Fair elections with wide participation are the bedrock of democracy. Yet, NJ’s primary election ballots are uniquely and intentionally confusing, breaking all rules of good ballot design and causing voter disenfranchisement through gerrymandering of the ballot.

This is not a partisan issue. Accountability of elected representatives to a large constituency is critical to every mission voters and activists care about. It is not hard to fix — see our Resolution to Establish a Fair Ballot, with over 75 signatories! We need better ballots. We deserve better ballots!

We are not the only ones saying this. Editorial boards of major NJ news outlets have all called for abolishing this system of patronage and corruption (see here and here). We are also excited about and support the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the current “party line” ballot design. As the judge on the case recently said: this is an issue of protecting democracy!

For more information, see our two short videos below. Also in Spanish here and here.

* GGCNJ is a fully volunteer-run grassroots group. It is not incorporated, therefore donations are not tax deductible.

Click here to view GGCNJ’s BetterBallotsNJ campaign kickoff! (press coverage here and here)
Speakers included:
Yael Niv, President, GGCNJ
Jesse Burns, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of NJ
Amy Kennedy, Candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd District
Brandon McKoy, President, New Jersey Policy Perspective
Patricia Campos-Medina, President, Latinas United for Political Empowerment (LUPE)
Kate Delaney, President, South Jersey Progressive Democrats and GGCNJ Board Member
Safiyyah Muhammad, Principal and Founder, Urban Matters Advocacy & Action (UMAA Network)
Arati Kreibich, Candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 5th District
Sue Altman, State Director, New Jersey Working Families Party
Justin Goldsman, Chair, Our Revolution Essex County and GGCNJ Board Member

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Kickoff partners included:

Special thanks to Force the Issue NJ for the campaign title and initial idea