On Thursday, both the State Senate and State Assembly passed A-5117 second reprint, which modifies the number of signatures required for candidates to be placed on primary, general, nonpartisan municipal, and school election ballots. It requires the Secretary of State to publish certain nominating petition forms by January 1 of each year and is retroactive to January 1, 2025.
If the governor signs the legislation, the number of signatures required for political party municipal petitions will be:
- At least 100 of such voters in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 50,000;
- At least 75 of such voters in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 25,000 and up to 50,000;
- At least 50 of such voters in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 10,000 and up to 25,000;
- A least 25 of such voters, or 5% in number of the total votes cast by the voters of that political party at the last preceding primary election held for the election of that party’s candidates for the General Assembly, whichever is less, in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 5,000 and up to 10,000;
- At least 10 of such voters, or 5% in number of the total votes cast by the voters of that political party at the last preceding primary election held for the election of that party’s candidates for the General Assembly, whichever is less, in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 2,500 and up to 5,000; and
- At least five of such voters, or 5% in number of the total votes cast by the voters of that political party at the last preceding primary election held for the election of that party’s candidates for the General Assembly, whichever is less, in municipalities or wards having a population up to 2,500.
- The petitions for candidates to be voted for by the voters of a political party within a single election district shall in the aggregate be signed by at least 10 of such voters, or 5% in number of the total votes cast by the voters of that political party at the last preceding primary election held for the election of that party’s candidates for the General Assembly, whichever is less.
- In no case shall there be fewer than one signer of any such petition.
On or before the 75th day prior to a regular municipal election, the names of candidates for all elective offices shall be filed with the municipal clerk
The petition of nomination shall consist of individual certificates equal to a number based upon the population of the municipality or ward as ascertained by the last Federal census, as follows:
- At least 100 in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 50,000;
- At least 75 in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 25,000 and up to 50,000;
- At least 50 in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 10,000 and up to 25,000;
- At least 25 in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 5,000 and up to 10,000;
- At least 10 in municipalities or wards having a population in excess of 2,500 and up to 5,000; and
- At least five in municipalities or wards having a population up to 2,500.
If the Governor signs this legislation, it will be effective immediately for the 2025 nominating and election process. We encourage you to review it with your municipal attorney.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst. eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.