Risking Not-So-Secret Ballot for NJ Voters

July 21, 2022 | njspotlightnews.org

One of the hallmarks of elections is the secret ballot; no one knows who a voter chooses. But that could change for thousands of New Jerseyans if Gov. Phil Murphy signs one of the election-reform bills on his desk.

Ironically, increased privacy is one of the main purposes of bill, A-3817, which would require privacy sleeves in counties like Essex where voters mark paper ballots by hand that are then scanned into a machine.

NJ SEED: We’ve come a long way since the days early in the last century when voters had to announce what ballot (candidate) they wanted to cast. The secret ballot is now an American cherished right. Any legislation that purposely or inadvertently lessens safeguards should be returned to the legislature for adjustment.