Demise Of ‘The Line’: Essex County Politicos React To Landmark Ruling

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Several advocacy groups and elected officials from Essex County are cheering a court ruling on New Jersey’s controversial ballot design – which could end up being a big factor in this year’s election.

On Friday, a federal judge issued a court injunction involving New Jersey's primary ballot design – commonly referred to as the “county line” or “party line.” See Related: Judge Blocks NJ's 'County Line' Primary Ballots

Currently, 19 counties in the state organize their primary ballots around a slate of party-endorsed candidates and put them in a prominent place. As a result, voters often have a hard time determining which candidates are running for each office, allegedly giving a huge advantage to those who land on the “county line” – and exiling the others to “ballot Siberia.”

In February, three Congressional candidates running for the Democratic Party nomination in their districts – including U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Andy Kim – filed a lawsuit that aims to end the use of the county line, replacing it with an “office block” style ballot which is organized around the position up for election, not political parties. See Related: Andy Kim's Fight For 'Fair Ballot' Unites NJ Progressives, Republicans

U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi granted emergency injunctive relief just before the Easter holiday weekend kicked off, finding that the potential ripple effects posed by changing ballots so close to the election is “outweighed by the public interest in having candidates running in the 2024 primary presented on the ballot in a fair and equal manner that is free from unnecessary government interference.”

Quraishi's order directs county clerks to stop using, counting, preparing, displaying or disseminating any ballot designed under the current system.

The judge later added that his injunction only applies to the 2024 Democratic Party primary election, not the Republican contest.

Will local election officials across the Garden State be able to seamlessly pull off the transition? That remains to be seen, but the possibility that it’s too late to put a stop to the practice before this year’s primary was previously suggested by four county clerks, who claimed that rolling out a ban this late in the election season would cause “cascading and rippling effects.”

On Sunday, Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin posted a message on social media about the upcoming ballot changes, writing that he is in favor of block-ballot voting.

“I am confident Essex County will conduct a fair and free election,” Durkin stated. “Our ballots will be clear and concise to voters. The voting systems we have in Essex County are the best in New Jersey.”

Durkin continued:

“Elections are managed by counties. Many county clerks in New Jersey are concerned … not on the constitutionality of this ruling, but based on the late timing of this ruling, citing the ‘Purcell Principal,’ which is a presumption against last-minute changes to the election process. Moreover, their concern is ‘based on their systems’ ability to conduct such an election in a time to meet the federal deadlines. My county clerk colleagues are the most principled and dedicated public servants I know. They don’t need ‘the line’ to be re-elected.”

REACTION IN ESSEX COUNTY

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, an Essex County resident, previously said he had no plans to defend the state’s use of the party line in court, calling it “unconstitutional.”

Several officials, candidates and advocacy groups in Essex County have since issued statements about Quraishi’s ruling and the future of the party line in New Jersey.

Kim’s fellow Senate candidate, Patricia Campos-Medina, has also been a vocal critic of the political oddity, issuing a joint statement with the congressman and another Senate candidate, Newark activist Larry Hamm, about the practice earlier this year.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our campaign for a fairer, more inclusive democracy,” the former Newark resident said after Quraishi’s ruling, noting that all U.S. Senate candidates will now appear together on the ballot.

“For over a decade, I've tirelessly advocated against the county line as undemocratic, discriminatory because it is a barrier to entry for first-time candidates, women and people of color,” Campos-Medina said.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka – who is running for New Jersey governor in 2025 – also cheered the judge’s decision, calling for candidates and party bosses to look forward, not back.

“The Line is, and has always been, anti-democratic,” said Baraka, a Democratic Party member who has been elected under the county line in the past. “We as a party have always known it was wrong and yet we lived with it for decades.”

“From here, we can do two things: one, we can continue struggling to maintain a system that we know undermines our values and the people's faith in our institutions,” he continued. “This is the wrong decision and it would undoubtedly further erode our standing as a party in New Jersey and around the country.”

The other option?

“We can end this now – no appeals, no political schemes, no more debate,” Baraka said. “The option and opportunity is right here to abide by the judge's decision and begin to openly and collectively change the way we elect our representatives in this state.”

“I am hopeful that we see the wisdom in embracing this moment,” he added.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, another elected official who has benefitted from the county line in the past, also said the judge’s decision is a sound one.

“New Jersey voters deserve fair and transparent elections,” said Sherrill, who represents the state’s 11th District and is running for re-election as a Democrat in 2024.

