On July 20, Gov. Phil Murphy signed S-1974, which requires that a nominating petition for any state, county, school, or municipal elective public office include a functioning email address for the candidate.

According the sponsor’s statement, this addition to the nominating petitions of such candidates would enhance the voters’ access to those candidates, particularly first-time candidates, and allow voters and organizations to contact candidates’ campaigns.

The sample nominating petitions that NJSBA had previously posted on its Candidate’s Kit webpage already had a place for candidates to provide their email address. However the petitions have been revised to reflect the fact that the information is now mandatory, not optional.

Prospective candidates for boards of education who have already filed nominating petitions for the November election and who did not provide an email address contact for themselves on the petition should contact their county clerk for further guidance.