Supporters say the bill would dissuade frivolous candidates from seeking office. Critics say it’s about protecting incumbents. (Daniella Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)
A bill that would more than double the number of signatures New Jersey office-seekers must receive to get on the ballot is headed to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk after clearing both legislative chambers in party-line votes.
The bill met with resistance from Republican officeholders who charged it was a bid to make it harder to get on the ballot even as candidates are gathering signatures they need to appear on June primary ballots.
“Right now, while candidates across New Jersey are already circulating petitions for the upcoming primary election, this body is moving the goalposts midgame, making it harder for people to run for office,” said Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Sussex). “This is not good governance. This is about protecting incumbents and keeping challengers off the ballot.”
The measure would raise the number of signatures needed to get onto the ballot for virtually every elected office by 150%, requiring partisan candidates for statewide office to get 2,500 registered voters from their party to sign nominating petitions rather than the 1,000 required under current law.
The bill’s sponsors have previously said they are moving to raise signature thresholds to prevent frivolous candidacies and ballot gamesmanship, and on Thursday, they denied the higher thresholds would pose a challenge for genuine office-seekers.
“I just want to make sure the facts are clear and the public understands that this is a task that is worthy of all sincere candidates and is achievable by any candidate that is interested in running for office,” said bill sponsor Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden), the chamber’s majority leader.
The measure cleared the Senate in a 24-13 vote and the Assembly passed it 49-25.
Under the bill, major-party congressional candidates would need 500 signatures, up from 200, and those seeking office in the state Legislature would be required to have 250 voters sign, up from 100.
Signature thresholds for partisan municipal offices would range from just five in municipalities with no more than 2,500 residents and 50 for towns or cities with populations of more than 50,000. For nonpartisan municipal races, the range would be five signatures for the smaller towns and 100 signatures for larger ones.
Candidates for county office would need to secure between 150 and 300 signatures, depending on turnout in the most recent primary.
The bill was originally set to go into effect next January, but was amended earlier this month to apply to this year’s primaries. The governor’s race and all 80 Assembly seats will be on the ballot this year.
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