Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

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In every state, at least some candidates are required to collect petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. Campaigns usually must collect wet signatures, or those made with pen and paper.

Three voting jurisdictions allowed candidates to gather nominating petition signatures electronically as of 2023:

• Arizona voters may sign candidate nominating petitions from home or anywhere with internet access using the E-Qual platform.
• Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado allow petition circulators to use mobile devices on which they can collect digitized signatures in person through the eSign app.

Ballotpedia also tracked temporary state election law changes related to electronic signature gathering in response to the coronavirus pandemic. See below to learn about state law changes.

Know of a state or local policy we're missing? Email us.

Arizona

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Arizona

In 2012, Arizona implemented the E-Qual electronic nominating petition-signing platform. As of 2023, the platform was available for use by federal, statewide, and state legislative candidates.

State law pertaining to candidates for Congress reads as follows:

“

Notwithstanding any other statute in this title, the secretary of state shall provide a system for qualified electors to sign a nomination petition for a candidate for the office of United States senator or representative in Congress by way of a secure internet portal. The system shall allow only those qualified electors who are eligible to sign a petition for a particular candidate to sign the petition and shall provide a method for the qualified elector's identity to be properly verified. A candidate may choose to collect up to the full number of required nomination petition signatures by use of the online signature collection system prescribed by this section.

”

State law for statewide and state legislative candidates says the following:

“

Notwithstanding any other statute in this title, the secretary of state shall provide a system for qualified electors to sign a nomination petition and to sign and submit a citizens clean elections five dollar contribution qualification form for a candidate by way of a secure internet portal. The system shall allow only those qualified electors who are eligible to sign a petition for a particular candidate to sign the petition and only those qualified electors who are eligible to give a qualifying contribution to that candidate to do so and shall provide a method for the qualified elector's identity to be properly verified. A candidate may choose to collect up to an amount equal to the full number of required nomination petition signatures or up to an amount equal to the full number of required contribution qualification forms, or both, by use of the online signature collection system prescribed by this section.

”

Denver, Colorado

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Colorado

In 2015, the city of Denver, Colorado, introduced eSign, a petition-signing application used for candidate nominating petitions. The city stated that this was the first electronic petition app of its kind in the nation.

The Denver policy states that the electronic signature system must do the following:

“

Capture only digitized, manual signatures ... utilizing a stylus or other specialized marking device. For purposes of these rules, a digitized, manual signature means a graphical image created by the elector in affixing his or her handwritten signature to the digital petition.

”

Pew wrote, "The app, designed for use on an iPad, connects with and searches Colorado’s online voter registration database to verify people’s eligibility before they sign a petition. In addition, if the system indicates that a person is unregistered or has an out-of-date record, he or she can register or update information through the app in real time."

Washington D.C.

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Washington, D.C.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Support Act of 2016, the Council of the District of Columbia amended the district's election code ordering the Board of Elections to do the following:

“

(B) No later than October 1, 2017, implement a pilot program that provides a limited number, as determined by the Board, of candidates, qualified petition circulators, and proposers with the option to use a mobile application, in addition to the paper circulation process, to gather electronic signatures on a mobile device registered with the Board for the June 2018 Primary Election; C) For the November 2018 General Election, and all subsequent elections, make a mobile application available to all candidates, qualified petition circulators, and proposers to install on a mobile device registered with the Board; and (D) Issue rules to implement the use of a mobile application for all elections, including how to register a mobile device with the Board in order to utilize the mobile application; provided, that the rules shall require signed petitions from the mobile application to be printed out and submitted to the Board.

”

The District of Columbia Board of Elections wrote in 2018, "January 26...marks the debut of the eSign mobile app. Organizations proposing ballot initiatives and potential candidates running for office will have the option of collecting signatures electronically via the app. eSign, which will be available for download on tablets or pre-loaded devices provided by DCBOE, allows petition circulators to confirm that a signer is a registered voter through a private, secure database. The traditional pen and paper process is still available; eSign is not required to collect signatures."

