This bill mandates that county boards of elections in New Jersey ensure bipartisan representation during the opening and canvassing of mail-in ballots, requiring the presence of representatives from each political party on the county board. It establishes a new requirement for county boards to begin opening mail-in ballots five days prior to the election, which was previously optional. To enhance security, the bill sets minimum standards for the storage of mail-in ballots, including the use of locks that require keys from both political parties, video surveillance, and a log of individuals accessing the storage area.

Additionally, the bill introduces stricter penalties for election-related crimes, making it a second-degree crime to access the secure area where mail-in ballots are stored without the appropriate election officials present. This includes elevating the classification of certain existing election-related offenses from third-degree to second-degree crimes, such as voting multiple times and tampering with ballots. The penalties for these second-degree crimes can include imprisonment for five to ten years and fines up to $150,000, reflecting a commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the election process and ensuring fair and lawful conduct.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 19:58-23, 19:63-17, 19:63-22