The current primary date, June 3, overlaps with Shavuot, during which observant Jews cannot write, drive, or use electronics. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)
A bill to delay the 2025 New Jersey primary election by one week to avoid conflicting with a Jewish holiday is on the governor’s desk after winning approval from both legislative chambers Thursday.
The measure would reschedule the primary to June 10. The current date, June 3, overlaps with Shavuot, during which observant Jews cannot write, drive, or use electronics.
The bill won unanimous approval in the Senate and the Assembly. Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign it.
“We have an obligation to encourage participation and ensure everyone can participate and trust our electoral system. We cannot allow deeply held and legitimate religious beliefs to become a barrier to voting,” the governor previously said in a joint statement with Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex).
Under the bill, some deadlines related to the primary would shift to correspond with the new June 10 date, though deadlines for nominating petitions, ballot position drawings, and sending vote-by-mail ballots to voters would still correspond to the original primary election date.
Asked Thursday about towns that close schools on the day of the primary, Scutari said, “If there’s an issue with it, I’m sure we’ll hear about it.”
Next year’s primary race will include the gubernatorial contest. Six Democrats and eight Republicans have declared their intentions to run to succeed Murphy, who is barred from seeking a third consecutive term.
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