This bill amends the signature requirements for candidates seeking to be placed on primary, general, nonpartisan municipal, and school election ballots in New Jersey. It raises the threshold for candidates nominated for statewide offices from at least 2% of the total votes cast in the last General Assembly election to 5%. Additionally, it establishes specific signature requirements based on the population of municipalities, with larger municipalities (over 50,000) requiring at least 100 signatures, while smaller ones (up to 2,500) will need a minimum of five signatures. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of State publish nominating petition forms by January 1 of each year.

The intent of the bill is to reduce ballot clutter and ensure that candidates demonstrate substantial community support before appearing on the ballot. By increasing the signature requirements, the bill aligns New Jersey's standards with those of neighboring states, which typically have higher thresholds. The changes aim to promote fairness in the nominating process and enhance voter confidence in the electoral system by limiting the number of candidates who lack genuine support. Specific increases include statewide candidates needing 2,000 signatures (up from 800), primary candidates requiring 2,500 signatures (up from 1,000), and school election candidates needing 25 signatures (up from 10).

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 19:60-7, 40:45-8