The board stated that D.C. was the second jurisdiction in the nation to use the system.

Changes in response to coronavirus, 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes changes to state laws related to electronic signature gathering in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Illinois

General election changes

Illinois modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election who cast ballots in the 2018 general election, the 2019 consolidated election, or the 2020 primary election.
• Candidate filing procedures: The following changes were made to the filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates: petition signature requirements were reduced to 10 percent of their original numbers; candidates were authorized to collect petition signatures electronically; and the filing deadline was extended to July 20, 2020.

Primary election changes

Illinois modified its primary election process as follows:

• Candidate filing procedures: Candidates for state-level office were exempted from filing statements of economic interests for the duration of the governor's disaster proclamation period and for 30 days thereafter.

Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.

• Illinois election changes (click to expand)

  August 20, 2020: Federal appeals court again affirms lower court order modifying candidate filing procedures

  On August 20, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected an appeal of a district court order modifying filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates, finding that the court "did not abuse its discretion when it entered a preliminary injunction drafted by the [state board of elections] and agreed to by the parties or when it granted reconsideration in part." This marked the Seventh Circuit's second affirmation of the district court order, which is detailed below.

  June 21, 2020: Federal appeals court affirms lower court order modifying candidate filing procedures

  On June 21, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court's order making a number of modifications to filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates. See below for more information on the district court order.

  June 16, 2020: Governor signs legislation directing local election officials to send vote-by-mail ballot applications to all recent voters in the November 3, 2020, general election

  On June 16, 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed SB 863 and HB2238 into law, requiring local election officials to deliver vote-by-mail applications to all voters who cast ballots in the 2018 general election, the 2019 consolidated election, or the 2020 primary election. The legislation also expanded early voting hours at permanent polling places and authorized curbside voting. The law's provisions were set to apply to the November 3, 2020, general election.

  April 23, 2020: Federal judge modifies filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates

  On April 23, 2020, Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, issued an order making a number of modifications to filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates. The judge authorized candidates to collect petition signatures electronically; extended the filing deadline; and reduced petition signature requirements to 10 percent of their original numbers. The judge also ordered that Libertarian and Green party candidates for offices for which the parties achieved ballot access in either 2018 or 2016 qualify for placement on the general election ballot in 2020. The court order can be accessed here.

  Pallmeyer originally extended the candidate filing deadline for unaffiliated and new-party candidates to August 7, 2020. At the request of state election officials, she moved the filing deadline to July 20, 2020, via an order issued on May 15, 2020.

  March 17, 2020: Illinois governor issues executive order exempting state-level candidates from filing statements of economic interests

  On March 17, 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) issued an executive order exempting candidates for state-level office from filing statements of economic interests for the duration of the governor's disaster proclamation period and for 30 days thereafter.

Massachusetts

General election changes

Massachusetts modified its absentee/mail-in procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility was extended to all qualified voters in the general election.

Primary election changes

Massachusetts modified its primary election process as follows:

• Voting procedures: Mail-in ballot applications to all voters in the state's September 1 primary election.

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• Massachusetts election changes (click to expand)

  July 14, 2020: Mail-in ballot applications to be sent automatically to all voters in the fall primary election

  On July 14, 2020, a spokesperson for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin (D) confirmed that his office was proceeding with plans to send mail-in ballot applications to all voters in the state's September 1, 2020, primary election.

  July 6, 2020: Governor signs bill extending absentee/mail-in voting eligibility to all qualified voters in the fall primary, general elections

  On July 6, 2020, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed into law legislation extending vote-by-mail eligibility in the fall primary and general elections to all qualified voters. The law also established an in-person early voting period for both the primary and general elections (August 22-28 for the primary, and October 17-30 for the general election).

  April 17, 2020: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court modifies candidate filing requirements

  On April 17, 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an order extending the candidate filing deadlines for district and county races to May 5, 2020, and June 2, 2020, respectively. The high court reduced candidate petition signatures requirements to 50 percent of their statutory requirements. The court also authorized candidates to collect petition signatures electronically. Chief Justice Ralph Gants penned the court's unanimous opinion. Justice Scott Kafker wrote a concurring opinion.

