N.J. Stat. tit. 19, ch. 37

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 19:37-1 Referendum.

19:37-1. When the governing body of any municipality or of any county desires to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof, and there is no other statute by which the sentiment can be ascertained by the submission of such question to a vote of the electors in the municipality or county at any election to be held therein, the governing body may adopt at any regular meeting an ordinance or a resolution requesting the clerk of the county to print upon the official ballots to be used at the next ensuing general election a certain proposition to be formulated and expressed in the ordinance or resolution in concise form. Such request shall be filed with the clerk of the county not later than 88 days previous to the election. amended 1942, c.50, s.13; 1967, c.101, s.1; 1985, c.92, s.29; 2011, c.37, s.22; 2023, c.124, s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 19:37-1.1 Petition of voters.

2. Whenever a governing body of a municipality has adopted an ordinance or resolution pursuant to section 19:37-1 of the Revised Statutes, upon the presentation to the governing body of such municipality of a petition signed by 10% or more of the voters registered and qualified to vote at the last general election in such municipality, requesting the governing body of such municipality to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof that is reasonably related to any proposition formulated and expressed in such ordinance or resolution, such governing body of the municipality shall thereupon adopt at its next regular meeting following the presentation of such petition a resolution requesting the clerk of the county to print upon the official ballots to be used at the next ensuing general election a certain proposition as formulated and expressed in the petition. Such request shall be filed with the clerk of the county not later than the 74th day previous to the election. L.1967, c.101, s.2; amended 1985, c.92, s.30; 2011, c.37, s.23; 2023, c.124, s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 19:37-2 Question placed on ballot by county clerk.

19:37-2. If a copy of the ordinance or resolution certified by the clerk or secretary of the governing body of any such municipality or county is delivered to the county clerk not less than 74 days before any such general election, he shall cause it to be printed on each sample ballot and official ballot to be printed for or used in such municipality or county, as the case may be, at the next ensuing general election. amended 1947, c.69; 1971, c.217, s.3; 2011, c.37, s.24; 2023, c.124, s.8.

N.J. Stat. § 19:37-3 Count and canvass of votes

The ballots so cast for or against such public question shall be counted and the result thereof returned by the election officers and a canvass of such election had and announced in the manner now provided by law.

N.J. Stat. § 19:37-4 Result not binding

Such result shall not bind the governing body from which the ordinance or resolution emanated, nor be taken or construed as other than an expression of sentiment by the voters, to be followed or disregarded by the governing body in its discretion.

N.J. Stat. § 19:37-5 Ordinance or resolution necessary

The submission of a public question in the manner herein provided shall not become operative in any municipality or county until the governing body thereof shall by ordinance or resolution duly passed declare its desire to submit any question or questions in this manner.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026