In-person Early Voting Begins Oct. 28 for NJ General Election

All eligible registered New Jersey voters can participate in the 2023 General Election using the state’s in-person early voting option from October 28 through November 5. This option enables all eligible registered voters to cast their ballot in person at any early voting site in their county over the nine day voting period. Voters can choose to vote when it is most convenient for their schedule.

No matter where a voter lives in their county, they can cast their specific ballot at any of their county’s designated in-person early voting locations. County locations can be found at Vote.NJ.Gov. Hours will be Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., and Sunday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.

“Early voting is all about making it easy for voters to exercise their right to vote,” said Lieutenant Governor Way, who oversees the New Jersey Division of Elections in her capacity as Secretary of State. “While some voters may not have the time to get out and vote on Election Day itself, in-person early voting allows nine days for folks to find the time that works best for their schedule to cast their ballot.”

In-person early voting is one of three ways to vote in the election. County clerks are also sending mail-in ballots to those who requested them. To receive a ballot by mail for the November 7 General Election, the application must be received by October 31. Voters can apply in person at their County Clerk’s office by 3:00 p.m. on November 6 for the November 7 General Election. In addition, thousands of local polling places will be open for voters on Election Day itself.

For full details on the November 7 General Election, visit Vote.NJ.Gov, contact local election officials, or call the Voter Information and Assistance Line at 1-877-NJ-Voter (1-877-658-6837).

Commissioner Latourette Joins With State and Local Officials to Launch Construction on Landmark North Jersey Resilience Projects

Commemorating the 11th anniversary of Sandy, which hit the state on Oct. 29, 2012, Commissioner LaTourette was joined by New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer for a groundbreaking ceremony at Hoboken’s Harborside Park that officially launched the $251 million construction of flood walls and related infrastructure to protect Hoboken and portions of Jersey City and Weehawken along the Hudson River.

“Record storm surge from Superstorm Sandy left extensive portions of the Hudson waterfront and Meadowlands underwater, disrupting many thousands of lives and causing extensive damage to businesses, homes, and infrastructure,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Today, thanks to the collaborative efforts that grew out of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rebuild by Design competition, these areas are becoming national models for resilience projects that will better protect lives, property, and infrastructure from the worsening impacts of climate change.”

“Today marks a turning point in New Jersey history,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “Over the years since Sandy devastated many parts of New Jersey, state, federal and local governments have worked long and hard to build consensus, plan, and design advanced measures to protect two areas of the state that are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Now we are bringing those efforts to reality through the construction of extensive networks of flood walls, flood gates and barriers for the Hudson River communities and a force main and state-of-the-art pump-station system for the Meadowlands.”

The goals of Rebuild by Design projects are to decrease flood risk, cultivate the local ecology with native plantings, and energize communities with improvements to local parks. Benefits of the projects include protecting residents and businesses from flood hazards and damage, reducing street closures due to flooding, improving water quality, reducing urban heat-island effect, and enhancing community’s sense of place. The DEP’s Division of Resilience Engineering and Construction will lead both construction efforts within the project areas.

AG Platkin, 41 Other Attorneys General Sue Meta for Harms to Youth From Instagram, Facebook

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced that they, along with 41 other attorneys general throughout the country, sued Meta in federal and state courts alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook to purposefully addict children and teens. At the same time, Meta falsely assured the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users.

New Jersey and 32 other states filed a joint complaint in federal court asserting that Meta’s business practices violate the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), as well as other state consumer protection laws, including the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA). Eight other states filed similar actions in state courts.

These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens fueling what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis” that has ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.

“As New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer and as a parent, I feel strongly that there is nothing more important than ensuring the well-being of our children. And we know that in the era of social media, their mental health has never been more at risk,” said Attorney General Platkin. “That is why today, I join dozens of other Attorneys General to once and for all hold Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, accountable for deceptive, manipulative practices on Instagram and Facebook that they knew were harmful. Profits – not people, not its most vulnerable users, children and teens – drive the decision making at Meta. That stops today.”

The multistate coalition that brought today’s complaint is also investigating TikTok for similar conduct. That investigation remains ongoing, and states have pushed for adequate disclosure of information and documents in litigation related to TikTok’s failure to provide adequate discovery in response to the multistate’s requests.

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and Choose New Jersey Delegation Return From Successful 9-day East Asia Economic Mission Trip

On Sunday, October 22, 2023, Governor Murphy returned to New Jersey following his trips to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The East Asia economic mission featured a diverse 30 to 40-member delegation comprised of business leaders, university representatives, and elected officials took place from Saturday, October 14 through Sunday, October 22, 2023. 

The 9-day, three-country Choose New Jersey Governor-led economic mission to East Asia reinforced the strong economic ties between the New Jersey and East Asia and promises to have a strong economic impact for years to come.

Governor Murphy’s activities and schedule included meetings with companies and executives, trade organizations, government officials, higher education leaders, startup incubators, and other key commercial and economic partners. Key industry sectors of focus included infrastructure, clean energy, financial services, life sciences, technology, logistics, manufacturing, and food and beverage.

You may access photos from the trip here, courtesy of Kevin Sanders at the New Jersey Globe.