  March 23, 2020: Massachusetts lawmakers order postponement of four special state legislative elections

  On March 23, 2020, the Massachusetts General Court ordered the postponement of four special state legislative elections, originally scheduled for March 31, 2020:

  • Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District postponed to May 19, 2020
  • Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District postponed to May 19, 2020
  • Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District postponed to June 2, 2020
  • Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-seventh Middlesex District postponed to June 2, 2020

  March 23, 2020: Massachusetts authorizes postponement of municipal elections, expands absentee voting eligibility

  On March 23, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed S2608 into law, authorizing municipalities to postpone any elections originally scheduled to take place prior to May 30, 2020, to any date on or before June 30, 2020. The legislation also extended absentee voting eligibility to "any person taking precaution related to COVID-19 in response to a declared state of emergency or from guidance from a medical professional, local or state health official, or any civil authority" for elections held or before June 30, 2020. The full text of the legislation is provided below.

  “

  SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding section 9 of chapter 39, sections 26 and 28 of chapter 51 and chapters 53 and 54 of the General Laws or any other general or special law or by-law to the contrary, any city or town with any municipal caucus or annual or special municipal election scheduled between the effective date of this act and May 30, 2020, may postpone such municipal caucus or municipal election in accordance with this act. The select board, town council, board of registrars or city council of the city or town may vote on any day prior to the date of their scheduled municipal caucus or municipal election to postpone the municipal caucus or municipal election to a date certain on or before June 30, 2020. Such rescheduled caucus or election shall be held in accordance with all applicable election laws except as otherwise provided in this act. (b) The select board, town council or city council of a city or town postponing a municipal caucus or municipal election pursuant to this act shall, following consultation with the local election official and the chief operating officer of the municipality as to logistics and feasibility, vote to reschedule the municipal caucus or municipal election. A copy of this act, the vote of the select board, town council or city council and a sample ballot shall be placed on the official municipal website not later than 20 days before the date to which the rescheduled caucus or election has been postponed. Notice of such action shall be provided to the public in other ways reasonably calculated to enable eligible voters to learn of the rescheduled election date and to cast ballots therein. The notice may include, but shall not be limited to, a “reverse-911” call, municipal list-serve notifications, advertisement on local cable television or issuance of a press release sent to local news media. (c) Consistent with section 107 of chapter 41 of the General Laws, an incumbent elected official whose term would have expired at a municipal annual town election if the election was not postponed pursuant to this act shall continue to serve in the official’s position until a successor is elected and qualified. (d) If this act does not take effect until after the date of a scheduled municipal caucus or municipal election during the state of emergency declared by the governor pursuant to executive order 591, Declaration of a State of Emergency to Respond to COVID-19, the actions of the board of selectmen, town council, city council and local election officials to postpone a municipal caucus or municipal election shall be ratified, validated and confirmed as if this act had been in place prior thereto. SECTION 2. The last day to register to vote for any annual or special municipal or state election postponed pursuant to this act or otherwise postponed in response to COVID-19 shall be 10 days before the date to which the rescheduled election has been postponed; provided, however, that the board of registrars shall hold a registration session on that date not less than from 2 PM to 4 PM and from 7 PM to 8 PM. The voting list to be used at such rescheduled election shall include all eligible voters registered as of that date. SECTION 3. The caucus or election materials, including, but not limited to, absentee and official ballots, prepared for a municipal caucus or any annual or special municipal or state election postponed pursuant to this act or otherwise postponed in response to COVID-19 and bearing that date shall be used for the rescheduled caucus or election to the extent practicable. If additional ballots are required to be printed, the ballots shall be identical in form to those prepared for the original caucus or election. SECTION 4. Absentee ballots cast in connection with the original election date for any annual or special municipal or state election postponed pursuant to this act or otherwise postponed in response to COVID-19, whether returned before the original election or otherwise, and received by the local election official before the close of polls on the date of the rescheduled election, shall be processed in accordance with applicable law; provided, however, that any voter who chooses to vote in person on the date of the rescheduled election may do so if their absentee ballot has not yet been counted. Completed applications to vote by absentee ballot in the rescheduled election shall be accepted by the board of registrars until 12:00 noon on the last business day before the rescheduled election. For an election held on or before June 30, 2020 any person taking precaution related to COVID-19 in response to a declared state of emergency or from guidance from a medical professional, local or state health official, or any civil authority shall be deemed to be unable by reason of physical disability to cast their vote in person at a polling location.

