As the ballots were counted in last week’s primary election, they included votes cast by probationers and parolees for the first time in New Jersey history. The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) supported the legislation that expanded the voting pool last year, urging the bill’s passage because of the disproportionate impact of the prohibition on people of color. The campaign to expand voting rights was championed by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ) and its 1844 No More Campaign.
“Today was a historic day for democracy in New Jersey,” said Henal Patel of NJISJ. “Today, 83,000 people have the right to vote and we continue to work toward full restoration.”
