Senate candidate Andy Kim called the settlements “the start of a new era of politics.” The county line system allowed party leaders to select a slate of candidates with preferred ballot positions.

The clerks for Burlington and Middlesex counties both agreed to no longer use ballots displaying the county line style for primary elections.

The agreement, which must win a judge's approval, would require office-block ballots and prevent bracketing from determining ballot positions.

Two New Jersey counties are on the verge of settling a constitutional challenge to New Jersey’s controversial “county line” ballot structure after a three-and-a-half year legal battle, according to two people with knowledge of the talks.