New Jersey Lawmakers Redesign Primary Ballots

New Jersey lawmakers are initiating a series of hearings to redesign primary ballots following a federal court ruling deeming the county-line ballot system unconstitutional. This decision, made by U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi, was based on a lawsuit alleging that the county-line system gives certain candidates an unfair advantage. The newly proposed office-block ballot design organizes candidates by the office they seek rather than by party affiliation. The bipartisan Assembly select committee aims to gather input from election officials and the public to ensure an effective transition, emphasizing the importance of ballot design ahead of upcoming statewide elections. County clerks have reported a smooth transition to the new ballot format, although some concerns about vendor capabilities and voter education remain. The committee's first hearing included testimony on how to best adapt New Jersey's election infrastructure to support these changes.