Board of Chosen Freeholders v. Szaferman

The issue on this appeal is whether a non-binding county referendum question concerning automobile-insurance regulation, proposed for inclusion on the forthcoming general-election ballot by plaintiff, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Mercer County (and by the Boards of Freeholders of every other county), is authorized by N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 to be included on the ballot for submission to the voters. We hold that the proposed referendum question is not one pertaining to the “government or internal affairs” of a county and therefore must be excluded from the ballot.

I

This action for declaratory…