When a New Jersey legislator runs for office these days, they have the benefit of early voting. But once they get there, they can enjoy an elongated voting period that allows them to change their vote after the votes have been counted and the session is gaveled into adjournment.
So, at some point this morning, freshman Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-Jersey City) will see her vote changed from “Not Voting” to “No” on a bill to change the way New Jersey fills document requests on the Open Public Records Act.
Stamato becomes the third Democratic lawmaker to change her vote after the session ended; David Bailey, Jr. (D-Woodstown) and Rosy Bagolie (D-Livingston) voted “Yes”, but then requested that their votes be changed to “No”.
The Office of Legislative Services changed Bailey and Bagolie last night, but as of early this morning, McCann Stamato remained listed as “Not Voting.” Her vote was changed around 10 AM.
An Assembly official told the New Jersey Globe that Speaker Craig Coughlin approved McCann Stamato’s vote change yesterday, but it had not made its way through the OLS system.
McCann Stamato told the Hudson County View that there was a clerical error in her vote.
“I voted no because I started seeing residents across the state coming out against it, it just felt like nobody wanted it, so I went with what I felt was the will of the people,” she told the news organization.
Coincidentally, McCann Stamato took some criticism on social media last night after reports that she didn’t oppose the bill were based on official voting records.
With seven Republicans supporting the OPRA bill, Coughlin had a few to spare and was able to accommodate some post-vote changes. The new tally is 42-28.
Assembly Voting Board in real time
Office of Legislative Services Voting Record from the evening of May 13 until about 10 AM on May 14
Office of Legislative Services Voting Record since about 10 AM on May 14
