Under New Jersey law, any voting machine must be examined by the Secretary of State before approving it for use at elections. In addition, the voting machine must be inspected by three examiners, "one of whom shall be an expert in patent law." New Jersey Statutes § 19:48-2. The statute, passed in 1953, also requires "two mechanical experts." The experts are appointed by the Secretary of State.
According to reports, New Jersey citizens are voting via electronic touch-screen voting in 15 of 21 counties throughout the state. Last month, a New Jersey Judge denied a last minute effort to block the use of e-voting machines. No word on the identity of the NJ patent law expert or whether the new voting booths were examined.
Does anyone know if this law is still being followed?New Jersey Statutes § 19:48-2. Examination of voting machines by secretary of state
Any person or corporation owning or being interested in any voting machine may apply to the Secretary of State to examine such machine. Before the examination the applicant shall pay to the Secretary of State an examination fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00). The Secretary of State within a period of thirty days shall examine the machine and shall make and file in the office of the Secretary of State his report of the examination, which report shall state whether in his opinion the kind of machine so examined can be safely used by the voters at elections under the conditions prescribed in this subtitle. If the report states the machine can be so used, it shall be deemed approved, and machines of its kind may be adopted for use at elections as herein provided.
Before making such report the Secretary of State shall require the voting machine to be examined by three examiners to be appointed for such purpose by him, one of whom shall be an expert in patent law and the other two mechanical experts, and shall require of them a written report on such machine, which the Secretary of State shall attach to his own report on the machine. Each examiner shall receive one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for his compensation and expenses in making an examination and report as to each voting machine examined by him from and out of the examination fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00). Neither the Secretary of State nor any examiner shall have any pecuniary interest in any voting machine. When the machine has been so approved, any improvement or change that does not impair its accuracy, efficiency, or capacity, shall not render necessary a re-examination or reapproval thereof. Any form of voting machine not so approved cannot be used at any election.
The certificate of approval, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence that the kind of machine so examined complies with the provisions of this subtitle, except that the action of the Secretary of State in approving such machine may be reviewed by the Superior Court in a proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ.
