New law protects unemployment benefits for poll workers

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has signed legislation ensuring that New Jerseyans who work the polls will not lose unemployment benefits because of their election-related wages, a move aimed at making it easier for counties to recruit the temporary workers needed to run elections.

The bipartisan measure, A1516, removes compensation earned by temporary election workers from the calculation used to determine unemployment benefits.  Sherrill signed the bill on July 22, and it took effect immediately.

Under the new law, services performed by temporary workers hired by county election boards –including those staffing polling places during early voting and on Election Day or helping process mail-in ballots — will no longer be classified as employment under the state’s unemployment compensation law.

Previously, those wages could reduce an individual’s unemployment check, leaving some recipients with little financial incentive to accept temporary election work.

Supporters say eliminating that penalty will expand the pool of available poll workers at a time when county election officials routinely face challenges filling shifts, particularly for early voting and the long hours required on Election Day.

“This bill sends a clear message that participating in our democracy shouldn’t come at a cost,” said State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa), one of the bill’s Senate sponsors. “Counties rely on committed poll workers to ensure every vote is counted during early voting, on Election Day, and when processing mail-in ballots, yet too many people are discouraged from stepping up due to the risk of losing their unemployment benefits.”

Corrado said protecting those benefits would encourage greater civic participation while strengthening New Jersey’s election system.

Poll workers are responsible for preparing polling locations, checking in voters, operating voting equipment, maintaining order and helping ensure ballots are properly cast. In some counties, they must report before polls open at 6 AM and remain after voting ends at 8 PM.

The legislation was sponsored in the Assembly by Clinton Calabrese (D-Cliffside Park) and William Sampson (D-Bayonne), with bipartisan co-sponsorship from Aura Dunn (R-Mendham), Al Barlas (R-Cedar Grove), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton), Victoria Flynn (R-Holmdel), Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-Montclair), Shanique Speight (D-Newark) and Shama Haider (D-Tenafly).

Corrado and James Beach (D-Voorhees) sponsored the Senate version. Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale), Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), Angela McKnight (D-Jersey City) and Carmen Amato (R-Berkeley) signed on as co-sponsors.