SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3965

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 16, 2024

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3965.

      As amended by the committee, this bill reschedules the June 3, 2025 primary to take place on June 10, 2025, the following Tuesday, in order to accommodate a period of religious observance.  The bill requires the Secretary of State to inform all county clerks, county boards of election, superintendents of elections, municipal clerks, and members of the public at large in this State of the rescheduled primary election day no later than seven days following the effective date of this bill. 

      Under the bill, all deadlines required to be met ahead of a primary election pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes will correspond to the rescheduled primary election date of June 10, 2025. However, the deadlines related to nominating petitions and the drawing for ballot position pursuant to chapter 23 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, and the deadlines for mailing vote by mail ballots to voters pursuant to "The Vote By Mail Law," P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-1 et seq.), will correspond to the original primary election date of June 3, 2025. 

      Under the bill, all deadlines required to be met following a primary election pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes will correspond to the rescheduled primary election date of June 10, 2025. 

      The bill requires the Secretary of State to publish a calendar containing the dates to be used for the 2025 primary election pursuant to this bill. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amendments provide that:

      (1) all deadlines required to be met ahead of a primary election pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes will correspond to the rescheduled primary election date of June 10, 2025, except for deadlines related to nominating petitions, the drawing for ballot position, mail in ballot mailing deadlines, which will correspond to the original primary election date of June 3, 2025; and

      (2) all deadlines required to be met following a primary election pursuant to Title 19 of the Revised Statutes will correspond to the rescheduled primary election date of June 10, 2025.