Political analysts say a gay marriage referendum would influence voter turnout in the November election in New Jersey.

Governor Chris Christie proposed the referendum after saying he would veto the marriage equality bill that’s expected to come up for a vote in the full legislature later this month.

Rider University political science professor Ben Dworkin says a referendum would cause more social conservatives to participate in the election.

“It would be perhaps an ancillary benefit to Republicans if they had this on the ballot. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a motivation, but it would certainly impact the demographics of who would show up to the polls in November.”

Monmouth University political analyst Patrick Murray says a higher turnout of conservative voters probably wouldn’t be enough for the Republican candidate for President to win New Jersey.

“I think the key here is about down ballots particularly the U-S Senate. I think that’s where they think that even if it’s an Obama win in New Jersey that if they can keep it close there’s a possibility that Joe Kyrillos could defeat Bob Menendez for the Senate seat.”

Analysts say that’s all probably just an academic exercise though, because Democrats who control the Legislature maintain marriage equality is a civil rights issue and won’t vote to put it on the ballot.