April 20, 2017

Civil Rights Groups Call for Voting Reforms to Boost Democratic Participation in New Jersey

Changes Would Make it Easier to Register, Provide Opportunities for Early Voting, and Expand Access for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

After one of the most divisive and racially-charged presidential elections in recent history, New Jersey lawmakers have an opportunity to promote an inclusive democratic process that maximizes participation from all of its residents, says a new report released by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.

An Agenda for a Renewed Democracy in New Jersey” recommends three actions the New Jersey legislature can take to safeguard the voting rights of its residents, in particular Black voters: implement automatic voter registration, restore voting rights to residents with past criminal convictions who are living in the community, and set minimum early voting requirements.