The agreement allows the postponement of full implementation of the statewide voter registration system, which was scheduled to be in effect under provisions of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and a related state law. Instead, the state will use the existing county voter registration rolls as the official system for this fall's election.
The state today also sought a declaratory judgment in Superior Court delaying the full implementation of the statewide voter registration system because exclusive use of the statewide system that could result in problems that could threaten the integrity and orderly administration of the election.
The state petition asks that 20 of the 21 counties in New Jersey be permitted to use their existing county voter registration records for the Nov. 7 election, while the new statewide voter registration system will simultaneously be tested in those counties. Hunterdon County, however, because of the manner in which it has set up its election administration, will be able to use the new statewide voter registration list exclusively.
"We are fully committed to protecting the rights of New Jersey voters and the integrity of the election on November 7," said Rabner, who is the state's chief election official. "Free and fair elections are fundamental to the democratic process and full participation is key. Our agreement with the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey furthers both goals. As always, we will be vigilant in guarding against the potential for fraud."
For the upcoming Nov. 7 general election, each local election district will use its pre-existing county voter registration system to generate poll books. Any eligible voter whose name appears in the county poll book will be able to cast a regular ballot. A person whose name is not in the book but believes that he or she has registered to vote will be able to cast a provisional ballot.
"All voters who are eligible to cast a ballot will be able to do so this November," declared Rabner. "We have been working diligently on creating a single statewide voter registration list and will continue to move forward on this task." Rabner said the agreement with the Justice Department would not have been possible without the hard work of First Assistant Attorney General Anne Milgram and Jason Orlando, a special assistant to the attorney general.
Implementation of the statewide voter registration system is required by both state and federal law. Many states have experienced problems implementing a statewide voter registration system, and the federal government has agreed to extend the deadline to comply with HAVA in Maine, New York and California, entering into agreements to make certain that the system is implemented in a manner that will not disrupt the conduct of an election or potentially disenfranchise voters.
Ultimately, the statewide voter registration system (SVRS) will replace the current "legacy" system in which the 21 counties maintain their own independent computerized voter registration files. The implementation of the SVRS required the conversion of more than 6 million records from the 21 county voter registration systems.
