New Jersey would repeal its 2026 voter protection law

The bill would repeal this law’s rules against certain voting barriers and its process for enforcing those rules. The rules cover election officials and local voting methods that weaken a protected group’s voting power. The law also lets affected people, certain groups, and the attorney general bring cases. Under the law being repealed, a voting practice that burdens the right to vote must have a compelling state reason. The repeal would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.

The bill would end this law’s requirement for some local governments to get the attorney general’s approval before changing election rules. It covers counties and other local governments that meet the law’s review criteria, including certain past voting rights cases or voter participation measures. The approval rule being repealed applies to changes in voting procedures or qualifications, including registration, election dates, and polling places. The repeal would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.

The bill would end this law’s requirement for local election offices to provide language help and translated voting materials. It covers local election offices and local governments that run elections in communities meeting those thresholds. The duty being repealed applies when more than 2% and at least 300 voting-age citizens, or more than 4,000 voting-age citizens, share a language other than English and have limited English proficiency. The repeal would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.

The bill would end this law’s public elections database requirement. The state Division of Elections is the office covered by this requirement. The repeal would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.