New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation moving the date of the upcoming June, 3 2025 primary date to avoid falling out on the second day of Shavuos.
Murphy had expressed his willingness to move the primary following concerns that the observant Jews would be disenfranchised from voting in the crucial primary election.
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and everyone deserves the freedom to have their voice heard at the ballot box,” Murphy said in an earlier statement.
“We have an obligation to encourage participation and ensure everyone can participate in and trust our electoral system. We cannot allow deeply held and legitimate religious beliefs to become a barrier to voting.”
The new law also requires the Secretary of State to make all necessary adjustments to all deadlines required to be met ahead of the election and publish a calendar with the adjusted dates. The deadlines for nominating petitions, drawing for ballot position, and mail-in ballot mailing will remain as if the Primary Election was to be held on June 3, 2025.
The bill, which pushed back the election by one week to June 10, passed the Senate and Assembly unanimously earlier this month.
I honestly don’t think anyone cares…
It’s the thought that counts, and I certainly feel lucky that our Governor and the others involved did this for us. Is there no early voting/mail-ins? Why is this necessary?
NJ Governor Phil Murphy Signs Law Rescheduling The 2025 Shavuos Holiday Due to the 2025 Primary Election
NJ Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation changing the date of the upcoming Shavuos holiday in order to ensure that the jewish holiday does not fall out on the same day that the 2025 NJ primary falls out.
Mr. Murphy has expressed his willingness to change the date of the Shavuos holiday following concerns that observant jews would be would be unable to cast their primary votes on the holiday.
“The right to celebrate Shavuos, and all other jewish festivals, is a key component of Judaism,” the Governor told reporters on Tuesday. “Hence, it goes without saying that jews of all stripes deserve the freedom to immerse themselves in Torah study on that festive day when the Torah was given on Mount Sinai.”
“Clearly, it is incumbent upon me, in my capacity as Governor,” Mr. Murphy added, “to change the date of Shavuos this upcoming year to ensure jewish participation in the holiday, because I can not allow deep political beliefs and primary elections to become a barrier to deeply-held religious beliefs and to the receiving of the holy Torah.”
The new law also requires that Jewish grocery stores, blintz manufacturers and cheese cake producers make the necessary adjustments to ensure proper timing of the holiday food preparations, including the timely preparations of all of all the delicious cheese-filled delights.