We request at least one ballot dropbox to be placed in South Orange or Maplewood for the November general election!

Governor Murphy just signed Executive Order 177 which states: “To the extent possible, each county shall have at least a total of ten (10) secure ballot drop boxes in locations that are readily accessible to the registered voters within the county. To the best of their ability, the county Boards of Elections shall place secure ballot drop boxes based on geographic location and population density to best serve the voters of each county.”

We have an activist community in SOMA with high voter turnout. In fact, in the November 2016 general election South Orange and Maplewood had a combined 21,925 ballots cast – approximately the same number as Montclair and West Orange, both of which had their own ballot dropbox for the 2020 primary election. We need to create a convenient way for our citizens to vote that does not rely on the postal service and is safer than voting in person during this pandemic. While the County does require that any dropbox have 24/7 surveillance, we have plenty of options in our two towns that can satisfy that requirement, including the South Orange or Maplewood police stations or even Columbia High School.

If you agree with me that our two towns deserve our very own ballot dropbox for the general election, then I hope you’ll join me in signing this petition to the Essex County Board of Elections, County Executive, and our Essex County Freeholders that there should be at least one ballot dropbox in either South Orange or Maplewood so that our we can vote conveniently, safely, and with complete assurance that our voice will be heard this November!