Dear Student:

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th, and we write to encourage you to participate in this important democratic process. Ramapo College has a celebrated history of voter engagement. For the past five years, the College has been recognized as a Voter-Friendly Campus by the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project. The College has also received a Gold Seal for our campus voting rate in the 2020 and 2018 general elections, a Silver Seal for our campus voting rate in the 2022 general election, and was designated a most engaged campus for student voting in 2022 by the non-profit, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Voter turnout is a healthy and important way to tell your community what issues are important to you.

We know that you are likely thinking about issues such as the economy and inflation, immigration, jobs, climate change, reproductive rights, public transportation, health care, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, student debt, crime, education, and more. We encourage you to think about the type of leadership you want in office and exercise your right to vote. Vote411 serves as a resource for you to understand who is on your ballot.

New Jersey voters will elect a new governor and all 80 members of the State Assembly, giving every district the opportunity to choose new or returning representation in the legislature. We encourage you to learn about the candidates, reflect on the issues that matter most to you, and make your voice heard at the ballot box.

Why Vote?

You might be thinking whether your vote matters.  Please consider that there have been elections where single votes determined the outcome. If you do not vote, others make decisions about the issues that are important to you. Your vote is not just a civic duty—it is a powerful declaration of the kind of society you want to live in and the values you want to see upheld.

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that democracy requires participation, care, and reflection. Each generation has faced the task of strengthening and expanding the promise of equality and representation. The right to vote was not always afforded to all Americans, and many individuals fought tirelessly to secure this fundamental right. Their courage and perseverance remind us that progress depends on our collective willingness to participate and engage in the voting process. Casting a ballot is one of the simplest, yet most meaningful ways to honor those who fought to ensure that voting rights and access are universally recognized.

Ramapo College is an Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere campus. Through the Vote Everywhere project, the College has two student Ambassadors, Sarah Glisson and Syeira Palmer.  The Ambassadors have signed on to educate their peers about voting rights, getting out the vote, and becoming more democratically engaged through voting and other avenues. On Tuesday, November 4th, from 5pm to 11pm, in Friends Hall, you can join them for an Election Night Watch Party and watch the results come in together.

How to Vote

The General Election is being conducted by using three voting options:

1. Vote-By-Mail Ballot

If you haven’t mailed in your completed Vote by Mail application, you can still bring it to your County Clerk’s office by 3:00 pm on Monday, November 3rd.

By Mail: You can mail your ballot via the United States Post Office. Ballots must be postmarked no later than 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 4th, and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before Monday, November 10th.

By Drop Box: Place your vote-by-mail ballot in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 4th.  Drop box locations can be found at the NJ Voter Information Portal.

By Board of Elections Office: Deliver the vote-by-mail ballot in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 4th. Contact information can be found at the NJ Voter Information Portal

Please note, that if you apply for a vote-by-mail ballot and decide to vote in person, you must tell your poll worker and vote with a provisional ballot.

2. In-Person Early Voting

Every county provides registered voters with this option for the General Election. You can find a list of early voting locations at the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. Early Voting is open until Sunday, November 2nd.

3. At Your Polling Place on Election Day

Vote in person at your polling place from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th.

In Consideration of Civic Engagement

If you wish to see change in your community, voting is one of the first steps you can take to make a difference. As we saw through Freedom Summer, there are individuals who seek to restrict and make this civic process more difficult.  Voting suppression still occurs today, but you can demonstrate, with your ballot, that your opinion and choice matter.  In addition to voting, you can also participate in civic engagement through volunteerism.  Please think about the ways you wish to contribute to your community by giving back.  You can find community service opportunities listed in the Daily Digest, In the Loop, on Archway, and by contacting the Civic and Community Engagement Center (CCEC) at ccec@ramapo.edu.

You may wish to express what you care about and seek to understand the views of others.  Listen to each other.  By learning, thinking, speaking, and engaging freely, you are working toward a difference in the community. Ramapo College has a Student Expressive Activity policy to support your right to raise issues. The College prides itself on offering opportunities for education, civil discourse, and creating a productive, healthy, and safe place for all to understand and contribute to dialogue about important social issues.

Upcoming Events

On Monday, November 10th, at 1:00 pm in the Trustees Pavilion, the Presidential Speaker Series will feature Retired Lieutenant General Nadja West, the 44th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, for a discussion on public policy, healthcare, advancing change, and the importance of personal growth. You can learn more about the event here.

From November 17th to 21st, you are invited to join the CCEC’s observation of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

• Monday, November 17th, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, there will be an educational tabling on food insecurity, with trivia and giveaways

• Tuesday, November 18th, from 12 pm to 3:00 pm, the College will be hosting several vendors from the Ramsey Farmers Market

• Wednesday, November 19th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, you can participate in the annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet. The Oxfam Hunger Banquet is an interactive event that brings statistics about poverty to life. Guests randomly select tickets matching real people who are high-, middle-, or low-income earners, and receive accommodations matching their income. Throughout this interactive event, they will learn about poverty on a global scale and leave with a new perspective

• Thursday, November 20th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, there will be a Ramapo College Cooking Competition, where students can learn different ways to cook and prepare items in the microwave while also learning about nutrition and resources on campus

• Saturday, November 22nd, there will be a service opportunity with Rebuilding Together North Jersey, where students will be helping low-income homeowners with critical repairs and modifications needed to live safely in their homes

We hope that you are inspired to vote and think about the role you wish to take in civic engagement.   Voting is one of the best ways to declare what you value the most and we encourage you to make a commitment to yourself that you will vote in each and every election.  As you now have this relatively new civic responsibility to cast a ballot and share your opinion, we welcome you to find Ramapo College as a supportive place to help cultivate and harness your civic voice.

Sincerely,

Melissa Van Der Wall, Dean for Students/Vice President for Student Well-Being

Dylan Heffernan, Assistant Director for We Care and Civic Engagement