Federal and State law requires the government to take an active role in reaching out to register citizens, especially those with lower-than-average voter registration rates, including poor and working-class families, youths, and Americans from racial or ethnic minorities.  Given our statutory mandate to advocate for traditionally underserved communities, the Public Advocate has worked to expand voter registration opportunities.

Our major efforts to expand voter registration include:


  • Compliance with the Motor-Voter Law
      

    Since 1995, federal law has required people to be offered the opportunity to register to vote or change their voting address when they go to a motor vehicle agency to renew, update, or apply for a driver's license or nondriver ID card.  The Public Advocate's studies showed that New Jersey motorists were often denied this right. In March 2008, the Public Advocate, the Motor Vehicle Commission and the Attorney General signed a memorandum of understanding to bring the State into compliance with the motor-voter law, with excellent results: new voter registrations are occurring at a rate more than double the period before the MOU, including more than 155,000 registrations between March 2008 and March 2009. 
    Photo by Scott Lituchy/ Star Ledger

    We continue to monitor MVC's compliance efforts and will take the steps necessary to defend the rights of voters denied registration rights at MVC.

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  • Registration for students and youths
     

    Since 1985, state law has required both public and private high schools to conduct voter registration drives for eligible students.  Similar laws also encourage college student registration.  Studies suggest that between 40 and 60 percent of public schools fail to comply with the law.  We prepared a fact sheet for schools to use to help implement this law and have submitted written administrative and legislative testimony in support of measures that would strengthen the law.

    The Public Advocate continues to investigate this issue and will make any needed recommendations. 
     

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  • Restoration of voting to those who have served a criminal sentence
     

    According to New Jersey state law, an individual may not vote in New Jersey while serving a sentence (jail, prison, probation, and parole) as a result of a conviction for an indictable offense. However, once a person completes his or her sentence and is otherwise qualified to vote (U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, and resident of his or her county for 30 days), an individual has the right to re-register, and to vote once registered.  People re-entering society after serving criminal sentences can check this brochure to learn their rights and the procedures to follow to re-register.

    Click below for additional information

    • Resources.  See additional resources to help citizens exercise their voting rights and to learn more about election administration and voting.
    • Voting News.  Read the Public Advocate's news releases about our efforts to enforce voting rights.
    • Reports and Publications.  Learn more about voting rights by studying the Public Advocate's reports.
    • In Court.  Read more about the Public Advocate's courtroom advocacy on behalf of voting rights. 
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