NJ S3202

County or municipal elections decided by 10 votes or less qualify for automatic recounts at the candidate's request, with requests due within 24 hours of certification and recounts completed within 3 days, with costs paid by the State.

The Chief Justice must annually assign by the Tuesday after Labor Day at least three Superior Court judges to each of three geographic regions (Northern, Central, and Southern) to handle election recounts and contests.

Judges assigned to regions act individually rather than as panels, with cases assigned to the next available judge in the region rather than being limited to the county where the election occurred.

All election recount and contest matters must be resolved before the winning candidate assumes office or the governing body reorganizes.

Initial hearings on filings must occur within 36 hours, and appeals must receive initial hearings within 24 hours or the next business day.