COOPER RIVER INDIVISIBLE, SOUTH JERSEY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST STATEWIDE “NEW JERSEY RALLIES TO ABOLISH THE LINE” EVENTS

Rallies to occur in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union Counties

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ – An undemocratic primary ballot system is a major obstruction to fair elections in New Jersey. Commonly referred to as “The Line”, this system enables party bosses to control which candidates receive advantageous placement on the ballot⁠— a system found in few places other than New Jersey. Since this ballot placement is almost always decisive in determining the winners of primary elections, aspirants for higher office must kowtow to unelected party bosses if they hope to prevail.

Good government activists have long criticized this undemocratic system, yet the NJ Democratic Party has refused to alter it. Due to the upcoming 2020 presidential primary and the success of Bernie Sanders, however, suddenly incumbents in the Democratic Party could be disadvantaged by the very system they have used to suppress newcomer candidates; as a result, the party quickly moved to make the presidential primary an open ballot in this single election, while preserving the Line for all down ballot races. In doing so, the Democratic Party is publicly admitting the Line is unfair, undemocratic, and unjust.

Cooper River Indivisible, in partnership with South Jersey Progressive Democrats and various local host organizations around the state, have launched “New Jersey Rallies Against the Line.” These events will bring together voters and organizations from throughout New Jersey to pressure Democratic state leadership to abolish the Line.

The events will kick on March 4 at 5PM in Camden County at the Voorhees offices of Assembly Representatives Lou Greenwald and Pamela Lampitt. Similar events will follow through the state in the subsequent days. Cooper River Indivisible President Ryan Paetzold argues, “It is unconscionable that the Democratic Party maintains this rigged system. Now that progressives stand to potentially benefit from the Line, Democratic Party insiders have the audacity to seek an exception from the system they created. New Jersey voters deserve better from the Democratic Party: The Line must be abolished for all elections.”

WHEN & WHERE

BURLINGTON: Cooper River Indivisible & South Jersey Progressive Democrats; 3/9/2020, 5:00PM; Office of Joe Andl, 204 Stiles Ave, Maple Shade, NJ 08052.

CAMDEN: Cooper River Indivisible & South Jersey Progressive Democrats; 3/4/2020, 5:00PM; Office of Lou Greenwald & Pamela Lampitt, 1101 Laurel Oak Rd, Voorhees, NJ 08043.

CAPE MAY: Cape May County Indivisible; 3/4/2020, 6:30PM; Old Cape May Court House, 1 Church St., Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.

GLOUCESTER: Real Democrats of CD2; 3/12/2020, 6:30PM; Gloucester County Courthouse, 1 N Broad St, Woodbury, NJ 08096.

HUDSON: 3/7/2020, 10:00AM; Hudson County Democratic Organization, 180 Danforth Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07305.

MERCER: Good Government Coalition New Jersey & Indivisible Cranbury; 3/4/2020, 5:00PM, Mercer County Democratic Endorsement Convention, Windsor Athletic Club, 99 Clarksville Rd., West Windsor Township, NJ 08550.

MIDDLESEX: Central Jersey Progressive Democrats; 3/11/2020, 4:00PM; Middlesex County Clerk’s Office, 75 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

MONMOUTH: Our Revolution Monmouth; 3/28/2020, 9:30AM; Monmouth County Democratic Convention, Long Branch Middle School, 350 Indiana Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740.

OCEAN: Our Revolution Ocean County; 3/22/2020, TBD; TBD.

UNION: New Jersey Progressive Democrats of Union County; 3/11/2020, 4:00PM; Union County Clerk’s Office, 2 Broad St #115, Elizabeth, NJ 07201.

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