---
type: "Bill"
title: "Requires electronic signature and submission process for all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions for remaining 2020 elections and thereafter during COVID-19 emergency."
description: "Requires electronic signature and submission process for all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions for remaining 2020 elections and thereafter during COVID-19 emergency."
jurisdiction: "us/states/nj"
legislature: "New Jersey Legislature"
session: "219"
identifier: "A 4037"
citation: "New Jersey A 4037 (219)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["ELECTIONS", "EMERG MGMT"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Downey, Joann", "Gopal, Vin", "Houghtaling, Eric"]
version_count: 2
action_count: 9
vote_count: 4
first_action: "2020-05-07T04:00:00+00:00"
last_action: "2020-07-01T04:00:00+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/75a88818-cb91-4735-82be-694e555c0a15"
source_url: "http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/downloads.asp"
source_hash: "c6080d4f6b7a7e31d5f137369d720649a90ca5671ec574720482829b78e515a2"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-nj"]
---

# New Jersey A 4037 (219) — Requires electronic signature and submission process for all candidate, recall, initiative, and referendum petitions for remaining 2020 elections and thereafter during COVID-19 emergency.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/A4500/4037_I1.HTM)
2. **Reprint** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/A4500/4037_R1.HTM)

## Votes

- CONCUR IN SA — **58–13** (pass) · lower
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **38–0** (pass) · upper
- AMEND — **33–0** (pass) · upper
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **57–14** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Downey, Joann — primary (person)
- Gopal, Vin — primary (person)
- Houghtaling, Eric — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2020-05-07T04:00:00+00:00** Introduced, 1st Reading without Reference, 2nd Reading `introduction`
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (57-14-2) `passage`
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Received in the Senate without Reference, 2nd Reading
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Senate Amendment (33-0) (Gopal) `amendment-passage`
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Substituted for S2433 (1R)
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (38-0) `passage`
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Received in the Assembly, 2nd Reading on Concurrence
- **2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (58-13-2) `passage`
- **2020-07-01T04:00:00+00:00** Approved P.L.2020, c.55. `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/75a88818-cb91-4735-82be-694e555c0a15`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official New Jersey legislature records).