Election Day.JPG

A Hoboken polling place is shown in this 2009 file photo

(Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON — The state Senate today passed a bill to vastly expand in-person early voting in New Jersey.



But if Republican reaction on the floor was any indication, the bill — if it also passes the Assembly — is likely to meet the same fate as a nearly identical one Democrats sent Gov. Chris Christie last year: A veto.



The bill — which would require counties to set up in-person early voting locations starting 15 days before a general election — passed largely along party lines, with the minimum 21 votes.

"Early voting would ensure that even in an emergency such as natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy or in the case of an unforeseen personal scheduling conflict, residents would be able to get to the polls and exercise their right to vote," said state Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex), the bill's (S536) sponsor.

Gill said that expanding early voting would ease the Election Day crush. She noted an October Rutgers Law School report that found widespread confusion and illegalities in the vote-by-fax and vote-by-email system the Christie administration set up in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which struck just days before the 2012 election.



Republicans criticized the bill on just one point: New Jersey voters already can vote early in-person at their county clerk's office.



"Each county is able to set up in-person voting 45 days prior to the election," said state Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Sussex).

But the bill would make it possible for voters who live far from their county’s seat to cast a vote closer to home.

A spokesman for Christie declined to comment.

Counties with fewer than 150,000 registered voters would be required to set up three early voting locations. For counties with between 150,000 and 300,000 voters, it would be five, and for counties of more than 300,000 it would be seven.

According to the bill’s fiscal estimate, it would cost $21 million to implement in the first year and $1 million each year after if the state purchases electronic poll books to replace paper books at polling places. If the state does not by the equipment, during the first year it would cost $1 million to implement the program but $4 million in overtime costs.

Only one Democrat, state Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson), voted against the bill. His spokesman, Phil Swibinski, said he felt it was "an unnecessary expense that would be passed on to local taxpayers while the current system already allows for early voting both by mail and in person at county clerk's offices."

Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.