S 2947 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Prohibits acceptance, offer, or provision of monetary or non-monetary compensation of mail-in ballot messengers or bearers; allows certain facility employees and volunteers to serve as messengers or bearers.*

S 2947 prohibits anyone from accepting, offering, or providing any form of payment or compensation (including cash, goods, services, or property) to mail-in ballot messengers or bearers who deliver or return ballots. The bill directly affects individuals serving as authorized messengers (who deliver blank ballots to voters) or bearers (who return completed ballots), making it illegal for them to receive payment for these services or for others to offer payment to them. It amends New Jersey's existing mail-in ballot law to add this restriction, clarifying that "consideration" includes all types of compensation. The law applies to all mail-in ballot delivery and return processes under current state election rules.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2024

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 11, 2024 Last action Mar 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Reprint SSG 6/17/24 1R · 4 edits

MODERATE

The Senate committee amended S2947 to narrow the prohibition on compensating mail-in ballot messengers and bearers by replacing the broad 'consideration of any sort' language with a specific ban on monetary or non-monetary compensation, while adding two key exceptions: reimbursement for transportation costs and permission for employees and volunteers of certain facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, 501(c)(3) organizations, veterans' homes) to serve as messengers or bearers without additional pay. This makes the bill more practical for institutional settings where staff regularly assist residents with voting.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'consideration' (defined broadly as cash, goods, services, or intangible property) with 'monetary or non-monetary compensation,' and added a separate definition of 'non-monetary compensation' as goods, services, or intangible property.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exception allowing employees or volunteers of 501(c)(3) organizations, acute care hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living residences, comprehensive personal care homes, residential health care facilities, dementia care homes, and veterans' memorial homes to serve as authorized messengers or bearers, provided they receive no compensation beyond what is typical for their regular duties.

Added a transportation cost reimbursement exception, allowing any messenger or bearer to be reimbursed for costs associated with transporting a ballot.

SCOPE

Changed the bill title from 'prohibiting acceptance, offer, or provision of consideration' to 'concerning mail-in ballot messengers and bearers,' reflecting the shift from a pure prohibition to a framework with exceptions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

30–8

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Mar 24, 2025

D Democratic25

24 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican15

6 Yea 8 Nay 1

53% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (30-8)

upper

Jun 17, 2024

Upper · Passed

Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

upper

Mar 11, 2024

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors