TRENTON, NJ – A legislative effort led by Assemblyman Harold “Hal” J. Wirths of District 24 and Assemblyman John DiMaio of District 23 aims to amend current state laws regarding police presence at polling sites and ballot drop boxes. The proposed bill seeks to revoke the existing prohibition on police presence within 100 feet of these locations during elections.
Introduced in its current form, the bill counteracts a 2021 law that restricted law enforcement’s proximity to election facilities. If passed, the new legislation would allow police officers to be stationed near polling places and ballot drop boxes in an official capacity. Additionally, it would eliminate the requirement for election boards to notify higher authorities when law enforcement is dispatched to these locations. The bill also proposes the removal of the obligation for maintaining records of such deployments.