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Department of State

The Hon. Tahesha Way, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State

Mock Election Inspired by NJ’s 19th Amendment Centennial Engages over 35,000 Students Statewide

NJ Vote 100 Mock Election marks the centennial of New Jersey’s ratification of the 19th Amendment

TRENTON, NJ - NJ Vote 100, an online mock election for New Jersey students inspired by the centennial of New Jersey’s ratification of the 19th Amendment on February 9, 2020, has officially concluded, engaging more than 35,000 students statewide. Students voted in favor of having Daylight Savings Time all year and requiring the school day in New Jersey to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

The mock election was a collaborative effort between the New Jersey Center for Civic Education’s NJ Mock Election and NJ Women Vote: The 19th Amendment at 100 (NJ Women Vote), a statewide partnership of over 70 New Jersey organizations engaged in planning programs to mark the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment and women’s suffrage in New Jersey. NJ Women Vote is led by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the Alice Paul Institute.

NJ Vote 100 was open to students in grades 4 to 12. In total, 35,073 students cast ballots, with schools from all of New Jersey’s congressional districts participating. The mock election coincided with New Jersey’s 100-year anniversary of ratifying the 19th Amendment, which occurred on February 9, 2020. The Amendment officially banned states from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex. NJ Vote 100 provided a platform for New Jersey students to commemorate this occasion and engage with the democratic process in an educational and community-centric manner.

New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way, who serves as New Jersey’s top elections official and as co-chair of NJ Women Vote alongside New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, visited a 7th grade class at Weehawken High School in February to discuss the importance of voting with students.

“The history of voting in America, and in New Jersey, is key for students learning about their role as members of an informed electorate,” said Secretary Way, “We hope that the NJ Vote 100 mock election got students excited about voting and set a foundation for future civic engagement.”

All students who participated in the mock election voted on two public issue questions: whether New Jersey should have Daylight Saving Time all year and if New Jersey law should require schools to start after 8:30 a.m. In addition to voting on these questions, students in grades 6–12 were able to vote on a primary candidate for their chosen political party. Students could vote using an online ballot or a representative from each participating school or school district collected voting results and submitted on behalf of the school. Students who voted individually online utilized a “ranked choice” voting method in which they could rank primary candidates in accordance with preference.

The results of the election determined that the majority of students in all grades voted against eliminating Daylight Savings Time. Similarly, the majority of students voted in favor of school starting no earlier than 8:30 a.m. In the Democratic primary mock election, former Vice President Joe Biden won the popular vote among students in congressional districts 1 and 6, while Senator Bernie Sanders won the popular vote across all other districts. President Donald Trump yielded a victory in all of New Jersey’s congressional districts for the Republican primary mock election.

For a more detailed explanation of the NJ Vote 100 results, please visit https://njmockelection.org/results.


About NJ Women Vote: The 19th Amendment at 100

NJ Women Vote: The 19th Amendment at 100 is multifaceted initiative featuring a year-long series of events, programs, and projects in 2020 set to mark the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment in New Jersey. The New Jersey Historical Commission, in collaboration with the non-profit Alice Paul Institute, has gathered over seventy partners, representing a range of historical and cultural organizations, women’s groups, government agencies, libraries, and higher education institutions to help plan this pivotal year’s activities. To learn more about NJ Women Vote, please visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram @NJWomenVote100. You can also join our email list by contacting NJWV Communications Assistant Erica Meline at njwomenvote100@gmail.com.

 


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