Giblin Bill Moving Division of Elections to Department of State Advances

GIBLIN BILL MOVING DIVISION OF ELECTIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE ADVANCES

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin sponsored that would transfer the state Division of Elections from the Department of Law and Public Safety to the Department of State was unanimously released today from the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.

"This is a common sense move that is long overdue," said Giblin (D-Essex). "It will allow us to reestablish a separation of powers that should exist between the administrators of elections and people responsible for oversight of elections."

The Giblin legislation (A-2929) would reverse the 1998 Division of Elections transfer that occurred under Governor Christie Whitman, who moved the agency from the Department of State to the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill would put the division back in the Department of State, and have the Secretary of State replace the Attorney General as New Jersey's designated chief election official. The bill also would provide that all responsibility for the budget, fiscal, and personal matters of the Division of Elections be transferred to the Department of State.

The responsibilities of the Division of Elections include certification of voting machines, oversight of polling place accessibility, regulatory authority for voter registration, political party declarations, absentee voting, and election district requirements, and serving as the filing officer for all federal and state public elective offices.

The bill, which also is sponsored by Assemblyman William D. Payne (D-Essex), now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

--30--

JAMES SVERAPA IV can be reached via email at jamessverapa@gmail.com.

If you liked this article, subscribe to The Wake-Up Call. It's FREE!