Mercer County Board Of Elections Challenger Training for

Mercer County Board Of Elections Challenger Training for Candidates, Municipal Clerks and Party Representatives

WHO IS A CHALLENGER? • A CHALLENGER IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A CANDIDATE OR POLITICAL PARTY OR A PROPONENT/OPPENENT TO A REFERENDUM THAT CHALLENGES A VOTER BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE VOTER IS NOT QUALIFIED TO VOTE • CHALLENGERS ARE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE COUNTY 2

5 Types of Challengers 1. CANDIDATE CHALLENGER CAN CHALLENGE WHERE THEIR NAME IS ON THE BALLOT 2. CANDIDATE REP CHALLENGER (2 PER DISTRICT) 3. POLITICAL PARTY CHALLENGER (2 PER DISTRICT) 4. POLTICAL PARTY AT LARGE CHALLENGER (12 -1 PER MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTY AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE PARTY CHAIRPERSON) 5. PUBLIC QUESTION CHALLENGER (2 PER DISTRICT) ***DISTRICT BOARD OF ELECTIONS MEMBERS (POLLWORKERS)

THOUGH, EACH CANDIDATE AND POLITICAL PARTY IS ALLOWED 2 CHALLENGERS, “NOT MORE THAN ONE CHALLENGER FOR A PARTY, CANDIDATE, OR PUBLIC OFFICE QUESTION MAY BE PRESENT AT ANY ONE TIME IN THE POLLING PLACE. ” N. J. S. A. 19: 7 -6. 1

Appointment of Challengers “ANY PERSON REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE COUNTY MAY SERVE AS A CHALLENGER, BUT ONLY IN THE ELECTION DISTRICT FOR WHICH THEY ARE APPOINTED. THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS APPLY FOR ALL ELECTIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOL ELECTIONS. AS NOTED ABOVE, HOWEVER, THE COUNTY CHAIRPERSON’S AT LARGE CHALLENGERS CAN CHALLENGE IN EVERY DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY”. . N. J. S. A 19: 7 -3

Challengers can only challenge a voter if they believe the voter is not qualified to vote……. . Voter Qualifications: 1. United States citizen. 2. 18 years of age or older. 3. Resident of Mercer County for at least 30 days before the election. 4. Registered to vote. 5. Not on parole or probation 6

Challengers cannot challenge because…… • They think they know how the voter is going to vote • Race or ethnic origin of voter • Where the voter lives in the town or county Is it a criminal offense for any challenger to challenge a voter for any of the above reasons! 7

CHALLENGER CREDENTIALS 8

NOTICE TO CHALLENGERS (Board Worker gives to Challengers) 9

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CHALLENGE……. . • BOARD WORKER READS ALOUD “INFORMATION FOR CHALLENGED VOTER (C 3)” • VOTER READS, COMPLETES AND SIGNS “CHALLENGED VOTER AFFIDAVIT (C 4)” (BOARD WORKERS ALSO SIGN, CARBON COPIES) • VOTER, BOARDWORKER AND CHALLENGER SIGN “CHALLENGERS AFFIDAVIT (C 2)” (CARBON COPIES) • BOARD WORKERS DETERMINE IF VOTER IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE 10

Challenger Application Deadline • Application are due the second Tuesday before each election before 3 pm.

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Challengers cannot…… Sit with Board Workers or touch election materials Go to the voting machine during voting hours Challenge or speak directly to the voter Wear campaign clothing, buttons, or signs, or hand out literature • Harass or intimidate any voters • Cause any disturbances in the polling place • Challenge a voter because the Board Worker has asked the voter to affirm their address or asked a first-time registrant by mail to show identification. • • 15

Who is in charge of the polling place? The Board of Election! CALL THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY, IF A CHALLENGER(S) IS NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW!!! 16