Governor Chris Christie cites cost as his main reason for veto of widely supported extension of early voting bill | Democracy, elections, and voting

Today in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill (S2364) that would have allowed voters to cast early ballots eight hours a day, seven days a week for 15 days leading up to an election. The governor’s office has stated that implementing such measures would have been a high, unnecessary cost. Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie, was quoted by northjersey.com:

Since 2009, New Jerseyans have been able to cast their ballots early both in person and by mail, in a program which is reliable, cost-effective, and used by New Jersey voters throughout the state to ensure convenient participation in our electoral process. Importantly, although the existing system is often referred to as vote-by-mail, voters can and have used this early voting method to vote early in-person or by mail.

The veto has already aroused heavy criticism from Democrats, many of whom believe that such legislature, had it been in place, would have prevented the widespread displacement of voters caused by Hurricane Sandy during the 2012 election cycle. Bill sponsor Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) responded, “The governor now joins other Republican governors who have sought to stifle the vote and limit access to the polls. Once again he is catering to his national base at the expense of New Jersey residents.”

What’s Christie thinking?