Essex County Is Abandoning Legal Battle Against ‘The Line’: Reports

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Clerk’s Office is abandoning a legal battle to defend the “party line” in primary elections, reports say.

Earlier this year, three Congressional candidates running for the Democratic Party nomination in their districts filed a lawsuit with the goal of ending the use of New Jersey's primary ballot design – commonly referred to as the “county or party line.”

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

In May, a federal judge issued a court injunction banning the controversial practice on 2024 Democratic Party primary ballots – but not Republican Party ballots. The new layout replaces the old style with an “office block” style ballot that is organized around the position up for election, not political parties.

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

Since the judge’s decision, county clerks in several jurisdictions have been reaching settlements and agreeing to transition to office block ballots.

On Friday, the Essex County Clerk’s Office joined the list, submitting a proposed settlement to leave the lawsuit, Politico reported.

The county clerk will now hold separate drawings among candidates for each office, but candidates will still be allowed to list slogans alongside their names, the New Jersey Globe reported.

Earlier this year, Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin posted a message on social media amid the controversy, writing that he is in favor of office block ballots.

“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.”

So what did the revamped ballots look like in Essex County? See a 2024 sample primary ballot for one township (Montclair) below, or view it online here.

See a 2023 primary ballot in Montclair for comparison below, or view it online here.

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