In NJ, Staffers Vote In Place of Lawmakers

While the rules of the New Jersey legislature clearly stipulate that lawmakers have to be present in the legislative chamber for their vote to count, their staffers routinely cast electronic votes in their bosses' absence.

Legislators also regularly hit the "vote" button for their absent colleagues.

The state Assembly rules say, "Members must be in the Chamber to answer the quorum call and vote on any question." Yet NBC New York's Chris Glorioso told WNYC's Amy Eddings that he attended a session where just one Assembly member was in the state house. In spite of this, the leadership declared enough lawmakers were present to have a quorum.

Tom Hester, a spokesman for the Assembly Democrats, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the maneuver was "very routine."

Since inquiring about the regular absentee voting by state lawmakers, the Assembly voted 72-0 to amend its procedures for a quorum call. The new rules will allow Assembly members to remotely call in and register their consent for the conducting of legislative business.