The John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey is designed to enhance voting rights and ensure equitable access to the electoral process, particularly for individuals from protected classes, including racial, ethnic, and language-minority groups. The bill establishes a public policy that promotes maximum participation in elections and mandates that state laws related to voting be interpreted in a way that prioritizes the protection of voting rights. It outlines the responsibilities of the Attorney General in enforcing these rights, including conducting investigations and representing the public interest in federal voting rights proceedings. The legislation also prohibits voting qualifications or practices that could suppress or dilute votes for members of protected classes and emphasizes the need for substantial evidence to justify any changes to voting practices.

Additionally, the bill introduces a preclearance process for voting qualifications and practices in political subdivisions with a history of voting rights violations or significant disparities in voter participation. It mandates that local election offices provide language assistance to eligible voters from language-minority groups and encourages the presence of bilingual poll workers. The act also establishes the New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute to maintain a centralized database of election data and promote research on voting practices. Overall, the legislation aims to create a more inclusive electoral process, protect voters from intimidation, and foster greater participation among all eligible voters in New Jersey.