{"data":{"id":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-19-4a-7","jurisdiction":"us-nj","citation":"N.J. Stat. § 19:4A-7","heading":"Factors to be considered to determine violation of voter empowerment.","body":"7. a. In determining whether, under the totality of the circumstances, a violation of sections 5 and 6 of this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-5 and C.19:4A-6), has occurred, factors that may be considered shall include, but not be limited to:\n(1) the history of discrimination in or affecting the political subdivision or geographic region in which that political subdivision is located;\n(2) the extent to which members of the protected class have been elected to office in the political subdivision or geographic region in which that political subdivision is located;\n(3) the use of any voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, standard, practice, procedure, regulation, or policy that may enhance the dilutive effects of the election scheme;\n(4) denying eligible voters or candidates who are members of the protected class access to processes determining which groups of candidates receive access to the ballot, financial support, or other support in a given election;\n(5) the extent to which members of a protected class vote at lower rates than other members of the electorate;\n(6) the extent to which members of the protected class are disadvantaged in areas that may hinder their ability to participate effectively in the political process, including, but not limited to, accessibility, education, employment, health, public safety, housing, land use, involvement with the criminal justice system, access to information in their native language, or environmental protection;\n(7) the use of overt or subtle racial appeals in political campaigns or by government officials;\n(8) whether the political subdivision has a compelling policy justification that is substantiated and supported by evidence for adopting or maintaining a particular process of the election or the voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, standard, practice, procedure, regulation, or policy; and\n(9) a significant lack of responsiveness on the part of elected officials to the particularized needs of members of the protected class.\nb.\tEvidence of these factors shall be most probative if the evidence relates to the political subdivision in which the alleged violation occurred, but shall still hold probative value if the evidence relates to the geographic region in which that political subdivision is located or to this State.\nc.  Nothing in this section shall preclude any additional factors from being considered, nor shall any one factor, combination of factors, or specified number of factors be required, to determine that a violation of section 5 or 6 of this act, P.L.2026, c.31 (C.19:4A-5 or C.19:4A-6) has occurred.\nL.2026, c.31, s.7.","path":["TITLE 19 ELECTIONS"],"source_url":"https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/statutes/STATUTES-TEXT.zip","current_through":"P.L.2026, c.50, and J.R.1","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-18T02:17:40Z","sha256":"2639974d01e20e1ef1a98b3376dd86ef4b9d90a6cace76185deb00e47abc95d7","source_id":"us-nj","stale":false,"prev":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-19-4a-6","next":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-19-4a-8"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}