  ”

Michigan

General election changes

Michigan modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election.

Primary election changes

Michigan modified its primary election process as follows:

• Candidate filing procedures: The petition signature requirements for select primary candidates was reduced to 50 percent of their statutory requirements. The filing deadline was extended from April 21 to May 8.
• Voting procedures: Absentee ballot applications sent automatically to all registered voters in the primary election.
• Political party events: The Democratic Party of Michigan canceled its state convention, originally scheduled for March 21, 2020.

Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.

• Michigan election changes (click to expand)

  October 29, 2020: State appeals court affirms lower court order blocking directive barring individuals from openly carrying firearms near polling places

  On October 29, 2020, a three-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision that suspended Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's (D) order prohibiting the open carry of firearms in or near polling places.

  Judges Patrick Meter, Michael Gadola, and Brock Swartzle were unanimous in their decision, finding that existing law prohibits voter intimidation: "Anyone who intimidates a voter in Michigan by brandishing a firearm or, for that matter, by threatening with a knife, baseball bat, fist, or otherwise menacing behavior, is committing a felony under existing law."

  Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) filed an emergency appeal of the decision with the Michigan Supreme Court.

  October 27, 2020: State judge blocks directive barring individuals from openly carrying firearms near polling places

  On October 27, 2020, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray issued an order blocking Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's (D) directive barring individuals from openly carrying firearms near polling places on Election Day.

  On October 16, 2020, Benson directed county officials that the "open carry of a firearm is prohibited in a polling place, in any hallway used by voters to enter or exit, or within 100 feet of any entrance to a building in which a polling place is located." Benson said, "The presence of firearms at the polling place, clerk’s office(s), or absent voter counting board may cause disruption, fear, or intimidation for voters, election workers, and others present.

  Several groups – including Michigan Open Carry, Michigan Gun Owners and Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners – sued Benson, arguing that her directive was "conjured without any legal basis or authorization under Michigan law."

  Murray sided with the plaintiffs. Murray found that Benson had likely violated the state's Administrative Procedures Act, which requires agencies to follow formal rulemaking processes when implementing regulations. Murray said, "[To] not enjoin a directive that is very likely unlawful would allow a single state officer to circumvent (and essentially amend) a valid and enforceable state law on the same subject. This is certainly not in the public interest, which expects its public officials to follow the rule of law."

  Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) said her office would appeal the decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

  October 16, 2020: State appellate court reverses lower court order extending absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline

  On October 16, 2020, a three-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed a lower court order that had extended the receipt deadline for absentee/mail-in ballots. The appellate panel reinstated the original receipt deadline: 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020.

  On September 18, 2020, Judge Cynthia Stephens, of the Michigan Court of Claims, extended the absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline to November 17, 2020, for ballots postmarked on or before November 2, 2020. Stephens also authorized voters to allow anyone of their choosing to return their ballots between 5:01 p.m. on October 30, 2020, and the close of polls on Election Day.

  The state legislature appealed Stephens' decision to the appellate court. The three-judge panel – including Judges Thomas Cameron, Mark Boonstra, and Michael Gadola – ruled unanimously in the legislature's favor. Writing for the court, Cameron said, "The fact that the Legislature drafted the statutes without accounting for USPS deadlines does not mean the statutes are unconstitutional as applied. Where [voters] retain other options for delivering their completed ballots, they have not lost their constitutional right to vote absentee."

