NJISJ Commends Gov. Murphy for Executive Order Expanding Vote-by-Mail Access

Democracy Must Remain Open for Business During Public Health Crisis, Said Group

NEWARK — The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice today commended Gov. Murphy for issuing an Executive Order to expand the accessibility of vote-by-mail to registered voters in New Jersey for upcoming local elections.

In addition to postponing local elections scheduled for April until May 12, the Executive Order provides that every registered voter in New Jersey receive a vote-by-mail ballot which, importantly, will include prepaid postage so that economically insecure people will not be prevented from mailing in their ballots due to the cost of postage.

On Wednesday, the Institute and eleven other groups wrote to the Governor urging him to make vote-by-mail more accessible. 

The following can be attributed to Ryan Haygood, President & CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, in response to today’s Executive Order:

“We appreciate the leadership Gov. Murphy has shown in responding nimbly to the current health crisis in order to make voting more accessible for New Jersey residents during these unsettling times. While our communities are being advised to avoid being around groups of people, having the ability to vote without showing up at a polling place, and not placing an additional economic burden on people, are crucial.

“Our democracy must remain open for business during this public health crisis. In fact, it is more important than ever that people have a say in who represents and leads them during these trying times.”

The Executive Order also mandates that upcoming local elections be conducted by vote-by-mail only.