On
Wednesday, May 4 from 3 to 5 p.m.
the State of New Jersey will host a forum
for the public, law enforcement representatives
and election officials to discuss voter
rights and responsibilities regarding
absentee ballots, voter rights and voter
fraud. The forum will be held at the Atlantic
County Administration Building, 1333 Atlantic
Avenue in Atlantic City.
The
forum is part of the State’s continuing
efforts to engage in voter education and
outreach to encourage qualified citizens
to participate in the election process.
The forum is part of the “Be
Powerful, Be Heard” initiative
that was developed as a result of the
federal “Help America Vote Act of
2002.
According
to New Jersey election officials, the
forum will primarily focus on the absentee
ballots process. Absentee ballots are
available for voters who are not able
to be physically present at polling places
on Election Day to cast their vote. Absentee
ballots are a critical component of the
electoral process. In recent years, public
reports of alleged irregularities regarding
use of absentee ballots has warranted
closer scrutiny of how these ballots are
handled and underscores the need for voter
education and discussion on this issue,
according to election officials.
The
forum will include a panel discussion
and questions and answers. Participating
in the panel discussion will be New Jersey
Attorney General Peter C. Harvey; Chief
of Staff of the Office of the Attorney
General; Atlantic County Board of Elections;
Freeholder Board and Prosecutor’s
Office; Atlantic City Mayor Langford,
and municipal representatives from Pleasantville.
For
more information about the program, call
Kathleen Brannigan at 609-341-3234.