New Jersey governor Chris Christie vetoed a same-sex marriage bill Friday, saying the issue should be settled by voters, according to CNN.com.
Legislators passed the bill on Thursday, but Christie's veto means they will have until January 2014 to get a two-thirds majority in both houses to officially pass the law.
Christie, a Republican, said the issue "should not be decided by 121 people in the statehouse in Trenton."
Senate president Steve Sweeney said, "He had a chance to do the right thing, and failed miserably," according to the Guardian.
The bill states that gay marriage is a civil right, while opponents say the definition of marriage should be between a man and woman.
Currently, 52 percent of New Jersey's citizens would support a gay marriage bill, while 42 percent would oppose it.
New Jersey and five other states currently allow civil unions.
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