Federal judge blocks New Jersey ballot design, saying it favors party-backed candidates

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey must scrap its unique primary ballot design, widely criticized as boosting the prospects of party-backed candidates, a federal judge ruled Friday, saying the “integrity of the democratic practice” was at stake.

The ruling shakes a foundational component of New Jersey’s primary election ballots, which tend to group candidates with party support in a single column. That means the names of those running without establishment backing could be left in places on the ballot that are difficult to find.

Opponents of the system argued it put a “thumb on the scale” for party-preferred candidates. The defendants in the suit — most of the state’s county clerks who design ballots — argued primarily that they didn’t have enough time to redesign them.

U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi granted a preliminary injunction sought by Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and two other candidates in a ruling that applies to the June 4 primary. It’s unclear exactly what it means beyond that.

“The Court wishes to make clear that it recognizes the magnitude of its decision,” Quraishi wrote. “The integrity of the democratic process for a primary election is at stake and the remedy Plaintiffs are seeking is extraordinary.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Sen. Bob Menendez decides not to delay May trial with appeal of judge’s ruling </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Joe Lieberman’s death leaves a hole at No Labels as it tries to recruit a 2024