The congresswoman continued:

“Trump and MAGA extremists continue to sow doubt in our elections with misinformation and fraudulent attacks on election officials. After hearing from people throughout my district supporting office-block ballots, I advocated for this change. I am proud that in New Jersey we continue to work to increase voting rights and election transparency. From my first election – fueled by a groundswell of support from voters across NJ-11 who wanted a more open, responsive democracy – I’ve worked hard to support the values we share. Together, we will continue working toward more inclusive and confidence-inspiring elections in New Jersey.”

In Bloomfield – where interim mayor Ted Gamble and councilwoman Jenny Mundell are both vying for the town’s open mayoral seat as Democrats – Quraishi’s ruling also sparked comments.

“[Friday’s] landmark court ruling will result in a more fair, open and transparent election process that empowers voters,” Mundell said.

“No one should underestimate Bloomfield voters or their ability to make an informed decision,” the councilwoman added.

Meanwhile, Gamble and two other members of his campaign slate – town council candidate Rodney Cauthen and county sheriff candidate Gary Nash – are also clapping for Friday’s ruling.

“The integrity of the democratic process is paramount, and Judge Quraishi's decision reflects a commitment to fairness and justice,” Gamble said. “We commend him for his careful deliberation and for recognizing the importance of ensuring a level playing field for all candidates.”

• See Related: Gamble, Mundell Duke It Out Over 'The Party Line': Bloomfield Election

In March, a coalition of nearly 40 women elected officials and candidates from New Jersey released a joint statement calling for an end to the party line ballot system. Signatories included Sheena Collum, mayor of South Orange, and Jamaine Cripe, deputy mayor of Maplewood.

Their statement read:

“The state’s county party line system, the only such system in the country, is in itself a form of voter suppression that limits choices, concentrates power in the hands of a few, mostly white, male political leaders, and creates a glass ceiling for women in New Jersey politics. It is long past time to smash it. Studies have shown that getting the endorsement of county party leaders and preferential party-line placement on the ballot provides on average a 38-point advantage in primary elections — over the last two decades, 99% of incumbents who were awarded the line went on to win their state legislative primaries.”

“The concentration of political power in the hands of a few unelected party elites has a chilling effect not only on political involvement, but also on legislation and state budget priorities as incumbents are pressured not to speak their minds nor vote their conscience lest they risk losing their favorable ballot positioning,” the statement continued. “This has a particularly negative impact on women candidates and elected officials, especially working class and minority women, who historically have had the least political clout.”

Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller also issued a statementabout the ruling.

“Block ballot voting will strengthen our elections in New Jersey,” Spiller wrote. “With the stakes in this years elections higher than every before, it’s critical that we make sure voting is as easy, accessible and transparent as possible.”

Progressive advocacy groups with roots in Essex County have also issued statements of support for the effort to kill the party line.

The Newark-based New Jersey Institute for Social Justice noted that it filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, claiming that the practice “dilutes the voice of voters,” especially Black voters and other residents of color.

The group added that the court case “finally brought down the line” – but years of tireless advocacy from activists set the table.

New Jersey Citizen Action, which has a main office in Newark, also clapped for the judge’s ruling.

“[Friday’s] decision was a culmination of years of grassroots organizing and movement-building among people who believe our democracy has been captured by special interests and needs to be returned to the people,” executive director Dena Mottola Jaborska said.

“Abolishing the line is critical to both free and fair elections and advancing policies in the interests of everyday New Jerseyans,” Jaborska said.

Local advocacy group SOMA Action recently pointed out that the Maplewood Democrats passed two resolutions calling for office block ballots and for awarding the county party endorsements using a secret ballot convention.

“As the New Jersey county with the most number of registered Democrats, Essex County should lead by example and not delay,” the group argued. “The office block ballot is a straightforward reform that has been used for decades without issue by every other state in the country, as well as in New Jersey’s own Salem and Sussex counties. Essex County can and should adopt these changes immediately for the 2024 primary election in June.”

Local Democrats and progressives in Essex County aren’t the only ones taking note of Friday’s court ruling. And there’s still work to be done before election parity is achieved in the Garden State, some conservative pundits say.

Last weekend, the America First Republicans of New Jersey announced they will “move to ensure the county line system deemed unconstitutional by a federal court is not unjustly imposed on Republican voters during the June 4 primary election.”

“The basis of our republic is equality under the law,” said Mike Crispi, co-chair of the America First Republicans, reacting to Quraishi’s decision to limit the injunction to the Democratic primary.

“If a federal court can protect the rights of Democrat voters, it must protect our rights too,” Crispi said, claiming that the decision will force Republicans to suffer another election cycle under an unconstitutional system.

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