Dear Student:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0Vote411<\/a>\u00a0serves as a resource for you to understand who is on your ballot.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0learn about the candidates<\/a>, reflect on the issues that matter most to you, and make your voice heard at the ballot box.<\/p>\n Why Vote?<\/p>\n You might be thinking whether your vote matters.\u00a0 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\u2014it is a powerful declaration of the kind of society you want to live in and the values you want to see upheld.<\/p>\n As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that democracy\u00a0requires 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.\u00a0Casting 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.<\/p>\n Ramapo College is an\u00a0Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere<\/a>\u00a0campus. Through the Vote Everywhere project, the College has two student Ambassadors, Sarah Glisson and Syeira Palmer.\u00a0 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\u00a0Election Night Watch Party<\/a>\u00a0and watch the results come in together.<\/p>\n How to Vote<\/p>\n The General Election is being conducted by using three voting options:<\/p>\n 1. Vote-By-Mail Ballot<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Board of Elections on or before Monday, November 10th.<\/p>\n By Drop Box: Place your vote-by-mail ballot in one of your county\u2019s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 4th.\u00a0 Drop box locations can be found at the\u00a0NJ Voter Information Portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n By Board of Elections Office: Deliver the vote-by-mail ballot in person to your county\u2019s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 4th. Contact information can be found at the\u00a0NJ Voter Information Portal<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 2. In-Person Early Voting<\/p>\n Every county provides registered voters with this option for the General Election. You can find a list of early voting locations at the\u00a0New Jersey Voter Information Portal<\/a>. Early Voting is open until Sunday, November 2nd.<\/p>\n 3. At Your Polling Place on Election Day<\/p>\n Vote in person at your polling place from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th.<\/p>\n In Consideration of Civic Engagement<\/p>\n 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\u00a0Freedom Summer<\/a>, there are individuals who seek to restrict and make this civic process more difficult.\u00a0 Voting suppression still occurs today, but you can demonstrate, with your ballot, that your opinion and choice matter.\u00a0 In addition to voting, you can also participate in civic engagement through volunteerism.\u00a0 Please think about the ways you wish to contribute to your community by giving back.\u00a0 You can find community service opportunities listed in the Daily Digest, In the Loop, on\u00a0Archway<\/a>, and by contacting the\u00a0Civic and Community Engagement Center<\/a>\u00a0(CCEC) at\u00a0ccec@ramapo.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n You may wish to express what you care about and seek to understand the views of others.\u00a0 Listen to each other.\u00a0 By learning, thinking, speaking, and engaging freely, you are working toward a difference in the community. Ramapo College has a\u00a0Student Expressive Activity<\/a>\u00a0policy 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.<\/p>\n Upcoming Events<\/p>\n