Join an upcoming voter registration drive and be a part of an unprecedented effort to amplify the voice of New Jersey’s working families and empower our communities on the issues that matter to all of us. For example, this year’s ballot will allow voters to directly authorize an increase in our state’s minimum wage that helps hardworking low wage families make ends meet, lifts the standard of living for all working families, and restores a ladder of economic opportunity in all of New Jersey’s communities.

Party Line Vote Sends the Legislation to the Governor’s Desk

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO and community allies thank Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Speaker Sheila Oliver for the sponsorship and leadership in passing legislation   (S-2364 / A-3553) establishing an early voting program. We also thank all the members of the State Assembly that voted in favor. The bill passed today by a 46-31-0-3 vote along party lines with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. The Senate version (S-2364: Gill / Whelan) passed the Senate on March 18, 2013, also along party lines, by a vote of 24-16. The vote tally sheet can be found HERE. The bill gives New Jersey voters an opportunity to vote 15 days before Election Day, establishes early voting centers throughout the state and extends voting hours on weekends and weekday evenings.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO commends those elected officials who voted in favor of (S-2364) to extend in-person early voting opportunities to the community and to encourage increased participation in our state’s democratic process. The bill was released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee along party lines with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition. A breakdown of the vote is below. While there are state legislatures across the nation pursuing laws to restrict voting through voter ID laws, we are proud that legislation is being advanced in New Jersey to increase access to voting. In-person early voting is already practiced in 32 states as well as the District of Columbia.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to join with Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. and coalition partners to debut a brand-new state-of-the-art voter registration van which will kick our voter registration and community mobilization into high gear. Equipped with internet connections and computers, this van allows us to take our entire voter registration operation to the streets and to engage communities in the democratic process.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO was proud to join with several union affiliates and local community organizations at a Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. coalition meeting in Trenton yesterday at the Lighthouse Outreach Church. The meeting generated a great deal of volunteer commitments to advance our coalition’s voter registration goals in the community. This meeting follows a successful event which took place in Newark two weeks ago and produced the same enthusiasm and eagerness to get to work.