Voting is the foundation of our democracy and a fundamental right of every American. For generations, Americans have fought - sometimes in the face of incredible adversity - to secure and protect this right. It therefore should be of great concern to all citizens when any group or individual is denied his or her voting rights. 

Read the Public Advocate's Frequently Asked Questions about voting and elections in New Jersey.

The Public Advocate's Voting Rights Project seeks to protect the basic and fundamental right to vote belonging to every U.S. citizen. Our project has three components ensuring: first, that every eligible person is registered to vote; second, that every eligible voter can cast a ballot; and third, that all ballots cast are fully and fairly counted.  

Even during the historic 2008 presidential elections, about one-third of the 5.7 million New Jerseyans eligible to vote did not cast a ballot.  There are many reasons for voter nonparticipation, but government can and should do more to make the voting process - from registering to vote to the counting of ballots - simple and seamless for all eligible citizens.  Voter participation rates increase when government agencies take affirmative steps and remove barriers to voting.  Our Voting Rights Project strives to promote people-friendly policies that increase registration and turnout and ease the voting experience for all eligible voters.

• Click here to learn about our work to expand voter registration.  How the Public Advocate seeks to enforce the Motor-Voter Law, promotes the registration of students and youths, and helps people with criminal convictions restore their right to vote.   
  • Compliance with the Motor-Voter Law
  • Registration for students and youths
  • Restoration of voting rights to those who have served a criminal sentence

• Click here to learn about how we work to ensure that all eligible voters can cast ballots. How the Public Advocate promotes compliance with the polling place accessibility laws, represents citizens in court seeking the right to vote on Election Day, and helps civil rights workers educate voters about their rights. 
  • Courthouse assistance on Election Day
  • Assistance for voters with disabilities
  • Other election protection work

• Click here to read about our work to ensure that all ballots are fully and fairly counted. How the Public Advocate promotes the use of only those voting machines that have been fully tested, and acquired under fair contracts that protect the interest of government and the taxpayers.

Click below for additional information

• Resources.  See additional resources to help citizens exercise their voting rights and to learn more about election administration and voting.
• Voting News.  Read the Public Advocate's news releases about our efforts to enforce voting rights.
• Reports and Publications.  Learn more about voting rights by studying the Public Advocate's reports.
• In Court.  Read more about the Public Advocate's courtroom advocacy on behalf of voting rights. 

The Public Advocate has issued an October 2009 report showing that dozens of recent N.J. campaigns were decided by less than a 1 percent margin.  Four races tied; four more were decided by just one vote.

Read  "'Every Vote Counts':  A survey of elections where just a few votes separate victory and defeat"

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