By Karen Becker • political.chair@newjersey.sierraclub.org
In August 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order to protect public health by mailing active registered voters a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot for the November General Election. New Jersey voters could sit at their kitchen table and cast their ballots rather than risk getting infected by the virus at the polls. Some voters were skeptical about the process and others felt it was impersonal and chalked it up to a “one-time-only” experience. But for many others, this has become the preferred method of voting mostly because of its convenience. Finding the perfect time slot without long lines can be next to impossible. If you do get stuck waiting in line, forget about surfing the net. Cell phones are not permitted at polling places. Work, school, kids, transportation, illness, and unexpected travel are just some of the things that can prevent you from going to the polls on Election Day.
I started voting by mail years ago and, I have to admit, I was skeptical about how the system worked. Would my vote be counted? I did my homework and found that VBM is very secure. Ballots are sent directly to each voter’s home and their signatures are validated with what is on file. If your handwriting has changed over the years, or if there is a minor omission, you can give your local board of elections permission to contact you to “cure” your ballot. You’re also provided with an envelope with prepaid postage, or you can drop your ballot in a secure drop box within the county you reside. Not making an extra trip to the polling place is also kind to the environment.
For everything you need to know about obtaining or voting with a VBM ballot, including tracking your ballot, visit the NJ Voter Information Portal.
The General Election is November 7. We urge you to vote and support candidates endorsed by the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club. An endorsement from our organization indicates the candidate is committed to protecting the environment and has a record of supporting conservation and social justice efforts.
Endorsements
The following candidates have been endorsed by the Sierra Club. Additional announcements will be forthcoming.
State Senate
Troy Singleton - Dist. 7
Linda Greenstein - Dist. 14
Andrew Zwicker - Dist. 16
Bob Smith - Dist. 17
Patrick Diegnan - Dist. 18
Richard Codey - Dist. 27
State Assembly
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson - Dist. 15
Sterley Stanley - Dist. 18
James Kennedy - Dist. 22
John McKeon - Dist. 27
Britnee Timberlake - Dist. 34
Municipal
John Kashwick - Clinton Town Council
All candidates are incumbents.
Resource
NJ Voter Information Portal: bit.ly/41bPqsf