{"id":2344230,"date":"2024-09-21T09:28:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-21T13:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-new-jersey-counties-redesigned-their-primary-ballots-post-county-line-ruling-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-21T09:32:02","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T13:32:02","slug":"how-new-jersey-counties-redesigned-their-primary-ballots-post-county-line-ruling-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-new-jersey-counties-redesigned-their-primary-ballots-post-county-line-ruling-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"How New Jersey counties redesigned their primary ballots post-county line ruling &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-new-jersey-counties-redesigned-their-primary-ballots-post-county-line-ruling-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2344230&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In \u200dNew Jersey, a significant change has \u200bemerged\u2063 regarding the design of primary election ballots, prompted by legal \u2063challenges to the longstanding \u201ccounty \u200bline\u201d \u200cpractice that favored certain candidates. Historically, many counties in New Jersey utilized this system, \u2062which positioned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tammy-murphys-campaign-manager-exits-as-the-campaign-struggles-to-keep-momentum\/\" title=\"Tammy Murphy&#039;s campaign manager departs amidst momentum challenges\">party-backed candidates<\/a> together, while others \u200bwere often placed in less prominent\u2064 locations, \u200beffectively marginalizing them\u2014a situation colloquially referred \u2062to as &#8220;ballot Siberia.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>This practice came under \u2062scrutiny following a 2020 lawsuit filed by \u200dCongressman Andy Kim, who argued that it led to voter \u200csuppression and unfair advantages based on ballot placement. A subsequent ruling \u200bfrom U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi in 2024 mandated that \u2064counties eliminate \u200cthe county line for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-battle-for-control-of-missouris-redistricting-map\/\" title=\"Republicans Battle for Control of Missouri\u2019s Redistricting Map\">upcoming primary elections<\/a>.\u200b Consequently, all 19 counties that employed this system had to redesign their ballots on short notice \u200dfor the\u2064 June \u20634 Democratic \u200bprimary.<\/p>\n<p>Some\u200c county officials \u2063remain supportive\u200d of the county line, arguing it \u2063helps voters recognize candidates with shared values or principles. \u2062Meanwhile, the rapid redesign has led to confusion among voters, particularly \u200bseniors, many of whom are accustomed to the traditional layout. Election clerks have noted an increase in inquiries from voters regarding the changes, with efforts being made to educate the public about\u200c the new format. the shift reflects an attempt to create a more \u2063equitable\u200c electoral process, although\u2064 it has been met with challenges linked to public understanding and acceptance.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">How New Jersey counties redesigned their primary ballots post-county line ruling<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1765784\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>For decades, 19 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>New Jersey<\/a>&rsquo;s 21 counties used an unusual method for designing their primary ballots: the county line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/2922949\/push-to-abolish-new-jersey-county-line-ballot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>county line<\/a> placed party-backed candidates in one row or column with other candidates placed somewhere else on the ballot in what is sometimes called &ldquo;ballot Siberia.&rdquo; In turn, complaints about voter suppression and manipulation piled on.<\/p>\n<p>A 2020 lawsuit and a following 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/2886324\/andy-kim-blasts-new-jerseys-broken-politics-in-ballot-lawsuit-aimed-at-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>separate lawsuit <\/a>brought on by Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/andy-kim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Andy Kim<\/a> (D-NJ), who is running for Senate, changed how the majority of counties organized their ballots. Kim argued that for generations, the &ldquo;line&rdquo; had given an unfair advantage to some candidates due to their physical placement on the ballot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A 2020 <a href=\"https:\/\/rutgerslawreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/72_Rutgers_Univ_L_Rev_0629_Pugach.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>report<\/a> from Rutgers University Law Review confirmed Kim&rsquo;s idea that candidates are advantaged by being on the line.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Political candidates who fail to secure the endorsement of these party bosses and political machines have virtually no chance of winning an election,&rdquo; the Rutgers report read.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There is nothing in New Jersey&rsquo;s constitution or any law that requires the use of the line, but one state statute requires the candidates for county commissioner to be placed on the same line. Other candidates can then request to be placed on the line with those running for county commissioners. The county chairman or woman often will endorse candidates who are then placed on the line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In April, U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi issued a temporary order to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/2945341\/judge-grants-permission-toss-new-jerseys-county-line-in-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>suspend the use of the county line<\/a> for the 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/2947881\/new-jersey-judge-removes-county-line-democratic-primary-ballots-gop-open\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Democratic primary<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Still, it is simply a choice made each election cycle by county officials about how to structure their ballots, and any county at any time could not use the line, regardless of the court ruling.