Senate calls voting session on VBM reform for Monday, Assembly could be on Tuesday

The New Jersey Senate has scheduled a voting session for Monday to consider changes to the state’s vote-by-mail law, and the Assembly is moving toward a voting session.

Both houses will hold a quorum call tomorrow afternoon for the purpose of introducing legislation to automatically send mail-in ballots to any voter who requested a VBM ballot in 2017 and 2018.

The insistence of the Legislature to fix the VBM law passed last year stems from a ruling Secretary of State Tahesha Way that forces voters who requested VBM in 2017 and 2018 to reapply if they want mail-in ballots for the November general election.

Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders sought a resolution to the problem but were unable to figure out an administrative change so far.

Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), one of the sponsors of the legislation, disagrees.  He says the legislative intent was to include 2017 and 2018.

County clerks are scheduled to begin mailing ballots on September 21.