This state is one of the last strongholds for machine politics. That's about to change.

• New Jersey is one of the last states in the US with powerful party bosses and political machines.
• A key part of that machinery is the Garden State's unusual ballot design.
• But a judge blocked it for this year's Democratic primaries, and the change could become permanent.

New Jersey is one of the last places in the country where the phrases "party boss" and "political machine" don't just harken back to a bygone era, but describe a present-day reality.

In the Garden State, getting the endorsement of local party organizations — a process often controlled by political insiders — can make or break a primary campaign, thanks in large part to the way ballots are designed.