  In response to the ruling, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) suggested that voters mail their ballots by October 19, or hand-deliver them after that date, in order to ensure that election officials receive them by the 8 p.m. deadline on November 3, 2020.

  September 18, 2020: State court issues ruling extending absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline for the general election

  On September 18, 2020, Judge Cynthia Stephens, of the Michigan Court of Claims, issued a ruling extending the absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline to November 17, 2020, for ballots postmarked on or before November 2, 2020. Stephens also authorized voters to allow anyone of their choosing to return their ballots between 5:01 p.m. on October 30, 2020, and the close of polls on November 3, 2020. The full text of Stephens' ruling can be accessed here.

  May 19, 2020: All registered voters in August 4, 2020, and November 3, 2020, elections to receive mail-in ballot applications automatically

  On May 19, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) announced that all registered voters in the August 4, 2020, primary and November 3, 2020, general election would receive mail-in ballot applications automatically. The full press release announcing the policy change can be accessed here.

  May 5, 2020: Federal appeals court partially overturns lower court order modifying candidate filing procedures

  On May 5, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that a district court judge who ordered modifications to Michigan's candidate filing procedures had erred in doing so. Although the appeals court agreed that the original requirements were unconstitutional, it found that the lower court had exceeded its authority in mandating new requirements to the state. The appeals court directed the state "to select its own adjustments so as to reduce the burden on ballot access, narrow the restrictions to align with its interest, and thereby render the application of the ballot-access provisions constitutional under the circumstances."

  On May 8, 2020, state authorities announced that they would abide by the requirements laid out in the district court's original ruling. Jake Rollow, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of State, said, "As the district court declined to amend its order, and with the revised filing deadline today, May 8, the best course of action to reduce further uncertainty in advance of the rapidly approaching August elections is to maintain the procedures that have been in place for the last two and a half weeks."

  April 20, 2020: Federal judge modifies filing procedures for primary election candidates

  On April 20, 2020, Judge Terrence Berg, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, issued an order reducing the petition signature requirements for select primary candidates to 50 percent of their statutory requirements. Berg also extended the filing deadline from April 21, 2020, to May 8, 2020, and directed election officials to develop procedures allowing for the collection and submission of electronic petition signatures. Berg's order applied only to candidates for offices without a filing-fee option: U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, and judicial offices. The order did not apply to state legislative candidates, who have the option to obtain ballot access by paying a filing fee. The full text of the order can be accessed here.

  On April 25, 2020, Berg denied a request made by the state to stay his earlier ruling.

  March 23, 2020: Michigan secretary of state to send absentee ballot applications to all voters in the May 5, 2020, election

  On March 23, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) announced that her office would mail absentee ballot applications to all voters in local elections scheduled for May 5, 2020. The press release announcing this change is presented below.

  “

  LANSING, MICH. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that absent voter ballot applications will be mailed by her office to all voters in the May 5 election to help ensure both public health and democratic rights are protected. “Our country has a long history of carrying out elections in times of crisis, and we are fortunate to have the tools to uphold that history today,” said Benson. “Voting by mail protects public health, is highly accessible, and was clearly mandated by Michiganders when they overwhelmingly voted in 2018 to amend our state constitution and afford everyone this right.” For the past two weeks, Secretary Benson has been working with clerks across the state to determine if they need to hold an election in May, or if the entity placing the item on their ballot could postpone to August. The majority of the questions on the May ballots are school district millages and bonds, and many districts have postponed. Benson gave clerks and the entities a few more days this week to make their decision. For the entities that do not postpone (in several cases, because existing critical funds would expire), the Bureau of Elections will mail absent voter ballot applications to all voters with postage-paid return envelopes unless those voters have already requested an absent voter ballot. The state will include a cover letter that voting by mail is the optimal way to cast a ballot due to the public health crisis. The state will assist local jurisdictions in ensuring postage-paid return envelopes are mailed to all who request ballots. “We are also working to ensure the health and safety guidelines of our state and federal government are followed in the lead up to and administration of the May 5 election,” said Benson. “This includes working to recruit election workers to serve in all jurisdictions and providing hygiene supplies and explicit guidance on how to process absent-voter ballots and carry out other election duties while observing strict health precautions.” Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

  ”

  March 11, 2020: Michigan Democrats cancel state convention

  On March 11, 2020, the Democratic Party of Michigan announced the cancelation of its state convention, originally scheduled for March 21, 2020.

