Overview

• U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi ruled that New Jersey must scrap its 'county line' ballot system, criticized for favoring establishment candidates.
• The ruling requires ballots to be redesigned before the June primaries, challenging a practice that has significantly influenced election outcomes.
• Candidates will now be listed by the offices they're running for, rather than by party endorsement, in a move towards more equitable elections.
• The decision was hailed by progressives and anti-establishment activists as a step toward fairer elections, despite concerns about its implementation timing.
• The ruling could reshape New Jersey's political landscape, potentially increasing the number of candidates and altering the dynamics of party primaries.