Dear colleague,
We are writing to ask you to raise your voice for fairness in elections as this year’s critical voting approaches. Click here to sign a petition calling on county chairs of both main parties to stop using the “county line” ballot format that helps insiders control the outcome of primary elections by giving preferential treatment to the candidates they support.
New Jersey is the only state in the country that allows this ballot format, which lets county organizations of both main political parties group their preferred candidates on a “county line,” while relegating challengers to “ballot Siberia.” Candidates on the “county line” get an average 38 percentage point advantage over their opponents, virtually guaranteeing that the county party’s choice will win.
Two of 21 New Jersey counties already use the alternative “office bloc” ballot, which allows county organizations to make endorsements but doesn’t give an unfair advantage to their chosen candidates. You can learn more about this effort for ballot fairness at this website and in this FAQ.
In a 2022 poll, two-thirds of New Jersey voters said they oppose “county line” ballots. It’s time for the will of the majority to prevail! Please help our unions stand for fairness in elections by signing the petition for fair ballots—and then share it with friends and colleagues.
In solidarity,
Matt and Amy
Matthew Buckley, Chair, Legislative Committee, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Amy Higer, Vice President, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union
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