On
Wednesday, May 4 from 3 to 5 p.m.
the State of New Jersey will host a forum
for the public, law enforcement representatives
and election officials to discuss voter
rights and responsibilities regarding
absentee ballots, voter rights and voter
fraud. The forum
will be held at the Atlantic County Administration
Building, 1333 Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic
City.
The
forum is part of the State’s continuing
efforts to engage in voter education and
outreach to encourage qualified citizens
to participate in the election process.
The forum is part of the “Be Powerful,
Be Heard” initiative that was developed
as a result of the federal “Help
America Vote Act of 2002.
According
to New Jersey election officials, the
forum will primarily focus on the absentee
ballots process. Absentee ballots (absentee
ballot application) are available
for voters who are not able to be physically
present at polling places on Election
Day to cast their vote. Absentee ballots
are a critical component of the electoral
process. In recent years, public reports
of alleged irregularities regarding use
of absentee ballots has warranted closer
scrutiny of how these ballots are handled
and underscores the need for voter education
and discussion on this issue, according
to election officials.
The
forum will include a panel discussion
and questions and answers. Participating
in the panel discussion will be New Jersey
Attorney General Peter C. Harvey; Chief
of Staff of the Office of the Attorney
General; Atlantic County Board of Elections;
Freeholder Board and Prosecutor’s
Office; Atlantic City Mayor Langford,
and municipal representatives from Pleasantville.
For
more information about the program, call
Kathleen Brannigan at 609-341-3234.