New Jersey Working Families Party State Director Antoinette Miles has issued the following statement in response to reports about upcoming ballot design legislation:
With the county line gone and ballot design in the hands of the Legislature, it’s clear that Assembly members are scrounging for whatever they can find to rig an office block ballot and give preference to their preferred candidates again.
The Assembly Special Committee on Ballot Design heard hours of testimony where the public made clear that they wanted a fair ballot. Not one member of the public testified in favor of permitting the bracketing of running mates. No one testified in favor of a bracket or special indicators for incumbents only.
Simply put: these reported proposals are unacceptable and should be dropped from any forthcoming legislation.
Proposals for computerized drawings and rotation of the names of candidates on the ballot are improvements. But it’s not enough to make these provisions optional at the discretion of a clerk or, in some cases, the Democratic or Republican Board of Elections members in every county. This doesn’t even meet the standard of so-called “ballot uniformity” that many party leaders and officials publicly professed to believe in.
Again, the purpose of the ballot is for voters to select their preferred candidates. It is not a platform for electioneering or manipulation.
We demand a fair ballot design and won’t accept anything less.
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The New Jersey Working Families Party has recently voiced their concerns over proposed changes to the state’s ballot design, arguing that the alterations could potentially disenfranchise voters and undermine the democratic process.
The proposed changes, put forth by the New Jersey Division of Elections, include reducing the font size of candidate names on the ballot and eliminating the use of shading to separate different sections of the ballot. Additionally, the changes would require candidates to list their party affiliation next to their name, a move that the Working Families Party believes could confuse voters and lead to unintentional errors.
In a statement released by the party, they expressed their belief that these changes would make it more difficult for voters to navigate the ballot and make informed decisions. They argue that the smaller font size and lack of shading could cause voters to overlook certain candidates or sections of the ballot, potentially skewing election results.
The Working Families Party also raised concerns about the requirement for candidates to list their party affiliation next to their name, stating that this could lead to confusion among voters, particularly in nonpartisan races where party affiliation may not be relevant.
In response to these proposed changes, the Working Families Party has called on the Division of Elections to reconsider their decision and engage in a more transparent and inclusive process when making changes to the ballot design. They have urged the division to seek input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including political parties, advocacy groups, and voters themselves, to ensure that any changes made are in the best interest of democracy.
Overall, the Working Families Party’s reaction to the proposed ballot design changes highlights the importance of ensuring that all voters have equal access to the ballot and are able to make informed decisions when casting their vote. By advocating for transparency and inclusivity in the decision-making process, they are working to protect the integrity of the electoral system in New Jersey.