The Project will be the largest non-partisan voter engagement program in state history and seeks to empower voters on the heels of fundamental ballot reforms
Ahead of next year’s critical New Jersey governor’s race, Make the Road New Jersey has joined with a coalition of faith, labor and community leaders to launch the Million Voters Project, the largest voter engagement effort in state history.
The non-partisan initiative, which brings together advocates, faith leaders and labor unions, will utilize deep canvassing techniques to engage with at least 1 million working class voters, with a focus on Latino, AAPI, Black and youth voters in an effort to unlock the political power of these underrepresented groups.
“The Million Voters Project was formed to fight the cynicism and disengagement that characterizes how many working class families, people of color and young people view the political process,” Make the Road New Jersey Deputy Director Nedia Morsy said. “This effort is even more important given the historic ballot reforms that were ushered in earlier this year, which provides new power to voters by abolishing the corrupt county line system. As New Jersey voters prepare to choose our next governor, the Million Voters Project will help us build long-term relationships with previously marginalized groups through the largest effort to engage voters in state history, letting us listen to their concerns and equipping them with the tools to better engage in the political process.”
While New Jersey is the most diverse state in the nation, its political class is still overwhelmingly dominated by white men. The Million Voters Project aims to change this dynamic by focusing on demographic groups that are too-often left out of the political process and who don’t feel their voices heard in Trenton.
And it will leverage the fundamental democratic reforms ushered in by the abolition of the line to ensure that voters are fully able to take advantage of the fair ballots that have been mandated by the federal courts.
In conjunction with its community partners, the Project will utilize evidence-based techniques known as deep canvassing, which are aimed at fostering long-term relationships with key voters across New Jersey even as they are equipped to vote and engage in other civic activities.
The Project will focus its efforts on communities with large numbers of working class voters and families of color, including; Newark, Hackensack, Fort Lee, Elizabeth, Passaic, Paterson, Edison, Perth Amboy, Atlantic City and Camden.
The Project has taken on a new urgency as findings from the presidential election show that greater numbers of voters — particularly working-class voters and people of color — are losing faith in the ability of democratic institutions to deliver a better life for themselves and their families.
The Project’s deep canvassing approach will enable the coalition to learn more about the priorities of key populations in our diverse state and will be releasing its findings to educate candidates during the campaign.
In addition to Make the Road New Jersey, the Million Voters Project represents a partnership with a number of other community-based organizations across New Jersey, including: AAPI New Jersey, the ACLU of New Jersey, New Jersey Citizen Action, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, We The People Coalition, Faith In NJ, Salvation & Social Justice, Latino Action Foundation, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, and the Housing and the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. CWA District 1, SEIU 32BJ and Rutgers AAUP also represent labor in the coalition.
"AAPI New Jersey is thrilled to be a part of the Million Voters Project. During this critical year and beyond, we'll be knocking doors to ensure Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders understand and claim their power as New Jersey's fastest-growing racial demographic — no longer on the margins, we are the margin of victory," said Amber Reed, Co-Executive Director, AAPI New Jersey.
“Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, and increasing participation at the ballot box will make our democracy stronger and more inclusive,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha. “We’re proud to join the Million Voters Project to encourage voters across New Jersey to exercise their most fundamental right – and build a future where every voice is heard along the way.”
“Democracy is a fragile thing, more so today than yesterday. We must ensure voters feel represented and empowered or we will continue to see declines in turnout – especially among communities of color who have increasingly felt ignored,” said Assatta Mann, Senior Community Organizer at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “The job of democracy is to listen and respond, and the Million Voters Project will be an important part of making that happen in New Jersey.”
"Fewer than 50% of registered voters have participated in the last two NJ Gubernatorial elections," said Mo Kinberg, Director of Democracy Organizing and coordinator of the We the People NJ coalition. "We are proud to participate in the Million Voter Project to increase turnout and ensure that the voices of multi-racial working-class voters who have been ignored in the past are heard during this election cycle and at the ballot box in June and November.”
"The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is excited to be a member of this strategic coalition working to build a multiracial democracy, one door, one neighbor, and one voter at a time," said Jesse Burns, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. "From the voter registration table to the ballot box, from town halls to the halls of the Statehouse, the Million Voter Project will build grassroots power that candidates and elected officials would be unwise to ignore.”
"This gubernatorial election not only serves as a crucial juncture for our state but holds particular significance for Black communities as it is an opportunity to address the systemic inequities and challenges that have disproportionately affected our communities for decades,” said Racquel Romans-Henry, Policy Director of Salvation and Social Justice. “This election, we have the power to elect leaders who will advance policies that would serve as one of the few guardrails against a federal administration that is shaping up to be increasingly hostile towards Black communities. We know that elections have profound consequences, therefore we cannot afford to sit this election out or remain on the sidelines."
"We can't build a New Jersey that works for everyone unless everyone has a say in our political and policy-making process," said New Jersey Citizen Action's Executive Director Dena Mottola Jaborska. "But many of our state's low- and moderate-income families, including people of color and immigrants, remain politically disconnected. The Million Voters Project will help ensure their voices are heard and further strengthen New Jersey's growing democracy movement."
“For too long our elected officials in politically bullied cities like Camden have taken their constituents for granted,” said Ronsha A. Dickerson, Chair of the Camden We Choose Coalition. “This effort will finally put voting power for our Black communities and communities of color front and center as New Jersey goes to the polls next year.”
“Latinos are the largest community of color in New Jersey,” said Dr. Jesselly De La Cruz, Executive Director of the Latino Action Network Foundation. “We need to engage diverse voters more than ever, and we’re proud to partner with the Million Voters Project to ensure that our voices are heard in the halls of the Statehouse.”
“The Million Voter Project is a natural extension of our year-round civic engagement work, ensuring that our communities wield the power of their vote to fight for the issues that matter most to them,” said Charlene Walker, Executive Director of Faith in New Jersey. “We understand the frustration caused by New Jersey's flawed ballots and the confusion around election dates and candidates’ platforms. Yet, we believe voting is a critical tool for building the world we envision. This project is about restoring faith in democracy and ensuring Black and brown voices build collective power at the ballot box.”
