NJ judge says scrapping controversial ballot design applies only to Democratic primary, not GOP

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

03/30/2024 07:17 PM EDT


U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi, who granted a preliminary injunction eliminating New Jersey’s controversial ballot design in the June primary, said Saturday that his order only applied to the Democratic primary and not the Republican one.

The court order brings another twist to the legal battle over New Jersey’s unique primary ballot design known as the county line, where candidates backed by county parties are placed in a single column or row — making them appear more prominently on the ballot and giving them a significant advantage.

Rep. Andy Kim and two Democratic House candidates filed a lawsuit in February seeking to eliminate the county line system in the June primary. Quraishi on Friday granted the preliminary injunction requiring county clerks — who Kim sued — to design primary ballots using an office block ballot, where candidates are grouped together by the office they are seeking rather than by who they want to bracket with. All other states use that design.

But the Morris County Republican Committee on Friday evening told the judge that the organization interpreted the ruling as only applying to the Democrats, since the complaint filed by Kim defined the “primary election” as the Democratic primary election. In a Saturday order, Quraishi agreed. “The preliminary injunction granted in this case is, and must be, limited to the 2024 Democratic Primary Election,” Quraishi wrote in his ruling. “Plaintiffs’ allegations and sought relief only applied to the 2024 Democratic Primary Election.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/30/nj-ballot-design-gop-primary-00149842

[Renew Deal]

1. How does that make sense?

Why is it less unfair to Republican candidates?

[3Hotdogs]

2. ---doesn't. But the state house is controlled by Dems. They will likely put the change into law for the '26 state

primaries.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. I don't blame the GOP

It highlights the Intra Party conflict and makes us look weak. Of course they are going to hold the line. They are laughing at us. First hand and up close from Bob Hugin last week.

[Igel]

4. It's no.

But the case was specifically about the (D) ballot.

That's the issue being decided, that's the issue the opinion's about.

The opinion specifically says that the (R) party might want to redesign its own ballot before that's also challenged.