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| Chief Executive |
| | GOVERNOR |
| Successor to a Vacancy |
| | President of the State Senate (--2009) [prior to the creation of the Lt. Governor position (first elected in 2009), became "acting Governor" only and had to remain a member of the State Senate in order to hold such position; next in the line of succession (only where the office of State Senate President were itself vacant) was the Speaker of the General Assembly (who, likewise, would have to remain a member of that body during his/her tenure as 'acting Governor').] |
| | Lieutenant Governor (2010--) [next in line of succession: President of the State Senate, followed by Speaker of the General Assembly, still subject to the reservations [that is, remaining in their respective legislative body while serving as, in their cases, 'acting Governor'] which existed prior to the creation of the office of Lt. Gov.; however, if someone has served as 'acting Governor' continuously for at least 180 days without the election of a new Governor, that person then becomes 'Governor' in full name and title.
"The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be elected conjointly and for concurrent terms by the legally qualified voters of this State, and the manner of election shall require each voter to cast a single vote for both offices. The candidate of each political party for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be selected by the candidate of that party nominated for election to the office of Governor. The selection of the candidate for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be made within 30 days following the nomination of the candidate for election to the office of Governor. A person shall not seek election to both offices simultaneously. The joint candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected; but if two or more joint candidacies shall be equal and greatest in votes, one set of joint candidates shall be elected by the vote of a majority of all the members of both houses in joint meeting at the regular legislative session next following the election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor by the people. Contested elections for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be determined in such manner as may be provided by law." [Article V, Section I, paragraph 4: New Jersey State Constitution (as amended)]] |
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