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, a process that was previously optional. To enhance security, the bill sets minimum standards for the storage of mail-in ballots, which must include measures such as dual-key locks, video surveillance, or 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. It also elevates the classification of certain existing election-related offenses from a third-degree to a second-degree crime, including actions such as voting multiple times and tampering with ballots. The penalties for these offenses are significantly increased, with second-degree crimes carrying potential imprisonment of five to ten years and fines up to $150,000, thereby aiming to strengthen the integrity and security of the election process in New Jersey.

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