January 7, 2008 - 2:41pm
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Giblin Bill Moving Division of Elections to Department of State Signed Into Law

Assembly Democrats News Release

GIBLIN BILL MOVING DIVISION OF ELECTIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin sponsored to transfer the state Division of Elections from the Department of Law and Public Safety to the Department of State was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

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

The Giblin measure (S-2449/A-2929) reverses 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 law puts the division back in the Department of State, and has the Secretary of State replace the Attorney General as New Jersey's designated chief election official.  The bill also provides 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 new law also is sponsored by Assemblyman William D. Payne (D-Essex).

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