Dear Editor:
When Jersey City goes to the polls next Tuesday, we have a choice to make about when we hold elections: We can choose to keep having two separate election days – one in May to vote for our city officials, and one six months later to vote for other positions and issues.
Or we can choose to make it simple and do it all at once.
If you didn’t know we elected our city officials in May – and voted on other issues in November – I wouldn’t blame you. Not many people do. Most people – and this isn’t crazy – seem to believe that we hold our elections on what’s traditionally known as “Election Day,” the first Tuesday in November. In fact, if you look at your calendar, that is what that day is called. And when election day isn’t on Election Day, turnout tends to be low. People don’t show up.
That’s why I’m going to walk into the polling place on Tuesday and vote YES on “Public Question 1.” It proposes moving our city elections to November.
There have been concerns about simplifying our elections. Change is always that way. Some people think it would create a confusing ballot, or that this is just some political move to help me keep being mayor.
The truth is: I’ve thought this would be a good idea for years – way before I was even a mayor – because it just makes sense.
The law that mandated two elections – one in May, and one in November – was passed in 1950. Maybe the reasons made sense then – but they do not make sense now.
Indeed, there are almost no downsides to moving our election, only upside. People who think one election creates a ballot that’s too long and confusing assume that voters are dumb. Voters are NOT dumb. If you can follow directions, you can navigate a ballot. And if someone has a question about how to cast their vote, that’s why poll workers exist: to help people.
In fact, other New Jersey cities have done this. They’ve found that having just one election cuts costs. Elections cost money. And two elections cost twice as much – twice as many ballots, twice as many poll workers. Having one election in November would save taxpayers $400,000.
Most importantly, having one election helps elections do what they’re supposed to: capture the full voice of our community. Other cities have found that one, November election boosts turn out because more people are aware and more show up. That’s democracy.
So on Tuesday, join me in voting YES for Public Question 1. Let’s move our elections to November. I think it’s time to make election day, Election Day.
Mayor Steven Fulop