Republican elected officials and conservative leaders called on Monday for a constitutional amendment in 2010 that would allow voters to decide whether same-sex marriage should be legal in the state.

The push came in response to what appears to be a likely vote on marriage equality in the legislature during this year’s lame duck session after the November election.

Speaking at a news conference in Trenton, GOP leaders said they would rather see an amendment on the 2010 ballot proposing that marriage should be limited to heterosexual couples, according to The Star-Ledger.

"Thirty states, three fifths of the United States, have voted to amend their state constitution to make marriage one man, one woman. And I sincerely believe that would happen here in New Jersey if the people had the right to vote," said Gregory Quinlan, director of government affairs for New Jersey Family First, according to The Star-Ledger.

Republican senator Gerald Cardinale, meanwhile, accused Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat in a heated reelection battle, of making a deal with lawmakers to delay a vote on marriage equality legislation until after the November election. A Democratic leader called the charge “ridiculous.” 

 - Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.