Democracy & Justice

Protecting and Promoting the Right to Vote

We are working to make the promise of democracy real for people of color across New Jersey by working to expand access to the polls and restoring the right to vote to people with criminal convictions.

Read about 1844 No More, our campaign to restore the vote to those with criminal convictions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we must keep our upcoming elections robust, safe and accessible to all. Choosing our leaders is more important than ever. The Institute and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey made specific recommendations to elected officials in our new letter here. Many were adopted.

To protect NJ’s elections, we have intervened in the Trump campaign’s lawsuit against New Jersey.

Read our lawsuit saying New Jersey must provide notice and opportunity to cure rejected mail-in ballots.

Interested in hosting local candidates to meet with community members? Use our Virtual Candidate Forum Toolkit to learn how to do this safely online during this public health crisis.

Read our letter to New Jersey counties demanding that mail-in ballot boxes be moved from police stations here.

Learn why your vote for elected officials is your vote on policing.

Facebook Live Video: Listen to Democracy and Justice Director Henal Patel and Communications Director Laurie Beacham Talk Democracy in the Age of COVID-19.

Read the letter to Congress from the Institute and partners supporting the Voting Rights Advancement Act here.

Featured Work

LEGAL ACTION: Intervening in Trump campaign suit against New Jersey

Click here to read the full document

LETTER: Coalition Letter to Legislators in Support of Robust & Safe General Election

Click here to read the full letter

VIDEO TESTIMONY: The Institute's Henal Patel on Getting Redistricting Right in New Jersey

Skip to 1:02.00 to watch Henal's testimony

LETTER: Coalition Letter to Legislators in Support of Robust & Safe Primaries

Click here to read the full letter

RESOURCE: Vote on Policing

Your Vote for Elected Officials is Your Vote on Policing. Click here to learn why.

VIDEO: Democracy & Justice in the Age of COVID-19

Watch Democracy & Justice Director Henal Patel, and Communications Director Laurie Beacham discuss D & J during the pandemic.

COMPLAINT: Mail-In Ballot Lawsuit

Read our lawsuit saying New Jersey must provide notice and opportunity to cure rejected mail-in ballots

VIDEO: Institute Says Take the Census!

Be counted! It's imperative that everyone take the Census!

VIDEO: Newark Residents on Why People Don't Vote

Click here to watch Newark residents give their thoughts on low voter turnout

LETTER: Voting Rights Advocate Recommendations (March 26, 2020)

Click here to read our recommendations to safeguard against disenfranchisement of voters, without posing undue risks to public health and safety.

LETTER: Vote-by-Mail Prepaid Postage Letter to NJ Legislators (March 18, 2020)

Click here to read our letter urging NJ lawmakers to immediately pass and sign legislation to mail and provide prepaid postage for vote-by-mail applications and ballots

LETTER: Urging Elected Officials to Ensure Robust & Safe Elections (Apr 27, 2020)

Click here to read our full letter to Governor Murphy and other elected officials

REPORT: Our Vote, Our Power

Read about the barriers to voting and the policies that will address them

Census Amicus Brief

The Institute files amicus brief with US Supreme Court against citizenship question on 2020 Census.

FLYER: New Jersey Counts In 2020

A Census undercount could mean less political power and funding for essential programs and services for New Jersey.

REPORT - We Are 1844 No More: Let Us Vote

Today, nearly 175 years later, though legal slavery has been abolished and New Jersey no longer explicitly prohibits Black people from voting, New Jersey continues to deny voting rights to people with criminal convictions.

LETTER: Protect Voter Information

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice sends a letter to New Jersey’s top election officials telling them to reject the Commission on Election Integrity’s request for voter data.

REPORT: An Agenda for a New Democracy

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 and the Brennan Center for Justice.

A Matter of Democracy

Institute Associate Counsel and Debevoise Fellow Scott Novakowski writes for NJ Spotlight on why we must restore the right to vote to people with criminal convictions.

REPORT: Value to the Soul

People With Criminal Convictions on the Power of the Vote. Read the report HERE

Get Involved

Contact the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice at justice@njisj.org to find out how you can get involved to help expand access to the voting booth for communities of color and restore the right to vote to those with criminal convictions.

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