Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio officially announced the creation of an Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design on Friday morning.
Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Benjie Wimberly and Assemblyman Al Barlas (R-Cedar Grove) will serve as co-chairs of the twelve-member committee, according to a release. Six Democrats and six Republicans will comprise the committee, which will present legislative solutions to a yearslong lawsuit challenging the legality of party-line primary ballots.
That legislation could help settle a four-year-old lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of county organization lines. U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi ordered office-block voting for the 2024 Democratic primary earlier this year after Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), now the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, joined the fight.
“We are committed to an open and bipartisan process that involves a review of ballots around the country and respects the decisions of the courts. We look forward to hearing from the public and the hardworking professionals who ensure we have fair elections and that ballots are counted accurately,” Coughlin said in a release.
In the release, Coughlin and DiMaio said the committee will collect expert testimony, hold public hearings throughout the state, and study potential changes.
“This is a critical part of the process, and the Legislature is the right place to get it done,” said Minority Leader DiMaio. “Those with interest should testify before the committee instead of making comments on social media. The Speaker and I have made it clear from the start that we will lead an open and transparent process.”
Four counties — Essex, Middlesex, Burlington, and Warren — have reached settlements to implement office-block ballots in primary elections.
The New Jersey Globe first reported the creation and likely members of the committee. Wimberly was swapped in for Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), and Assemblywoman Ellen Park (D-Englewood Cliffs) was swapped in for Assemblyman Chris Tully (D-Bergenfield). Tully had declined to serve.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, both gubernatorial candidates, previously called on legislators to follow the guidelines set by Quraishi, with Fulop saying, “A committee isn’t needed to codify his ruling.”
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), a likely candidate for governor, also said permanent office-block ballots must be implemented.