New Jersey A 408: Requires State and local law enforcement agencies to assist officers receiving nomination petitions to investigate validity of any objection thereto when requested.

Bill Text

ASSEMBLY, No. 408

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION

Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)

Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Tucker

SYNOPSIS
Requires State and local law enforcement agencies to assist officers
receiving nomination petitions to investigate validity of any objection thereto
when requested.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A408 CAPUTO
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EXPLANATION – Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is
not enacted and is intended to be omitted in the law.

Matter underlined thus is new matter.

AN ACT concerning petitions of nomination and amending 1
R.S.19:13-11. 2
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BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 4
of New Jersey: 5
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1. R.S.19:13-11 is amended to read as follows: 7
19:13-11. The officer with whom the original petition was filed 8
shall in the first instance pass upon the validity of such objection in 9
a summary way unless an order shall be made in the matter by a 10
court of competent jurisdiction and for this purpose such officer 11
shall have power to subpoena witnesses and take testimony or 12
depositions. [He] The officer shall request the assistance of State, 13
county, and local law enforcement agencies, and county 14
superintendents of elections in counties with such an official, to 15
investigate the validity of any objection to a petition. The law 16
enforcement agencies shall provide the results of the investigation 17
within the time required for the officer to pass upon the validity of 18
the objection. The officer shall file his or her determination in 19
writing [in his office] on or before the ninth day after the last day 20
for the filing of petitions, which determination shall be open for 21
public inspection. 22
In the case of petitions nominating electors of candidates for 23
President and Vice President of the United States, which candidates 24
have not been nominated at a convention of a political party as 25
defined by this Title, the Secretary of State shall file his or her 26
determination in writing in his or her office on or before the 93rd 27
day before the general election, which determination shall be open 28
for public inspection. 29
(cf: P.L.2011, c.37, s.1) 30
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2. This act shall take effect on January 1st next following 32
enactment. 33
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STATEMENT 36
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This bill requires the officer authorized to receive petitions of 38
nomination prior to an election to request the assistance of State and 39
local law enforcement authorities to investigate the validity of any 40
objection to a petition of nomination. Under the bill, law 41
enforcement agencies must provide the results of the investigation 42
to the officer within the time required for that individual to pass 43
upon the validity of the objection. 44