New Jersey Cumberland County Ballot Design Challenge

Lawsuit filed by the Cumberland County Regular Republican Organization and three Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners against Cumberland County Clerk Celeste Riley and the Cumberland County Board of Elections challenging the county’s new office block ballot design. On Aug. 12, 2024, the Cumberland county clerk’s office announced it would implement an “office block” ballot design for the November 2024 general election due to the large number of candidates set to appear on the ballot. Instead of organizing the ballot with separate columns filled with candidates in the same political party, the new office block ballot makes no distinction between candidates based on their party affiliation. The plaintiffs argue this new design violates New Jersey law, which requires Democrat and Republican candidates to receive the first and second ballot columns and third parties to receive their respective columns based on a draw system. They ask the court to order that the county draw new ballots that are compliant with state law ahead of the November election. 

STATUS: The plaintiffs filed their complaint on Aug. 23, 2024. The defendants have not responded yet. The Cumberland county clerk agreed to redraw the county ballot on Aug. 30, 2024.

Last updated: September 3, 2024 8:28 am EST