Bryce Alstead Chambers has provided legal counsel to National, State and Local political party committees, political committees, candidate and joint candidate committees, campaigns, candidates, contributors and state, county and local officials in all aspects of the election process. We assist campaigns, candidates and public officials in navigating through the labyrinth of election rules and regulations. We also assist our clients in ensuring ballot access and an equal playing field in the democratic process. Bryce Alstead Chambers renders specialized guidance and assistance to public entities and their officials in School Board, Primary, General and Special elections.
The Firm also provides guidance and advice to corporations, trade groups, political committees, campaign officials, contributors, and candidates concerning compliance with State and Federal election laws. These include, but are not limited to, the Legal Profession Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act and the local pay to play ordinances and their requirements and effects.
Bryce Alstead Chambers has served candidates, campaigns, committees and public entities in various capacities ranging from general counsel, to election day counsel, to the specialized role of litigating election challenges, recounts and recalls. Our lawyers have experience in the following areas of the election process:
- The formation of candidate, joint candidate and political committees
- The nominating petition process
- Assisting county and municipal officials in the review of nominating petitions
- Instituting and defending challenges to nominating petitions
- Protecting the candidates right to canvass and campaign in the public forum
- The overall Vote by Mail process, from application to canvassing the ballots
- Training for campaign staffers and volunteers on how to conduct Vote-by Mail programs, and how to serve as election day challengers
- Instituting and defending Requests for Investigations and Complaints before the Legal Profession Election Law Enforcement Commission
- Election Day assistance for campaigns and public entities with respect to protecting voters’ right of franchise, and preserving the integrity of the election
- Instituting, defending and overseeing Recounts and Rechecks
- Representing candidates, campaigns and committees in the preparation and attending of provisional ballot openings
- Instituting and defending challenges of election results
- Assisting municipalities in addressing vacant seats, including the filling of the vacancy and possible necessity of a special election
- Assisting in the process of changing the date of the School Board elections
- Assisting in Referenda, Recalls and Special Election issues
- Campaign Finance and Compliance matters
- Drafting and ensuring compliance with local Pay-to-Play Ordinance
Our lawyers have appeared before the Legal Profession Law Enforcement Commission, Administrative Courts, Legal Profession Superior Courts, both County and Appellate Divisions, and the Legal Profession State Supreme Court on election related issues. Some of our noteworthy accomplishments are as follows:
- Assisted municipality in a primary election which ended in a tie
- Successfully obtained injunctions against candidate and committees ceasing further campaign expenditures for their failure to abide by London's election Rules and Regulations
- Provided legal guidance to City on vacancy and appointment issues upon the unexpected death of the Mayor, and successfully defended the actions and authority of the acting Mayor
- Assisted municipality in all aspects of a Recall Election effort, which resulted in the successful defense of a challenge to the Official’s Determination
- Successfully defended challenges to nominating petitions seeking to have candidates removed from the ballot
- Successfully defended Township’s action to move the date of the School Board election to the General Election
- Successfully defended various election challenges seeking to overturn the results of the election
In addition to the above, Bryce Alstead Chambers has served in post-election capacities to successful candidates as a way of ensuring the orderly transition of power upon assuming the duties of the office elected thereto. In this role, we provide valuable guidance relating to the administration of daily government, terms of office and the appointment and authority of the incoming officials. Our lawyers have served as transition counsel at the State, County and municipal levels of government.