Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes County Board of Elections to determine the location of certain ballot drop boxes under certain circumstances.

Highlights:

• Requires the Board of Elections in each county to determine the locations of the ballot drop boxes in compliance with the requirements of this law. The ballot drop box locations will be approved by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Elections (Sec. 1.b).

• Specifies in the event of a tie in the votes cast by the members of the board of elections, the county clerk will cast the deciding vote. Whenever possible, at least 1 ballot drop box will be located in a municipality with an average per capita income or a median family income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline according to the most recent federal American Community Survey (Sec. 1.b).

• Requires the county board of elections in each county to create ballot drop boxes where voters may deposit their vote by mail-in ballots at least 45 days before the election. The ballot drop boxes will be located throughout the county in a manner specified within this law (Sec. 1.b-1).

• Requires the Secretary of State to create guidelines necessary to ensure the secure and successful implementation of the mail-in ballot drop boxes mandated by this law to ensure adequate access in various geographic areas of the county (Sec. 1.c).

• Establishes guidelines for the Secretary of State to interface with the Board of Elections. The criteria for these guidelines include the following (Sec. 1.c):

• Determine the number of ballot drop boxes required per voter population, considering both the number of registered voters and the number of registered mail-in voters in each county before each election;

• Select the geographic location of each ballot drop box, ensuring an equitable distribution of ballot drop boxes across the county to maximize convenience to voters;

• Ensure the accessibility of ballot drop boxes and drop box locations to persons with disabilities; and

• Maintain the security of ballot drop boxes and the ballots deposited therein, including standards and procedures for ballot retrieval by authorized persons only, and for ensuring the proper chain of custody and safe storage of voted mail-in ballots before each election.

• Requires each county clerk to include the locations of the ballot drop boxes established in the county along with the instructions furnished with the mail-in ballot package sent to each mail-in voter. At least 45 days before each election, each county board of elections will publish on their respective websites the location of the ballot drop boxes in each county and will provide this information to the Secretary of State for publishing the same on the Division of Elections website (Sec. 1.d).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes County Board of Elections to determine the location of certain ballot drop boxes under certain circumstances.

Highlights:

• Requires the Board of Elections in each county to determine the locations of the ballot drop boxes in compliance with the requirements of this law. The ballot drop box locations will be approved by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Elections (Sec. 1.b).

• Specifies in the event of a tie in the votes cast by the members of the board of elections, the county clerk will cast the deciding vote. Whenever possible, at least 1 ballot drop box will be located in a municipality with an average per capita income or a median family income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline according to the most recent federal American Community Survey (Sec. 1.b).

• Requires the county board of elections in each county to create ballot drop boxes where voters may deposit their vote by mail-in ballots at least 45 days before the election. The ballot drop boxes will be located throughout the county in a manner specified within this law (Sec. 1.b-1).

• Requires the Secretary of State to create guidelines necessary to ensure the secure and successful implementation of the mail-in ballot drop boxes mandated by this law to ensure adequate access in various geographic areas of the county (Sec. 1.c).

• Establishes guidelines for the Secretary of State to interface with the Board of Elections. The criteria for these guidelines include the following (Sec. 1.c):

• Determine the number of ballot drop boxes required per voter population, considering both the number of registered voters and the number of registered mail-in voters in each county before each election;

• Select the geographic location of each ballot drop box, ensuring an equitable distribution of ballot drop boxes across the county to maximize convenience to voters;

• Ensure the accessibility of ballot drop boxes and drop box locations to persons with disabilities; and

• Maintain the security of ballot drop boxes and the ballots deposited therein, including standards and procedures for ballot retrieval by authorized persons only, and for ensuring the proper chain of custody and safe storage of voted mail-in ballots before each election.

• Requires each county clerk to include the locations of the ballot drop boxes established in the county along with the instructions furnished with the mail-in ballot package sent to each mail-in voter. At least 45 days before each election, each county board of elections will publish on their respective websites the location of the ballot drop boxes in each county and will provide this information to the Secretary of State for publishing the same on the Division of Elections website (Sec. 1.d).

Full Bill Text