Politics & Government

Special Election Fight Continues in Statehouse

The legislature moves on bills days after the state Supreme Court ruled the Oct. 16 election could go ahead as planned.

The state Legislature on Monday moved three bills aimed at putting a wrinkle in Gov. Chris Christie's October special election plans.

The action at the Statehouse comes days after the state Supreme Court ruled the Oct. 16 election could go ahead as planned

Two bills before the Assembly -- A-4237 and A-4249 -- that would make changes to the Oct. 16 special election date chosen by Christie to fill the seat left vacant by Sen. Frank Lautenberg's death.

The first, sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-15) would simply change the date of the Nov. 5 general election to the date of the special election. The vote on that bill was 44 to 31, with three abstaining.

The second, A-4249, would give voters the option of casting ballots early for the Nov. 5 general election during the Oct. 16 polling. That bill was passed 46-32.
It’s a bill supported by NJ Citizen Action, a government watchdog group that filed a brief in support of the legal challenge to the special election struck down by the state Supreme Court last week.

“We don’t think (the bill) a perfect solution, but it takes care of some of the issues,” Ann Vardeman, of NJ Citizen Action, has said.

In the state Senate, a bill sponsored by Sen. Shirley Turner (D-15) moved out of committee by a tight, 7-6 vote. Turner's bill is identical to Gusciora's assembly bill, moving the election dates from November to October.

“There is no way in this budget to pay for $24 million for these special elections. I’ve heard from counties that are going to have to pay even more for these two elections,’’ Turner said on the floor of the Senate Monday before a vote on the state’s budget. “These are thing that I do worry about it the taxpayer in the end will be shouldering these unnecessary costs.”

Turner had a second bill, S-2857, on the Senate's voting agenda today. It was not brought to the floor during the session, however. No immediate explanation was available.

It is estimated that the cost of the special general election, and an accompanying primary election scheduled for Aug. 13, will cost approximately $24 million. Counties throughout New Jersey are sweating about the additional, unexpected cost.

“The Governor has already said he ‘doesn’t know and doesn’t care’ how the elections will be paid for, but residents on fixed incomes, homeowners without tax relief and families with special needs all care - a lot,” Turner said in a release. 
Even if all the bills passed through the Legislature, they still require Christie’s signature, which is unlikely.


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