LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3815

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

DATED: JUNE 5, 2026

SUMMARY

Synopsis:	Establishes public awareness campaign concerning federal rules for US Postal Service postmark and its effect on mail-in ballots; directs Secretary of State to evaluate adequacy of mail-in ballot drop box placement and usage; appropriates $100,000.
Type of Impact:	One-time State expenditure increase; potential one-time local expenditure and revenue increases.
Agencies Affected:	Department of State; County Boards of Elections.

Office of Legislative Services Estimate
One-Time Fiscal Impact
State Expenditure Increase	Up to $100,000
Potential Local Expenditure Increase	Indeterminate
Potential Local Revenue Increase	Indeterminate

· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) anticipates that requiring the Department of State to develop a public awareness campaign about the impacts of postmark dates on mail-in ballots and to assess and evaluate ballot drop box placement in each county would increase State expenditures by up to $100,000 in the year following the bill’s passage.

· Any activity that results in increased workloads for county boards of elections might also increase local government expenditures by an indeterminate amount, for which local government revenues might also increase by a corresponding indeterminate amount if any part of the expenditure increase is eligible for reimbursement by the State.

BILL DESCRIPTION

      This bill requires the Department of State to establish a public awareness campaign concerning the federal rules defining the United States Postal Service postmark and its potential impacts on the postmark of mail-in ballots.

      The Secretary of State will develop and implement a public awareness campaign about the impacts of postmark dates on mail-in ballots through the department’s website and media outlets, which will include, but not be limited to: Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, and television advertisements.

      The public awareness campaign will inform the public of the risk of a mail-in ballot not being accepted if it is postmarked after election day, despite being mailed by election day. The campaign will also inform the public that voters may also deposit their mail-in ballots in ballot drop boxes without being impacted by the United States Postal Service postmark processes.

      The bill also appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State to develop and implement the public awareness campaign.

      In addition, the bill requires the Department of State, in collaboration with all county boards of elections in this State, to assess ballot drop box placement in each county and evaluate the usage of such drop boxes to ensure their placement meets the current needs of voters. Based on the evaluation, the department is required to issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning any statutory changes deemed necessary, including changes to the number and location of ballot drop boxes.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

      None received.

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

      The OLS anticipates that requiring the Department of State to develop a public awareness campaign about the impacts of postmark dates on mail-in ballots and to assess and evaluate ballot drop box placement in each county would increase State expenditures by up to $100,000 in the year following the bill’s passage.

      Any activity that results in increased workloads for county boards of elections might also increase local government expenditures by an indeterminate amount, for which local government revenues might also increase by a corresponding indeterminate amount if any part of the expenditure increase is eligible for reimbursement by the State.

Section:	State Government
Analyst:	Anna Harris Associate Fiscal Analyst
Approved:	Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).