New Jersey

General election changes

New Jersey modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in were ballots sent to all registered voters in the general election.
• Candidate filing procedures: Candidates were allowed to collect and submit petition signatures via electronic means. The petition deadline for unaffiliated candidates for non-presidential office was postponed to July 7, 2020.

Primary election changes

New Jersey modified its primary election process as follows:

• Election postponements: The primary election was postponed from June 2 to July 7.
• Candidate filing procedures: Candidates were allowed to collect and submit petition signatures via electronic means.
• Voting procedures: All registered, active Democratic and Republican received mail-in ballots automatically. Unaffiliated and inactive voters received mail-in ballot applications automatically.

Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.

• New Jersey election changes (click to expand)

  August 28, 2020: Governor signs bills into law making modifications to absentee/mail-in voting in the general election

  On August 28, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed three bills into law, making a number of modifications to the state's absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.

  • A4475/S2580: Requires county election officials to provide for ballot drop-boxes at least 45 days before the election.
  • A4276/S2598: Establishes procedures by which voters can cure their ballots (i.e., correct issues that might lead to a ballot being invalidated).
  • A4320/S2633: Extends the ballot receipt deadline for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to 144 hours after the close of polls on Election Day (i.e., November 9, 2020). Establishes the receipt deadline for ballots without postmarks as 48 hours after the close of polls (i.e. November 5, 2020).

  August 14, 2020: New Jersey to send mail-in ballots automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, election

  On August 14, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy (D) announced that the state would automatically send mail-in ballots to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Secretary of State Tahesha Way (D) said that ballots would be mailed in the first week of October. It was also announced that all schools, many of which traditionally serve as polling sites on Election Day, would be closed to in-person instruction on November 3, 2020.

  May 15, 2020: Governor issues executive order providing for expanded mail-in voting in July 7, 2020, elections

  On May 15, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy (D) issued Executive Order No. 144, providing for expanded mail-in voting in the July 7, 2020, elections. All registered, active Democratic and Republican voters were set to receive mail-in ballots automatically. Unaffiliated and inactive voters were set to receive mail-in ballot applications automatically. Murphy directed each county to open at least one polling place in each municipality for in-person voting. The full text of the executive order can be accessed here.

  April 8, 2020: Governor issues executive order postponing statewide primary election to July 7, 2020

  On April 8, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy (D) issued Executive Order No. 120, postponing the statewide primary election, originally scheduled for June 2, 2020, to July 7, 2020. Murphy also postponed any other elections scheduled between May 13, 2020, and July 7, 2020, to July 7, 2020. The petition deadline for unaffiliated candidates for non-presidential office was extended to July 7, 2020. The order also extended electronic nominating petition signature provisions from Executive Order No. 105 to general election candidates. The full text of the executive order can be accessed here.

  March 19, 2020: Governor makes several changes to New Jersey election procedures via executive order

  On March 19, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy (D) issued Executive Order No. 105, making the following changes to New Jersey's election procedures:

  • Permitting candidates to collect petition signatures electronically and submit petitions online
  • Postponing the following municipal elections to May 12, 2020: March 21, 2020, special election in Fire District 1 for the Township of Old Bridge and the March 31, 2020, special elections in the Township of West Amwell and Atlantic City
  • Postponing all school board elections scheduled for April 21, 2020, to May 12, 2020
  • Eliminating in-person voting for all May 12, 2020, elections and instead conducting these elections solely by mail