NJ Primary Election Postponed Until July 7

Governor Phil Murphy announced on Wednesday that, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, he has signed an Executive Order postponing New Jersey’s primary election from June 2 until July 7.

The Governor stated that moving the date ahead five weeks will allow more time for citizens to submit mail in ballots, if they so choose, while giving New Jerseyans additional time to flatten the curve on the coronavirus.

Governor Murphy’s Executive Order also states that all deadlines for meeting statutory requirements for a primary election that are currently scheduled to occur after April 11 will be calculated using the July 7, 2020 primary election date. This would not affect any deadlines that have already passed, such as the filing deadline for candidate petitions for the primary election, or will pass prior to April 11. The only exception is the deadline for change of party affiliation declaration forms to be filed, which was scheduled for yesterday, April 8, and will move to May 13.

Additionally, independent candidate petitions will be due by 4:00 p.m. on July 7, 2020, and the electronic signature and submission requirements that were set forth in Executive Order No. 105 for primary candidates will be extended to these independent candidate petitions.