N.J. Admin. Code § 19:25-15.52

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 19:25-15.52 - Dates, times, and location of debates

(a) Not later than five calendar days after receipt of notification from the Commission that an organization has been selected to sponsor one or both of the general election debates for the office of Governor or the debate for the office of Lieutenant Governor, each sponsoring organization shall:

1. Submit a written calendar to the Commission and to all candidates who are required to or have elected to participate in the debates containing the date, time, location, and plans for television and other media coverage of the debate or debates assigned to the sponsor; and

2. Submit to the Commission a description of the physical facilities available at the debate site or sites for use by television, broadcast and other media personnel.

(b) The debate date or dates selected by each sponsoring organization in the written calendar required in (a) above for the office of Governor shall be no earlier than the third Tuesday following the first Monday in September of the year in which a general election is held for the office of Governor and no later than the 11th day prior to the pending general election. The debate date selected by each sponsoring organization in the written calendar required in (a) above for the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be scheduled between the time of the first debate for the office of Governor and the second debate for the office of Governor.

(c) Upon the vote of a majority of the candidates participating in the second general election debate for the office of Governor that an emergency condition exists requiring postponement of that debate, the debate sponsor shall:

1. Reschedule the second debate to occur no later than the second calendar day preceding the general election; and

2. Take whatever actions are necessary to notify all participating candidates and the Commission of the date, time, and location of the rescheduled debate.

i. Actions to notify the participating candidates and the Commission of the rescheduled debate shall include, but not be limited to, telephone contact and first class mail, return receipt requested.

(d) The Commission shall review and approve the debate calendars submitted by the debate sponsoring organizations pursuant to (a) above prior to the occurrence of any general election debate and shall create a master debate calendar which ensures compliance with the date requirements of (b) above and ensures that the debates are scheduled for different dates.

(e) Upon the vote of a majority of the candidates participating in the debate for the office of Lieutenant Governor that an emergency condition exists requiring postponement of that debate, the debate sponsor shall:

1. Reschedule the debate to occur between the time of the first debate for the office of Governor and the second debate for the office of Governor; and

2. Take whatever actions are necessary to notify all participating candidates and the Commission of the date, time, and location of the rescheduled debate.

i. Actions to notify the participating candidates and the Commission of the rescheduled debate shall include, but not be limited to, telephone contact and first class mail, return receipt requested.

(f) In the event that the Commission determines in its review pursuant to (d) above that a conflict exists in the scheduled debates, the Commission shall direct the debate sponsors to submit a revised debate schedule or schedules within two calendar days containing new debate dates and times which eliminate the conflict.

N.J. Admin. Code § 19:25-15.52

New Rule, R.1989 d.341, effective 6/5/1989.
See: 21 N.J.R. 1109(a), 21 N.J.R. 1837(a).
Amended by R.2012 d.172, effective 10/15/2012.
See: 44 N.J.R. 1593(a), 44 N.J.R. 2380(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), deleted "gubernatorial" preceding "general" and inserted "for the office of Governor or the debate for the office of Lieutenant Governor"; rewrote (b); added new (e); recodified former (e) as (f); and in (f), deleted "two" preceding "scheduled".