N.J. State Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) introduced legislation on Friday to change the date of the state primary this year from June 3, as it coincides with Shavuot. Bill A5149 calls for the primary date to be changed to June 10 and that would allow for primary dates to be adjusted “if date coincides with period of religious observance.”
The bill is cosponsored by Majority Leader Louis Greenwald and Yvonne Lopez . The legislation comes as the state’s political leadership are voicing support for the measure. “The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and everyone deserves the freedom to have their voice heard at the ballot box,” said a statement signed by Governor Phil Murphy, State Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “We have an obligation to encourage participation and ensure everyone can participate in and trust our electoral system. We cannot allow deeply held and legitimate religious beliefs to become a barrier to voting. We support moving the 2025 primary to June 10 and will work together to accomplish that goal.”
New Jersey is the fourth-largest Jewish population in the United States, a significant percentage of which are Shomer Shabbat and would not be able to go to the polls on primary day. Schaer praised state leadership saying in a statement to The Jewish Link, “I would like to give special thanks to Speaker Coughlin, Senate President Scutari and Gov. Murphy for their unwavering commitment to move my bill, A5149, forward through the Legislature.
“The Assembly bill I introduced on Dec. 12, supported by my legislative colleagues, Majority Leader Greenwald and Assemblywoman Lopez, gives New Jersey the ability to change primary election dates when they conflict with a significant religious observance,” Schaer continued. “The Jewish community has been absolutely clear in advocating for this change and I am gratified that other religious bodies have pledged their support as well. I will continue to advocate for all voters to exercise their constitutional right in our electoral process.”
Members of the Jewish community began raising the alarm bells on the date of this year’s primary just last week. Rabbis from across the state, along with heads of schools and Jewish federations, signed onto a letter urging state leadership to find a new date for the primary election.
“While mail-in and early voting options are available, primary election day remains the most common time for casting ballots. The overlap of these dates means that, without intervention, a significant portion of our community will be disenfranchised,” said the letter, which was addressed to Governor Murphy, as well as Scutari and Coughlin.
Kiran Sheth, a press aide for the governor, said in a statement to The Jewish Link and JNS.org Thursday afternoon that Gov. Murphy “recogniz[es] that many Orthodox Jewish voters are not able to work, travel, write or use electronics that day. The governor is committed to ensuring that our democratic process remains inclusive and accessible to all New Jersey voters.”
Teach NJ, a division of the Orthodox Union, has been urging on New Jersey residents to voice their support for moving the date of the primary election. Linda Scherzer, head of the Jewish Community Relations Council for the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, said, “This is a very important year for the State of New Jersey in terms of the primaries. There are serious candidates running for the next governor of the state, and this will, obviously, affect us in a personal way. We feel on a profound level that we need to have the same access to the voting booth as every other person should have and every accommodation should be made.”
Among those running for the governorship on the Democratic ticket are Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherill. Republican candidates include State Sen. Jon Bramnick and Jack Ciattarelli.
