Lawmaker Proposes Rotating Candidates On Primary Election Ballots
A newly introduced bill would give county and municipal election officials the option of rotating candidate names on primary election ballots, a move aimed at eliminating any advantage that comes from appearing first on the ballot.
Assemblyman Michael Venezia (D-Bloomfield) introduced legislation on Monday that would permit county clerks and municipal clerks to use a ballot rotation system in primary elections, provided local party organizations and election officials agree to implement it.
The proposal arrives as political leaders continue dissecting the results of the June 2 primary, where ballot placement emerged as one of the most significant factors in several low-information contests.
Former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy’s upset victory in the Republican U.S. Senate primary appeared to benefit, at least in part, from favorable ballot placement. So did county commissioner contests in Mercer, Essex, and Cumberland.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/lawmaker-proposes-rotating-candidates-on-primary-election-ballots/