Stack bill would require early voting in school, fire and May town elections, but only in Hudson County

UPDATE (Oct. 12): Sen. Brian Stack responded to Hudson TV’s request for comment. His statement has been added below.

TRENTON — A bill filed last week by state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-33) would require early, in-person voting for every election — including school board and fire district elections — but only in New Jersey counties with at least 15,000 residents per square mile. Under the 2020 Census, Hudson County is the only county in the state that meets that test.

First reported by Jersey Intel.

What S4796 does

Senate Bill 4796 was introduced on Oct. 8, 2026, with Stack, who is also Union City’s mayor, as its only sponsor. It was referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. No committee action is listed yet.

Today, early voting is required for the June primary and the November general election. Towns that hold nonpartisan municipal elections in May are allowed to offer early voting, but they don’t have to. In any county with a density of “15,000 people per square mile” or more, S4796 would require:

• early voting for each primary, general, municipal, school district and fire district election;
• an early-voting period for municipal, school and fire elections that starts on the 4th day before Election Day and ends on the 2nd day before;
• May municipal elections to offer early voting, which is now optional. The early-voting period would start on the 4th day before the election, or the 8th day if the town adopts an ordinance;
• the State to reimburse counties and towns for the additional costs, including running early-voting sites for those municipal, school and fire elections.

If enacted, the law would take effect on the Jan. 1 after it is signed. The bill’s statement says people in high-density areas may benefit from more days to vote.

Why only Hudson qualifies

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Hudson had 15,691.5 people per square mile in 2020 (724,854 residents on 46.19 square miles of land). Essex County, the state’s second-densest, had 6,850.4, less than half the bill’s cutoff. Every other county is lower.

What it would mean in Hudson County

Hudson elections held in June and November already have early voting. The bill would add early voting to the county’s spring elections, which currently have none:

• April school board elections. According to the Hudson County Clerk, North Bergen, West New York and Weehawken held annual school board elections in April 2026.
• May municipal elections. Bayonne, Union City and Weehawken voted in May 2026. Under S4796, those towns could no longer choose whether to offer early voting. It would be required.
• Special school elections, such as bond referendums, would also be covered by the “each … school district election” language.

What it would cost

That is still unknown. The Legislature’s bill page shows S4796 has been certified for a fiscal note from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services, but no fiscal estimate had been posted as of Monday morning. The only document listed is the text as introduced. Because the bill applies to only one county, any reimbursement would go to Hudson County and its towns, paid by the state.

Stack responds

“This is designed to give people more access to voting and to a democracy, you can’t put a price on that. The more democracy and the more access to voting the better it is for all the people no matter who they’re voting for.”

Stack told Hudson TV in a text message. His statement did not address the bill’s cost or why it sets the threshold at 15,000 people per square mile, both of which Hudson TV asked about.

Photo: Brian P. Stack in Union City, June 6, 2010. Luigi Novi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (cropped).