Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-31) says she will be putting up a bill to ease the logistics related to the timing of anticipated December runoff elections in Hoboken and Jersey City this year.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As an elected official committed to ensuring fair elections, I cannot stand by while our municipal elections are mired in confusion and legal contradictions,” McCann Stamato said in a statement.
“The timeline established by current laws, particularly around certification, mail-in ballots, and early voting, makes it virtually impossible to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law. These laws were not designed for the current landscape, and it’s time to update them for the reality of modern elections.”
The bill will seek to revise the election calendar for non-partisan municipal elections in Jersey City, Hoboken, and other municipalities that face similar challenges.
As it stands, the results of the non-partisan November 4th municipal elections aren’t certified until November 19th, with the deadline to contest those results running until December 6th – just four days after the scheduled December 2 runoff.
This tight turnaround creates conflicts with existing state laws and makes it difficult to ensure a fair, legally-compliant election process, the assemblywoman, who represents Bayonne, Kearny, and parts of Jersey City, stated.
McCann Stamato asserts that this bill will propose moving the runoff date to allow for adequate time to fully certify results, resolve any disputes, and prepare all necessary materials in accordance with state law.
Additionally, the bill will seek to address other longstanding contradictions in election law, such as the requirement that a candidate who dies seven days before the runoff must be replaced by the third-place finisher – an unrealistic expectation in the current calendar, where early voting and mail-in ballots complicate the process.
“Voter confidence is critical, and that begins with ensuring the electoral process is transparent, well-organized, and fair. This bill will correct a flawed system and protect the integrity of our elections,” McCann Stamato added.
“We have to do what’s best for the voters and our communities. The current system is unsustainable, and it’s time for a change.”
The Jersey City and Hoboken mayoral races each have five declared candidates already, while all nine council seats are up for grabs in Jersey City, with the three at-large seats and the 6th Ward council seat in play in the Mile Square City.
McCann Stamato is running with Bayonne 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s ticket, facing off with Assemblyman Will Sampson and Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-3), who have the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO).