-PJ
Federal elections are bienial.
There are elections every year. There will be elections in 2003 for local stuff, and propositions and such. Any election will do as long as it is statewide. The term "genera" election is meant to distinguish it from a "primary" election only.
The term general election is used to describe the election set by the federal legislature as opposed to a special election to fill a vacancy. When a vacancy is filled by the state (by appointment or by special election) its good until the next general election at which the people decide who gets to stay for the remainder of the term.
The senate is designed so that 1/3 of its memebers come up for election every 2 years. This is designed to keep a balance and to insulate us from a political fad. Applying the NJ law in the manner that gives the state the power to extend the rotating term beyond 6 years contradicts that balance and is unquestionably against the original intent/