New Jersey 222nd Legislature Status: Introduced

A 5489 — Eliminates automatic voter registration, restores "opt-in" voter registration process, and requires proof of citizenship for voter registration at MVC.

Last action — INT 1RA REF ASL

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed General Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced September 14, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill eliminates automatic voter registration and requires proof of citizenship for voter registration.

This bill removes the automatic process for registering voters and shifts to an 'opt-in' system. It also mandates that individuals provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote at the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

What this means for you
  • Consumers: If you register to vote at the MVC, you'll need to provide proof of citizenship.

Summary

Automatic voter registration-eliminate and require proof of citizenship at MVC

Bill Text

  • Introduced View text Current html September 15, 2026

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: N.J.S.A. 39:2-3.2; N.J.S.A. 39:3-10m.

  • N.J.S.A. 39:2-3.2

    provide for an eligible applicant be automatically registered . The applicant shall be offered an opportunity to decline the automatic voter registration under this section. The Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Chief Administrator, shall take appropriate measures to educate the public about voter registration under this section. For the purposes of this section, "eligible applicant" means a person submitting to the commission an application for a motor vehicle driver's license, an examination permit, a probationary driver's license, or a non-driver identification card who meets all requirements for eligibility to vote under R.S.19:4-1. → (1) and concurrence formulate a means of permitting a person register to to be permitted ; provided that, in the course of business with the Motor Vehicle Commission, the applicant provides or has provided documentation demonstrating United States citizenship. The Chief Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall by regulation prescribe the forms of documentary proof of citizenship acceptable for the purposes of this subsection, which shall include, at a minimum, a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state or the District of Columbia, a valid United States passport, or documentation of naturalization or derivative citizenship issued by the United States Department of State or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2) The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, upon receipt of a completed voter registration application under this section, shall stamp or otherwise mark the lower right-hand corner of the document with the date on which it was so received and forward the document to the Secretary of State no later than the 10th day following the date of acceptance. (3) Each application for voter registration which is received by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall be considered and processed as the replacement for any pre-existing voter registration of the applicant. (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) h. Each change of address notification submitted to the Chief Administrator for the purpose of maintaining current information on a person's motor vehicle license shall be promptly reported to the Secretary of State. A change of address notification received by the Chief Administrator in paper format shall be reported to the Secretary of State no later than the 10th day following its receipt by the Chief Administrator and shall serve as notification for the change of address process. The commissioner of registration shall use the change of address notification to update an existing voter registration unless the registrant indicates that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes. A change of address notification submitted to the commission, which is used for voter registration purposes, shall be subject to the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1994, c.148 (C.19:31-3.2), if the person submitting the change of address notification previously registered to vote in accordance with that section.

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 39:3-10m

    , who meets all requirements for eligibility to vote, , including any application for a renewal or update thereof, except as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2), decline the automatic voter registration as provided pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2) → register to vote; provided that, in the course of business with the Motor Vehicle Commission, the applicant provides or has provided documentation demonstrating United States citizenship

    amended

Action History

  1. INT 1RA REF ASL

Sponsors

  • John V. Azzariti Jr. · Primary
  • Dawn Fantasia · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 118 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

  • Azzariti Jr., John V.
  • Fantasia, Dawn

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (118)

118 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 118 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does A 5489 do?
Automatic voter registration-eliminate and require proof of citizenship at MVC
Who sponsors A 5489?
A 5489 is sponsored by Azzariti Jr., John V. and Fantasia, Dawn.
What is the current status of A 5489?
This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced September 14, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track A 5489?
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