Governor Murphy Just Made a SHOCKING Move! Here’s What It Means for Every New Jersey Voter!

Legislation Aims to Prevent Delays and Voter Confusion When Filling Vacant Seats

TRENTON – In a significant move to enhance electoral efficiency, Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law A5886/S4664, a bill that revises the procedures for filling vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives. This new legislation addresses the bottlenecks that have historically delayed the election of new representatives and left constituents without adequate representation.

“Securing a consistent voice for New Jersey’s congressional districts is critical to making sure our government is working for every New Jerseyan,” said Governor Murphy. “This law eliminates barriers to ensuring House seats are filled as quickly as possible without unnecessary confusion for voters or long periods without representation when a seat becomes vacant.”

The impetus for this legislative change stems from previous experiences in New Jersey, where legal stipulations led to prolonged vacancies in the House. Under the previous law, the New Jersey Department of State faced significant challenges in adapting to the tight timelines for special elections, often resulting in administrative burdens for both candidates and election officials. These delays in filling vacant seats left many New Jerseyans unrepresented for extended periods.

The new law implements stricter timelines, mandating that the Governor must issue a writ of election within 10 days following a vacancy. This contrasts with the past requirement, which stipulated that a writ needed to be issued only if there were six months remaining in the term. Furthermore, the Governor is now required to call for a special election anytime there are at least 135 days left in the term, clarifying previous ambiguities that complicated the process.

To streamline the electoral process and minimize voter confusion, the legislation also stipulates that if a special election falls within 45 days of regular primary or general election days, the Governor must designate those regular election dates as the special election days. Additionally, special elections cannot be held within 25 days following a regular primary or general election.

A5886/S4664 outlines specific scenarios for both special primary and special general elections. If a House seat becomes vacant with at least 180 days remaining in the term, both a special primary and a special general election must be held, occurring 70-76 days and 64-70 days after the issuance of the writ, respectively. For vacancies occurring between 135 and 180 days of the term’s end, the special election will coincide with the regular general election, allowing parties to select candidates according to previous laws.

The primary sponsors of A5886/S4664 include Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis, Senator Andrew Zwicker, and Senator John McKeon. They have emphasized the legislation's importance in promoting voter accountability and transparency in government processes.

“Today marks a meaningful step forward for New Jersey voters and democratic accountability,” said Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill. “With the enactment of this legislation, we are ensuring that when a vacancy occurs in the United States House of Representatives, the process to fill it is clearer, fairer, and more responsive to the voices of our communities.”

Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis echoed these sentiments, stating, “Voters deserve predictability and fairness when it comes to filling a vacancy for their federal representative. This important reform modernizes how we fill House vacancies and brings greater transparency and consistency to an essential function of our government.”

Senator Andrew Zwicker underscored the urgency of timely representation, noting, “Our democracy only works when everyone has a voice in Washington. When a U.S. House seat becomes vacant, hundreds of thousands of people are left without a representative to advocate for their district’s specific needs. The way New Jersey’s current system is set up, seats could be left empty for upwards of a year, which is completely unacceptable. This bill will ensure vacancies are filled in a timelier manner.”

Senator John McKeon added, “When seats in the U.S. House of Representatives become vacant, whether it be from the member’s death, resignation, or otherwise, everyday people are left without someone to voice their concerns, or to turn to for constituent services, like navigating issues with federal agencies. This legislation will bring more transparency to the process of filling congressional vacancies and ensure that everyone has the consistent representation they deserve.”

This legislative change is regarded as a pivotal step towards improving electoral integrity and ensuring that New Jerseyans have reliable representation in Congress, regardless of unexpected vacancies. As elections continue to evolve, the focus remains on fostering a more responsive and accountable government.