<\/p>\n<p>To some candidates&rsquo; dismay, some counties fundamentally agreed with the use of the line. Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> there was a legitimate reason to group people together with other people running for different races on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you follow the law, it&rsquo;s fair,&rdquo; Melfi said. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re running for commissioner and I&rsquo;m running for county clerk, I think the voter needs to identify that we have the same principles and the same ideas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my right to associate,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Redesigning the ballots<\/h2>\n<p>As a result of the court order, all 19 counties that used the county line had to redesign their primary ballots ahead of the June 4 Democratic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>primary<\/a>. It was a short timeline, just two months out from the election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Do what you want to do, but just let me make sure that I can do and I can implement what you want,&rdquo; Melfi said. &ldquo;They threw that on us. It takes me a good 21 days to put a ballot together.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Salem County and Sussex County do not use the county line. Dale Cross, the county clerk in Salem County, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that he did not know why exactly his county did not use the line, as he assumed the role only five years ago and the previous county clerk had held the role for years. He said, as a lifetime Salem County <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/voting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>voter<\/a>, things had always been this way, and he was truly not sure why they did not follow the same tradition as other counties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Dale said other counties called him during their redesign process to take a look at Salem County&rsquo;s ballots as sources of inspiration to redraw their own.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was very nice when everybody else had to go into scramble mode for the primary, and we just continued doing business as we are,&rdquo; Cross said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was nice for Salem County, we&rsquo;re the smallest county in the state, but to have folks actually kind of reach up and &lsquo;hey, would you guys mind sharing your ballots with us?,&rdquo; Cross continued.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Because New Jersey voters were so used to the county-line ballots, there were reports of voter confusion across the state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This was totally different than what anybody&rsquo;s ever seen here,&rdquo; Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;I had people come through the door screaming that I did this on purpose to screw up candidates. That&rsquo;s why my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ballots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ballot<\/a> had a blurb on it that the redesign of the ballot was due to a court order.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There was a lot of confusion,&rdquo; Giralo continued, noting it was mainly confusion among the senior population. &ldquo;The public has enough to do in their own life, let alone to follow how this was happening.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Giralo said he met with many voters in Atlantic County to explain the changes to them. He opted to implement a block-style ballot, which is a common ballot style around the U.S. but practically unheard of in most of the Garden State for primary elections.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A New Jersey primary ballot has an &ldquo;office-block ballot&rdquo; design in Rutherford, New Jersey, on Friday, May 10, 2024. The design conforms to a U.S. district judge&rsquo;s ruling that the state ends the practice of designing ballots with the &ldquo;county line&rdquo; layout, also called &ldquo;line-column ballot&rdquo; and &ldquo;on the line,&rdquo; which listed candidates with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-gets-3-pinocchios-for-saying-congressional-republicans-want-middle-class-tax-hike\/\" title=\"Biden Gets 3 Pinocchios for Saying \u201cCongressional Republicans\u201d Want Middle Class Tax Hike\">political party support<\/a> in a single column and often relegated others to &ldquo;ballot Siberia,&rdquo; which casual primary voters might miss or ignore under the assumption that party leaders had deemed the candidates too fringe. This comes after a federal appeals court affirmed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-alito-moves-up-deadline-for-supreme-court-briefing-in-pennsylvania-lawsuit-to-flip-the-election\/\" title=\"Justice Alito Moves Up Deadline For Supreme Court Briefing in Pennsylvania Lawsuit to Flip the Election\">lower court&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s decision to order New Jersey Democrats and county clerks to scrap the previous ballot design widely viewed as helping candidates with establishment backing. (AP Photo\/Ted Shaffrey)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t take a position whether it was good or bad, but if you&rsquo;re going to do something like this, the voter needs to be educated,&rdquo; Giralo said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The public is slow to hear and understand changes when it comes to an election,&rdquo; he continued, adding, &ldquo;No fault of their own. They have lives to live.