Stack wants to move N.J. primary ahead one week so early voting isn’t the day after Memorial Day

State Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City) has introduced legislation to move primary elections to the second Tuesday after the second Monday in June to avoid conflicts with early voting and the Memorial Day holiday.

Elections in New Jersey are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June; in other words, the primary can be no earlier than June 2 and no later than June 8.   Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May.

This year, the June 2 primary triggered in-person early voting to begin on the day after Memorial Day.  Stack wants some daylight between the holiday weekend and the start of the six-day early voting period.

“The whole purpose of six days of early voting in the primary is to increase voter turnout,” Stack said. “Starting right after Memorial Day really crimps the turnout.  It defeats the purpose.”

Some election officials noted that being closed on the day before the first day of early voting creates obstacles to early voting, including confirming board workers and delivering machines.

The calendar puts the start of early voting in a permanent collision course with Memorial Day.

The 2027 primary election is set for June 8, but Memorial Day comes late – May 31 – and Stack believes turnout will improve if early voting commences on June 8, not June 1.  That would put the primary on June 15.  The same thing happens in 2028: Memorial Day is May 29, and early voting would begin on May 30 for a June 7 primary.  And in 2029, early voting would begin on May 29 – Memorial Day is May 28.

But Stack also acknowledged that New Jersey’s hands might be tied in presidential elections since national party rules require delegates to be selected by a certain date.  He said he has no intention of diminishing the state’s role in the presidential nomination process and is willing to amend his bill to exempt presidential primaries if necessary.

Last year, the primary was moved ahead one week to accommodate the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.  That eliminated the Memorial Day conflict.