N.J. Stat. § 19:4A-3: Definitions.

3. As used in this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-1 et seq.):

“Covered entity” means any political subdivision subject to the preclearance program as determined by the criteria established in subsection c. of section 13 of this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-13), except that the New Jersey Redistricting Commission, established pursuant to Article II, Section II of the New Jersey Constitution, and the Apportionment Commission, established pursuant to Article IV, Section III of the New Jersey Constitution, shall not be considered covered entities.

“Covered policy” means any new or modified voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, standard, practice, procedure, regulation, or policy that relates to any voting or elections-related topics as specified in subsection b. of section 13 of this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-13).

“Deceptive or fraudulent device, contrivance, or communication” means a device, contrivance, or communication that contains false information pertaining to:

(1) the time, place, and manner of any election;

(2) the qualifications or restrictions on voter eligibility for such election; or

(3) a statement of endorsement by any specifically named person, political party, or organization.

“Disparity” means any variance that is supported by validated methodologies and, where relevant, is statistically significant.

“Federal voting rights act” means the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, 52 U.S.C. s.10301 et seq., as amended.

“Government enforcement action” means an enforcement action taken by the Attorney General in response to the implementation of a covered policy, by a covered entity, despite a denial of preclearance; litigation filed by a federal or State or local entity; a final judgment or adjudication; a consent decree; or similar formal action.

“Limited English proficient” means that a person speaks, reads, writes, or understands the English language less than “very well,” in accordance with United States Census Bureau data or data of comparable quality collected by a governmental entity, including as self-reported by that person to a governmental entity.

“Local election office” means the offices of the county or municipal clerk, county board of elections, commissioner of registration, or superintendent of elections.

“Method of election” means the manner or mechanism by which candidates are elected to a governmental body of a political subdivision, including, but not limited to, at-large and district-based methods and any districting or redistricting plan used to elect candidates to the governmental body.

“Political subdivision” means a local unit of representation created for the provision of government services in a geographic area, including, but not limited to, a county, municipality, city, town, township, village, borough, school district, or any other district organized pursuant to State or local law.

“Preclearance” means the process of obtaining prior approval from the Attorney General for any covered policy of a covered entity, as defined under section 13 of this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-13).

“Protected class” means a class of individuals who are members of a racial, color, or language-minority group, or two or more such groups and includes individuals who are members of a racial, color, or language-minority group.

“Racially polarized voting” means voting in which there is a divergence between the political preferences or electoral choice of members in a protected class and the political preferences or electoral choice of other electors.

L.2026, c.31, s.3.