Democracy belongs to Everyone

A democracy’s strength is built on two pillars, participation and transparency. Here in New Jersey, we’ve recently made meaningful strides forward. We’ve expanded vote-by-mail and early voting, we’ve restored voting rights to people on probation and parole, and even with the Legislature trying to work around the Judge’s ruling, we’ve finally seen a crack in “The Line”. These are good steps for New Jersey, but we’re still leaving too many people behind. To build a strong democracy, New Jersey has a lot we can do to make every vote count, make voting as easy as possible, and ensure that the government remains transparent and accountable to the people.

To strengthen our democracy, we must align all elections with the national cycle to increase turnout and save taxpayer dollars. Modernizing registration with automatic and same-day options, alongside allowing 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections, will further expand participation. Ensuring fair ballots with randomized candidate placement eliminates confusion and undue influence. Reversing recent changes to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) will restore transparency and accountability in government. Finally, comprehensive campaign finance reform and enfranchising incarcerated individuals are crucial steps to ensure every voice is heard and wealth does not dictate political outcomes.

New Jersey has the potential to set the standard for a healthy, thriving democracy but we have to lean into, not away from, our Democratic values. Let’s make it easier to vote, make government more transparent, and ensure every voice is heard - not just those of the privileged. By uniting around these policies, we can show the nation what a truly fair and inclusive democracy can be.