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The future of the line<\/h2>\n<p>Quraishi&rsquo;s ruling only applied to the 2024 primary on the Democratic side. He did not make a ruling on future elections, but it is believed that this issue will be examined ahead of New Jersey&rsquo;s 2025 gubernatorial election and the 2026 midterm election primaries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Two of the 19 counties that were sued, Burlington and Middlesex, have since<a href=\"https:\/\/www.northjersey.com\/story\/news\/new-jersey\/2024\/09\/13\/settlements-reached-in-lawsuit-over-county-line-on-nj-ballots\/75191959007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> settled the lawsuit<\/a> and said they will not use the county line in future primaries.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Both Atlantic and Hunterdon counties told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that if a future court order does not prevent it, they will revert back to using the county line in their primary ballot design.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I will continue on with the county line unless I&rsquo;m directed otherwise, because the county line, to me, is the law right now,&rdquo; Melfi said, adding, &ldquo;You know, there&rsquo;s nothing like New Jersey politics.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1765784\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1765784\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**How New Jersey Counties Revamped Their Primary Ballots After the County Line Ruling**<\/p>\n<p>For many years, 19 out of New Jersey&#8217;s 21 counties employed a unique approach to designing their primary ballots known as the county line. This method grouped candidates endorsed by political parties in a single row or column, while other candidates were often relegated to less visible areas of the ballot, sometimes referred to as &#8220;ballot Siberia.&#8221; This practice led to numerous complaints regarding voter suppression and manipulation. A lawsuit filed in 2020, followed by another in 2024 from Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who is campaigning for Senate, prompted significant changes in how most counties arranged their ballots. Kim contended that the county line had historically provided an unfair advantage to certain candidates based on their placement on the ballot. A report from Rutgers University Law Review in 2020 supported his claim, indicating that candidates lacking endorsements from party leaders faced nearly insurmountable odds of winning elections.<\/p>\n<p>While there is no constitutional or legal requirement for using the county line in New Jersey, state law mandates that county commissioner candidates be listed on a single line. Other candidates can request inclusion alongside them if endorsed by party officials. In April, U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi issued a temporary order halting the use of the county line for the upcoming Democratic primary in 2024; however, it remains at each county&#8217;s discretion whether or not to utilize this format during elections.<\/p>\n<p>Despite some opposition from certain candidates regarding its elimination, some counties still support using the county line system. Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi expressed her belief that grouping similar-minded candidates together was justified and fair under existing laws.<\/p>\n<p>In light of Judge Quraishi\u2019s ruling, all counties utilizing this system were required to redesign their primary ballots ahead of June 4th\u2019s Democratic primary\u2014a task they had only two months to complete. Melfi noted that creating a ballot typically takes about three weeks and felt overwhelmed by this sudden change.<\/p>\n<p>Salem and Sussex Counties opted not to use the county line at all; Dale Cross from Salem County mentioned he was unsure why his area never adopted it but noted other counties sought inspiration from Salem&#8217;s ballot design during their redesign efforts.<\/p>\n<p>As voters across New Jersey adjusted to these new formats\u2014having been accustomed for so long to ballots featuring a county-line layout\u2014reports surfaced about confusion among constituents statewide. Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo recounted instances where voters expressed frustration over what they perceived as intentional disruptions aimed at harming specific candidates due solely to unfamiliarity with redesigned ballots.<\/p>\n<p>Giralo implemented an office-block style ballot\u2014a common format elsewhere but rare within New Jersey primaries\u2014to help alleviate confusion among voters who might struggle with understanding changes made without prior notice.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Quraishi\u2019s ruling specifically addressed only the upcoming Democratic primary; future elections remain uncertain regarding whether similar measures will be enforced again before New Jersey&#8217;s gubernatorial election slated for 2025 or midterm primaries set for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Two counties involved in lawsuits\u2014Burlington and Middlesex\u2014have since settled and agreed not use this controversial design moving forward while both Atlantic and Hunterdon indicated intentions may revert back should no further court orders intervene against it.<br \/>\nMelfi stated she would continue employing traditional methods unless directed otherwise because she believes current practices align with legal standards governing local politics: \u201cThere\u2019s nothing like New Jersey politics.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2344231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/nj-ballot.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[41409,38334,33096,41408,39512],"class_list":["post-2344230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-county-line-ruling","tag-election-reform","tag-new-jersey","tag-primary-ballots","tag-voting-process"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/nj-ballot.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2344230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2344230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2344230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2344231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2344230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2344230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2344230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}