Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed statewide voting rights law

Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act into law, which enacts statewide voting rights protections. The law is meant to ban voter suppression and intimidation, improve language access materials, and ensure all ballots are cast and counted equitably. It also requires state approval for election changes, public involvement for redistricting, and allows people to report violations before suing. New Jersey is the first state to pass its own voting rights law since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais weakened minority voting protections.

From Governor Mikie Sherrill.