LAWRENCE, N.J. – In an effort to encourage voter turnout, New Jersey
— Photo by Michelle Dryden
Secretary of State Tahesha Way, kicked off the State’s first #VoteforValorNJ initiative recently.
A group of veterans and public service officials gathered at the headquarters of New Jersey’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) to listen to the new program announcement from Way, who was joined by Brig. Gen. Jemal J. Beale, the adjutant general of New Jersey.
Upon introducing Way to present the program, Beale also said, “The right to vote is one of America’s most important freedoms. It is those freedoms that members of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard swear to defend.”
The Vote for Valor initiative is a program designed to encourage New Jerseyans to dedicate their votes to a veteran or an active-duty service member of their choice.
“I wanted to introduce the program here at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs headquarters because our nation’s veterans, better than most, understand the sacrifices made to protect our right to vote as New Jerseyans and as Americans,” Way told the audience.
She spoke of the commitment of our nation’s military service members and the oath each takes to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
“While it may be more in the abstract, I believe one of those enemies is complacency. If we, as Americans, fail to vote, fail to have our say, then we are not following the principles which have made this country great,” Way said.
Not only is Way encouraging New Jerseyans to head to the polls, or to vote by mail Nov. 6, but she also wants voters to share their stories about the veteran or service member they choose to honor with the Department of State at https://nj.gov/state/sos-vote-for-valor.shtml.
Voters may also share their voting stories via hashtag #VoteforValorNJ on Twitter and Facebook.
“Let us honor all those serving across the United States and overseas all those who gave their lives, all those who left the safety of home to serve their country,” Way said.
U.S. Army Veteran Sgt. Benjamin Phillips, who was deployed in 2006 and 2008, also commented that, “Complacency has been far too long, and this is a great way to get people out there.”
He said that it is a great idea to dedicate the votes to the veterans like him, because “we fought for voting rights for all, and it is what we believe in.”
Voting booths in New Jersey will be opened from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
— Follow Michelle Dryden on Twitter @Michelle_Dryden