How New Jersey counties redesigned their primary ballots following court ruling

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In New Jersey, the use of a “county line” method for designing primary ballots, a practice used by 19 of the state's 21 counties, has changed in response to legal challenges. This method typically grouped party-backed candidates in a designated area of the ballot, while others were placed separately, often referred to as “ballot Siberia.” This arrangement raised concerns about voter suppression and unfair advantages.

A lawsuit initiated in 2020, along with a subsequent lawsuit in 2024 by Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who is running for Senate, prompted this redesign. Kim argued that the county line favored certain candidates due to their placement on the ballot. A report from Rutgers University Law Review supported this claim, indicating that candidates not endorsed by party leaders had diminished chances of winning.

While New Jersey’s constitution does not mandate the use of the county line, one statute requires candidates for county commissioner to be placed on the same line, allowing others to request similar placement. On April 4, U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi issued a temporary order to suspend the county line for the upcoming 2024 Democratic primary.

Despite the ruling, the decision on ballot structure remains with county officials. Some officials, such as Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi, support the county line as a means of connecting candidates with similar ideologies.

As a result of the court order, the 19 affected counties had to redesign their primary ballots ahead of the June 4 Democratic primary, a process that left officials with only two months to adapt. Melfi highlighted the challenges posed by the sudden change, while other counties, like Salem and Sussex, had already been using alternative ballot designs and offered their layouts as models during the redesign process.

Voter confusion was reported statewide as residents adjusted to the new format. Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo noted that many seniors struggled with the changes, prompting him to implement a more familiar block-style ballot.

Looking ahead, the ruling currently applies only to the 2024 Democratic primary. Future elections, including New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race and the 2026 midterm primaries, will likely continue to examine the use of the county line. Counties involved in the lawsuits, such as Burlington and Middlesex, have agreed not to use the county line in future elections, while others, like Atlantic and Hunterdon, may revert to the traditional method unless directed otherwise.