New Jersey § 19:44a-46

§ 19:44a-46.

a. The series of gubernatorial primary debates under subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.1989, c. 4 ( C.19:44A-45 ) shall consist of two debates. Each of the debates shall be of at least one hour's duration. The first debate in the series shall occur not earlier than the date on which the

ballot for the primary election in which candidates are to be nominated for election

to the office of Governor is finally certified by the Secretary of State to the clerks

of the several counties, and the second debate in the series shall occur not later

than the 11th day prior to the primary election to select candidates for that office

unless an emergency, as determined by the vote of a majority of the participating

candidates, requires the postponement thereof, but the second gubernatorial primary

debate shall in no event be held later than the second day preceding that primary

election. b. The series of gubernatorial election debates under subsection b. of section 9 of P.L.1989, c. 4 ( C.19:44A-45 ) shall consist of three debates , two for candidates seeking the office of Governor and one for candidates seeking

the office of Lieutenant Governor. The debate for candidates seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be the

second of the three debates . Each of the gubernatorial election debates shall be of at least one hour's duration. The first debate in the series shall occur not earlier than the third Tuesday following

the first Monday in September of the year in which a general election is to be held

for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor , and the third debate in the series shall occur not later than the 11th day prior to the general

election for that office unless an emergency, as determined by the vote of a majority

of the participating candidates, requires the postponement thereof, but the final

gubernatorial election debate shall in no event be held later than the second day

preceding that general election. c. Organizations which are not affiliated with any political party or with any holder

of or candidate for public office, which have not endorsed any candidate in the pending

primary or general election for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor , shall be eligible to sponsor one or more interactive gubernatorial primary debates

or interactive gubernatorial election debates under subsection a. or subsection b.,

respectively, of this section. In addition, any association of two or more separately owned news publications or

broadcasting outlets, including newspapers, radio stations or networks, and television

stations or networks, having between or among them a substantial readership or audience

in this State, and any association of print or broadcast news or press service correspondents

having among them a substantial readership or audience in this State, shall be eligible

to sponsor any such gubernatorial primary or gubernatorial election debate, without

regard to whether that association or any of its members shall previously have sponsored

any debate among candidates for Statewide office. The Election Law Enforcement Commission shall accept applications from eligible organizations

and eligible associations of news publications and broadcasting outlets or news or

press service correspondents to sponsor one or more of those interactive gubernatorial

debates. Applications to sponsor debates under subsection a. shall be submitted to the commission

no later than March 15 of any year in which a primary election is to be held to nominate

candidates for the office of Governor, and applications to sponsor debates under subsection

b. shall be submitted to the commission no later than July 1 of any year in which

a general election is to be held to fill the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor . Where the number of eligible applicants to sponsor gubernatorial primary debates or

gubernatorial election debates exceeds the number prescribed under subsection a. or subsection b. of this section, respectively, the Election Law Enforcement Commission

shall select the sponsors from among the applicants within 30 days of the last day

for submitting those applications, as provided by this subsection. To the maximum extent practicable and feasible, the commission shall select a different

sponsor for each of the interactive gubernatorial debates, but shall not be precluded

from selecting the same sponsor for more than one debate. The sponsors selected by the commission shall be responsible for selecting the date,

time and location of the debates, subject to the limitations set forth in this section. The rules for conducting each debate shall be solely the responsibility of the sponsors

so selected, but shall not be made final without consultation with both the chairman

of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and the chairman of the New Jersey Democratic

State Committee in the case of gubernatorial primary debates, and with a representative

designated by each of the participating candidates in the case of gubernatorial election

debates.