TRENTON – Acting Governor Stephen Sweeney Thursday, Jan. 14 approved a measure that permits local governments that hold non-partisan municipal elections in May to move them to the November general elections.
This law affects nine Cape May County municipalities that currently hold elections on the second Tuesday in May – Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, West Cape May, West Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.
According its proponents, benefits of this move include increased voter participation and cost savings for local taxpayers.
“Allowing towns that hold May nonpartisan elections to move those elections to November without jeopardizing their nonpartisan status is a win for everyone,” said one of the sponsors, Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield).
“Municipalities win because they save money while being able to keep their unique form of government; voters and candidates win because the electorate is more engaged and more active in November elections.”
Under the new law, municipalities can approve the change of election dates through a local ordinance and will only be allowed to return to a May election date after ten years under the new system and through additional local ordinance.
For those currently in office, terms would be extended to the start of newly elected office-holders in the November election and ballots must be designed to draw clear distinctions between the partisan and nonpartisan elections.
The state League of Municipalities supported this amended bill, which was approved in the Senate in December, and received final legislative approval in the Assembly last week.
Cape May County – I’d like to suggest to the Herald that they leverage spout offs draw and replace some of the ads for their paper with a few paid ads that you probably can charge a little extra for. Lots of people…
