New Jersey · 2026-2027 Regular Session · Bill
A 498: Requires county boards of election to have bipartisan representation when opening and canvassing mail-in ballots; requires secure storage of mail-in ballots; upgrades penalties for certain election-related crimes.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
A 498 is a bill introduced in the New Jersey House on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Requires county boards of election to have bipartisan representation when opening and canvassing mail-in ballots; requires secure storage of mail-in ballots; upgrades penalties for certain election-related crimes. Primary sponsor: Al Barlas (Republican), Dawn Fantasia (Republican). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (January 13, 2026): Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 4
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Barlas | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 40 |
| Dawn Fantasia | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 24 |
| Alex Sauickie | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 12 |
| Gerry Scharfenberger | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 13 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee