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Norcross Bill To Move Presidential Primary To June Now Law

Donald Norcross News & Releases

Will Save Millions In State and Local Elections Costs

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) to return the date of the presidential primary election to June, saving millions of dollars in elections-related costs, has been signed into law.

The law (S-2883/A-3777) eliminates the separate presidential primary election held in February and requires, instead, that it be held during the regular June primary election, as it was prior to 2005. The move will save approximately $12 million in FY 2012.

“New Jersey moved its presidential primary to February with the intent of giving the state a larger role in determining the outcome of the nomination process. However, when half the states in the country also held earlier primaries, the move was essentially rendered moot. We ended up spending millions of dollars to hold a separate election, without achieving the Election Day advantage everyone had anticipated,” said Senator Norcross. “Returning the election to the traditional June primary date will create nearly $12 million in taxpayer savings and provide us with the same level of influence we’ve had in the past.”

In 2005, state law was changed to establish a separate presidential primary election in February, so that New Jersey could play a larger role in determining the outcome of the nomination process. Despite the move, New Jersey was ultimately among 25 states that held their primaries in February during the 2008 presidential election. The cost of the separate election was $11.8 million.

Moving the presidential primary to June will result in elections-related cost savings in primarily two areas: the expenses of the counties and municipalities which administer the election and the salaries of poll workers conducting the election. Specifically, reductions will be realized in the costs for ballot printing and postage, processing, legal advertising, polling place rental and voting machine delivery. The cost of poll workers’ salaries – which are divided between the counties and the state, with the counties paying $75 of each poll worker’s salary and the state paying $125 of each worker’s salary – will also be eliminated.

“Eliminating the separate presidential primary will save millions of dollars in elections-related costs, from printing and mailing ballots, to conducting the election and processing the results,” said Senator Norcross. “At the end of the day, this law will result in significant savings on both the state and local levels which will translate into tax relief for our residents. Put simply, this is a common-sense move for the state, and good news for the people of New Jersey.”

The bill was approved unanimously in both the Senate and the Assembly in June.

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Norcross Bill To Move Presidential Primary To June Clears Senate Budget Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) to return the date of the February presidential primary election to June, saving millions of dollars in elections-related costs, was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The bill (S-2883/A-3777) would eliminate the separate presidential primary election held in February and require, instead, that it be held during the regular June primary election, as it was prior to 2005. The move would save approximately $11 million in FY 2012, according to the Office of Legislative Services.

“Moving the presidential primary to February did not give New Jersey the Election Day advantage that was expected. When two dozen other states also decided to hold early primaries, we once again found ourselves in the middle of the pack. In the end, we paid millions of dollars for a move that would ultimately be rendered moot,” said Senator Norcross. ”By returning our presidential primary to the traditional June date, we will save an estimated $12 million in taxpayer funding and likely wield the same influence as we did in the last presidential race.”

27 Jun 2011
Norcross Bill To Move Presidential Primary To June Clears Senate State Government Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) to return the date of the February presidential primary election to June, saving millions of dollars in elections-related costs, was approved today by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.

The bill (S-2883/A-3777) would eliminate the separate presidential primary election held in February and require, instead, that it be held during the regular June primary election, as it was prior to 2005. The move would save approximately $11 million in FY 2012, according to the Office of Legislative Services.

“Everyone thought a February presidential primary would mean that New Jersey would have more influence in the selection process of presidential candidates. But when nearly half of the states in the nation moved their primary as well, it made our change moot. Ultimately, all we were left with was a $12 million bill,” said Senator Norcross. “By moving the primary back to the traditional date for primary elections, we will save millions of dollars in taxpayer money. From an economic standpoint, this is a no-brainer.”

02 Jun 2011