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Summary of Laws governing recall in New Jersey

The citizens ofNew Jersey are granted the authority to perform arecall election by Section 2(b) of Article I of the

New Jersey Constitution, which was enacted in 1993.

The recall amendment applies to all elective officers after the first year of the term for which the incumbent was

elected.

The New Jersey Recall Amendmentspecifically authorizes the recall of members of New Jersey's U.S.

Congressional delegation.

Article 1, Section 2b

See also: Section 2(b) of Article I of the New Jersey Constitution

The section of the New Jersey Constitution that authorizes recall says:

"The people reserve unto themselves the power to recall, after at least one year of service, any elected

official in this State or representing this State in the United States Congress. The Legislature shall enactlaws to provide for such recall elections. Any such laws shall include a provision that a recall election

shall be held upon petition of at least 25% of the registered voters in the electoral district of the official

sought to be recalled. If legislation to implement this constitutional amendment is not enacted within oneyear of the adoption of the amendment, the Secretary of State shall, by regulation, implement the

constitutional amendment, except that regulations adopted by the Secretary of State shall be superseded

by any subsequent legislation consistent with this constitutional amendment governing recall elections.The sufficiency of any statement of reasons or grounds procedurally required shall be a political rather

than a judicial question."

Recall of federal officials

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. According to Nina Mitchell Wells, Menendez cannot be recalled.Although the New Jersey Recall Amendment, enacted in 1993, explicitly authorizes the recall of members of

New Jersey's congressional delegation, onJanuary 11, 2010, Nina Mitchell Wells, the New Jersey Secretary of State,

issued a "final determination" letter saying that her office was refusing to accept a Notice of Intention to Recalland its accompanying Petition in the matter of the U.S. Senator Robert Menendez recall. Wells maintains that the

recall provisions in the New Jersey Constitution conflict with the U.S. Constitution.[1]

The recall action against Robert Menendez was started by members of a Tea Party group in Sussex County,

New Jersey. They are seeking judicial review of the determination from Nina Wells, requesting reversal of the"final determination" and an order directing the New Jersey Secretary of State to approve the Notice of Intention

so the recall group can start collecting signatures. [1]

The Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division issued a motion to accelerate the appeal on January 14,

2010.[2]

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Recall procedures

Notice of intention

A recall committee of at least three registered voters is needed to initiate recall proceedings. This process maynot begin until 50 days before the completion of the incumbent's first year of the current term in office. The

recall committee must notify the appropriate election official of the names and addresses of at least three

members of the recall committee. The election official accepting the petition will then review the notice ofintention for compliance with statutory provisions, calculate the cost of a special election, and notify committeemembers of the acceptance or rejection of the notice, within three business days. The election official also

notifies the incumbent of the notice of intention of recall within five business and publishes a notice of the

recall effort.

Signature requirementUpon approval of the petition, the recall committee and other registered voters in the jurisdiction of the recall

election will solicit the signatures of other registered voters in that jurisdiction. The recall effort is limited to 320

days for a Governor or 160 days for other elected officials from the date of the notice of intention. The petitionrequires the signatures of 25% of the registered voters in the jurisdiction, as of the last general election.

Petition reviewThe election official reviewing the petitionwill then certify the number ofsignaturesand determine validitywithin 10 days. If the petition is accepted, the election official will schedule the recall election.

Contact information

New Jersey Division of Elections

44 South Clinton Avenue, 7th Floor

P.O. Box 304Trenton, NJ 08625-0304

Phone: 609.292.3760

New Jersey Statutes: Recall Elections

http://recallcongressnow.org/downloads/NewJerseyStatutes_v2.pdf

Sample Petitions for Recall:

http://www.votescount.com/recall/recapf.pdf

http://165.189.88.185/docview.asp?docid=1940&locid=47

Other info:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0565.htm

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