$2 trillion stimulus package includes $400 million in election aid

The $2 trillion stimulus package Congress is expected to pass today contains a relatively small measure of financial aid for elections affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Up to $400 million of the spending lawmakers will likely approve Wednesday will go toward grants meant to help states hold elections in the coming months.

The money can go to printing additional mail-in ballots and expanding other types of early voting.

New Jersey has already rescheduled March and April elections for May 12.

Those votes, along with non-partisan municipal races taking place on the same day, will be handled entirely through the post.

Secretary of State Tahesha Way has said the state is already exploring the use of federal funds provided through the Help Americans Vote Act to aid with costs associated with those races.

There’s not yet been a decision on how the state will handle its June 2 primary, though administration officials are considering holding that election through mail-in ballots alone.

The primary likely won’t be delayed.