore required to be provided for each election district within his municipality at such election. The same shall be delivered in sealed packages, one for each election district of the municipality, with marks or directions on the outside of each clearly stating the election district for which it is intended, together with the number of ballots. The county clerk shall also keep a record of the time when and the manner in which each of the packages was delivered. Receipts for the ballots thus delivered shall be given by the clerk receiving the same and filed with the county clerk, and shall be preserved by such clerk for the period of one year.

N.J. Stat. § 19:14-35 Municipal clerk to member of district board; delivery by member of board to board; receipts

The municipal clerk shall on the day preceding any such general election, deliver, at his office or in any other way that he sees fit, to one of the members of each district board within his municipality, the ballot box, the ballot box keys, the ballots, and all other equipment and supplies received from the county clerk or the county board for such election district, and in addition shall deliver to the member all other equipment and supplies as herein provided to be furnished by the municipal clerk to the district boards of his municipality for balloting at the general election, and take the receipt of the member therefor, which last mentioned receipt the clerk of the municipality shall file and preserve for one year. The member of each district board shall on the morning of election and before the proclamation of the opening of the polls, deliver the ballot box, the packages of ballots and all other equipment and supplies by him received to the district board of which he is a member, with the seals thereof unbroken, and shall take a receipt therefor from the board, which receipt the member shall file and preserve for one year.

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