The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey bill would ban law enforcement officers and civil operations within 200 feet of polling places and drop boxes
Last action · October 19, 2026: Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation CommitteeSponsor: Brian Stack
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What This Bill Would Do
The bill would prohibit sworn law enforcement officers from standing, remaining, or conducting s within 200 feet of any polling place, ballot drop box, or county board of elections during an election. The measure expands the buffer zone from 100 to 200 feet, establishes explicit exceptions for voting and emergency responses, and authorizes legal remedies in the Superior Court for violations.
Expands the buffer zone separating law enforcement personnel and civil operations from voters and election workers, altering where police and federal agents may position themselves during active voting periods.
- New Jersey regulates the placement of ballot drop boxes and police presence near voting locations through established election laws including P.L.1991, c.306 and P.L.2020, c.72. context
- Senator Brian P. Stack represents New Jersey's 33rd legislative district in Hudson County. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
law enforcement officers
Law enforcement officers are prohibited from remaining, standing, or conducting civil enforcement operations within 200 feet of polling locations and ballot drop boxes during elections, subject to specific exceptions.
eligible voters
Eligible voters gain an expanded buffer zone free from certain law enforcement presences and are provided legal standing to seek court relief against violations.
elections officials
Elections officials operate within an expanded restricted zone around voting sites and are granted authority to report violations and seek judicial relief.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new distance requirement for law enforcement near polling locations?
Can police officers still vote or live near a polling place?
Who can bring a legal action if a violation occurs?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Oct 19, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Law Enforcement Buffer Zones
The legislation systematically replaces existing 100-foot restrictions with 200-foot boundaries regarding law enforcement presence near voting locations.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment15Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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